Symphony Orchestra plans some fun to introduce its 2023 season with new director Arrieche

The Olympia Symphony Orchestra will reveal its plans for the 2023 season on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 16, with its new music director Alexandra Arrieche, a performance by the orchestra’s executive director and pianist Jennifer Hermann, and music from “Harry Potter.”

The season reveal concert and multimedia event is set for 3 p.m. at the Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia.

“I’m nervous and excited,” Arrieche told The Olympian before a Monday rehearsal with the orchestra. “I usually don’t have stage fright, but today I’m having first-rehearsal fright. I’m excited to get together and make music finally.”

The high-profile conductor — who also leads the classical-rock fusion concert series “Night of the Proms” and the Henderson (Nevada) Symphony Orchestra, and appeared in the 2021 documentary “The Conductor” — was named the orchestra’s music director in June.

At Sunday’s concert, Arrieche will talk about how she chose the season and introduce the themes of the orchestra’s 2023 concerts, which she calls “three love letters to the community.”

“What I’m most excited about are the themes that Alex has put together,” Hermann told The Olympian. “Of course, the season is full of beautiful and meaningful music, but the themes that she has woven together to create community conversations and community relevance are really exciting. It’s a new way to look at music.”

“For every single piece, there’s a reason that we are performing this piece now in the first season,” Arrieche said. “The title of the season says it all: ‘Dream With Us.’ It’s a new beginning and we’re inviting everyone to join.”

The content of the subscription season concerts in February, March and April will be a surprise announced on Sunday, but the Dec. 23 concert, a tribute to composer John Williams that will include music from “Star Wars” and “Superman” along with “Potter,” already was announced.

“It’s a different take on our holiday concert,” Hermann said. “People have been asking, ‘When is the orchestra going to play “Star Wars”?’ Everybody loves ‘Star Wars.’”

The concert was made possible by a partnership with Night of the Proms, which is lending the orchestra its copies of Williams’ music.

“It’s expensive to perform this licensed music,” Hermann said. “In a community of our size, what we would have to charge to be able to purchase the music and pay for the rights to perform it would outprice the community. Thanks to Night of the Proms, we have don’t have to purchase copies of the music.”

The concert has special meaning to Arrieche, who grew up in São Paulo, Brazil.

“John Williams’ music was what drew me to listen to classical music,” she said. “Growing up, movie soundtracks were the only contact I had with orchestral music. My parents didn’t listen to Mozart, but I heard soundtracks on TV.”

In addition to a “Potter” piece, Sunday’s concert will include excerpts from a handful of pieces featured in upcoming concerts, video interviews with the season’s soloists, and a chance for those in attendance to get to know Arrieche — both on stage and off. After the concert, there’ll be a reception in the lobby.

The orchestra has a few more surprises in store, too.

“There’s a comedy sketch,” Hermann said.

“And a sing-along,” Arrieche added.

Olympia Symphony Orchestra season reveal

• What: Alexandra Arrieche, the orchestra’s new music director, makes her Olympia debut at a multimedia concert unveiling the orchestra’s 2022-2023 season.
• When: 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16
• Where: Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia
• Tickets: $45 and $65
• More information: http://www.olympiasymphony.org
• Holiday concert: The orchestra has already announced its holiday concert, “The Music of John Williams,” featuring selections from “Harry Potter,” “Star Wars” and “Superman.” It will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23 at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $15-$65.
• The rest of the season: Feb. 4 and 5 with pianist Michael Sheppard, March 19 with violinist David Kim and April 23 with cellist Nathan Chan