The mission of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra is to inspire, educate and enrich our community through live symphonic music. 

The Tacoma Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has been a vital part of Tacoma's cultural landscape for 60 years.  As a leader in the arts community, the Tacoma Symphony strives to engage and enlighten audiences through music performed by a local professional symphony orchestra.  With a range of programming that includes classical, pops and seasonal repertoire, the Tacoma Symphony aims to attract audiences of all ages, from all walks of life and with varied musical interests. 

The Tacoma Symphony Orchestra was originally established in 1946 with 30 musicians from the University of Puget Sound.  Today the TSO is Tacoma's only full-scale professional orchestra with eighty-plus members, an affiliated community chorus, a highly regarded Music Director and a full-time administrative staff of four.  Each year, the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra brings music into the lives of nearly 20,000 citizens throughout Pierce County and the Greater Puget Sound area.  Offering quality classical and contemporary orchestral performances and an award-winning youth education program, the Tacoma Symphony is a respected professional arts organization that helps define Tacoma and Pierce County as a community committed to excellence in education, an exceptional quality of life, rich cultural traditions, inspiring natural surroundings and a thriving business community.

Through the Years

The Tacoma Symphony's first concert, conducted by Clyde Keutzer on December 9, 1946, was a performance of Handel's Messiah.  Raymond Vaught raised the baton for the first full orchestra concert on February 16, 1947 and proceeded to lead the Tacoma Symphony through its first decade.

In the fall of 1959, Edward Sefarian became the new conductor and music director of the Tacoma Symphony, a position he held for 35 years.  Maestro Sefarian helped raise the artistic caliber of the orchestra and laid critical groundwork that shaped the future of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. 

With the engagement of Harvey Felder as music director in 1993, the Tacoma Symphony became a fully professional orchestra.  Today, the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra is seen as leader in a vibrant cultural landscape, with a mission to inspire, educate and enrich our community through live symphonic music.