Olympia Symphony Orchestra hits all the right notes

Originally published on The JOLT News on November 17, 2025

There is something so human and entirely natural about the act of listening. In this busy world with consistent notifications and a myriad distractions, it really is not  easy to step away and give something our full attention.

Taking moments to pause, silence our cellphones (or heck even turn them off), are liberating yet somehow vulnerable when we are so reliant on technology. Let me tell you, an hour or so at the symphony is emotionally cleansing, entirely beautiful, and completely worthy of our time and dedication.

Our beloved Olympia Symphony Orchestra (OSO) graced the Washington Center for the Performing Arts stage last Sunday afternoon with a thrilling program and innovative approach.

Rather than have Music Director Alexandra Arrieche conduct the concert, the orchestra took a different approach. Guest pianist Michael Sheppard conducted the orchestra at the same time he was hitting the keys. I’ve never seen anything quite like it, it was an impressive achievement on everyone’s part.

Michael Sheppard

As a concert host, Sheppard was funny, honest, knowledgeable and made the concert a fun experience for the whole audience.

Recognize his name? Sheppard performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with OSO in 2023. Glancing through the program, the audience learned that Sheppard has performed all around the world, even performing solo recitals and in the home towns of Mahler and Elvis. In a strange way, I think this concert program brought those two worlds together.

The performance included Mendelssohn’s “Capricco brilliant,” Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 and Michael Daugherty’s “Le Tombeau de Liberace” (tribute to Liberace).

Each piece showcased a different aspect of emotional range. There were splashes of romance, moments of exhilaration, plenty of drama and a touch of humor throughout the program.

Need I remind you that Shepphard conducted this concert while playing piano at an alarmingly fast speed. I admired the musicians and their attention to detail and dedication to each moment. Without everybody being fully invested in every moment, this concert would not have been the same.

My concert experience

The afternoon spent with OSO was entirely peaceful. Prior to the show, I enjoyed hobnobbing with different members of the audience, as well as sharing a hug with some of the ushers in front of house staff that I’m so familiar with.

Many of us felt the strangeness of no longer having Dr. Stacy Hicks with us. I saw her almost every time I went to the Washington Center. She brought comfort, joy and a welcoming attitude that made every single audience member feel like they had a friend each time they came to the center.

I share all that because I kept thinking about her during the concert, and about living and dying. We are so lucky that we get to breathe in and out each day and have the opportunity to go to the symphony and experience art. May we never take that for granted.

I think the music of the concert itself reminded me of all the big and small moments in life, and how experiencing every emotion really is a privilege. Every time an orchestra goes to perform a piece of music, they bring life to the past and almost allow us to travel back in time. Think about it. Audiences have been experiencing these pieces for longer than any of us have been alive (with the exception of the Liberace). Whenever we sit in the audience, we get to be part of that legacy. How lucky we are.

During this concert, I enjoyed looking around me and seeing how each person looked with their eyes fixed upon the orchestra. Everyone’s focused face looked slightly different, and it was really endearing. It warmed my heart to see people close their eyes and sink into the music. I wondered what they were thinking about.

Along with thinking about my friend, the music brought me back to different moments in the history of film. I don’t know why, but my brain during Beethoven kept thinking about the silent film era and moments of Harold Lloyd films I’ve seen, and even the 1924 Peter Pan.

During the tribute to Liberace, moments for more modern films and even Westerns came to mind. Were you at that concert? I would love to hear where your imagination took you.

OSO upcoming events

The OSO “In Motion” 2025-26 season is not over yet. There are many incredible performances in store. Next month alone there will be two performances, one dedicated to the holiday season and the other to ring in the new year. Keep an eye on the JOLT News event calendar, more information should be posted there soon.

https://www.thejoltnews.com/stories/olympia-symphony-orchestra-performs-listen-concert,27076?