In Saturday’s (10/4) Cascadia Daily News (Bellingham, Washington), Cocoa Laney writes, “In 1976, five locals gathered to play music in honor of the United States’ 200th anniversary—and accidentally founded an orchestra. ‘They’re like, “Let’s keep doing this. It’s fun,” ’ recounted Gail Ridenour, executive director of the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra…. What began as the Whatcom Bicentennial Orchestra is now the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra (BSO), which kickstarts its ‘golden’ season on Oct. 5. Over the past half-century, the orchestra has amassed a library of more than 500 works, and performances are regularly attended by a minimum of 1,000 eager audience members…. The orchestra also draws in guest soloists from across the world, and its Harmony from Discord series—which Ridenour said features ‘music that transcends oppression’—even caught the attention of famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma. He’ll join BSO for a sold-out performance on April 26, 2026…. Ridenour said planning each program is akin to solving ‘the best puzzle.’ As for how her team juggles seven shows, 80-plus musicians, 100 subs, a roster of soloists and an ever-growing mountain of sheet music? Every performance is one of a kind—and every musician, staff member and volunteer plays a role.”
Read the entire Cascadia Daily News feature, written by Cocoa Laney and photographed by Santiago Ochoa, here: https://www.cascadiadaily.com/2025/oct/04/after-50-years-bellingham-symphony-orchestras-moving-parts-form-harmonious-whole/
