After 75 years of offering classical music in Tacoma, the Tacoma Philharmonic is merging into the Broadway Center for Performing Arts, the non-profit organization that manages Tacoma’s downtown theaters, which are owned by the City. The BCPA will now present the Philharmonic’s current classical series and educational programs under its own umbrella and management, manage the Philharmonic endowment and welcome Philharmonic trustees to the BCPA board.

The merger begins April 30, and follows a trial period of joint presentation after Tacoma Philharmonic executive director Andy Wood left early last year. Both boards voted unanimously on the move. Read more »

Classical guitarist Peter Fletcher at the Tacoma Public Library

Peter Fletcher, an award-winning national classical guitarist called “taut and incisive” by the American Record Guide, will play a free concert this Sunday at the Tacoma library main branch. The program features selections from Fletcher’s 2008 CD of baroque music, as well as work by Ravel, Tarrega, Grieg and more. 2 p.m. Nov. 6. Free. Tacoma Library main branch, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S., Tacoma. 253-591-5666, www.tacompubliclibrary.org

“Java Tacoma” continues café theater

“Java Tacoma,” the locally-written soap opera comedy, continues this month at Trinity Presbyterian Hall. Written by Curtis …

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If there’s a classical recital in Tacoma you shouldn’t miss this year, it’s Joshua Bell. The international superstar violinist is coming to the Pantages Theater next Wednesday, thanks to the Tacoma Philharmonic, and playing an intimate Romantic-era recital of Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Isaye and Franck.

The Tacoma Philharmonic has been through a rough patch lately. Director Andy Wood resigned near the end of last season, leaving board members scrambling to find an alternative. Wood had done the booking, the management, the administration and the marketing for the non-profit, which has been offering Tacomans classical music for 77 years, beginning with an orchestra and eventually becoming a presenting organization.

After discussions with the Broadway Center’s director David Fischer, the Philharmonic agreed to a low-key partnership: The Broadway Center would handle ticketing, marketing and other administration, while the Philharmonic board would handle its own finances and plan its own season.

So far, so good. The 2011/12 season is chock-full of great artists in a few different venues from usual. Read more »

The six winners of the Beatrice Hermann Young Artist Recital Competition, held annually by Tacoma Philharmonic, performed yesterday in a public recital at Schneebeck Concert Hall at the University of Puget Sound.

The young artists were Serena Xu, 13, piano (second prize, junior division); Jonathan Galler, 14, violin (first prize, junior division); Justin Woo, 17, violin (second prize, senior division); Torsen Necessary, 16, flute (first prize, senior division); Jennifer Ingertila, flute (second prize, Young Artist division) and Christina Wu, cello (first prize, Young Artist division).

The competition is named in memory of Beatrice Hermann, a long-time supporter of …

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The Tacoma Philharmonic, a classical music presenter now approaching its 75^th anniversary, recently announced that, following the resignation of executive director Andy Wood, its management would be contracted out to the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, which manages and presents for Tacoma’s three downtown city-owned theaters. The contract is for one year, during which the Philharmonic board would reappraise its strategies.

“The Philharmonic is excited about the opportunity to strengthen our programs and operations as we face the new challenges of the 21^st century,” said Philharmonic board president Karen Seinfeld. “The team at the Broadway Center will …

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If you’re the super-organized type who likes celebrating Valentine’s a few days early, or even if you just like excellent chamber music, you’ll love this one. The Eroica Trio is returning to Tacoma courtesy of the Tacoma Philharmonic, and playing an evening of romantic string trio music at the Pantages Friday night.

The all-female trio, hailed as one of the most sought-after in the world, has made its name not only on stylish good looks (leopard print, stiletto boots and long blonde hair, anyone?) but phenomenally good playing. Susie Parks on violin, Erika Nickrenz on piano and Sara …

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Thanks to the Tacoma Philharmonic, the Oregon Symphony under Carlos Kalmar makes an appearance here this weekend, playing Ravel, Mozart, Elgar and Walton, with a Shakespearean touch provided by actors including David Ogden Stiers.

The program “Mozart and Shakespeare” fuses just those two greats. The first half juxtaposes Mozart’s “Prague” symphony with Ravel’s “Menuet Antique,” while the second half includes two English works: Elgar’s “Falstaff” and Walton’s “Embarkation from Henry V.” Integrated with the music will be excerpts from the Bard read by actors David Ogden Stiers (“M.A.S.H.,” various Burns documentaries, etc), Chris Murray and Leif Norby.

Pre-concert …

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Young, stylish and completely virtuosic – it’s the 5 Browns, a family piano sensation fresh out of New York’s Juilliard music school and shaking up the classical music world. Three sisters and two brothers, each playing a Steinway grand, the 5 Browns have toured America and Europe to huge media acclaim, which you’d have seen if you were watching their PBS special on KBCT last night. And this Saturday night they’re playing the Pantages, courtesy of the Tacoma Philharmonic.

From a Mormon childhood in Utah to symphonic debuts at age 9 to being the first family simultaneously accepted …

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