The Federal Way Symphony is presenting a five-concert season for 2022-23 in celebration of its 40th anniversary.

Season tickets are available at fwpaec.org or by phone at (253) 835-7010. Single-concert tickets will be available beginning Aug. 1.

“The Federal Way community has given so much to our organization,” said incoming Symphony President Brandon Jenkins-Moak. “We want to celebrate that support during our 40th anniversary season.”

Season highlights include the return of the Symphony Big Band featuring Dmitri Matheny on flugelhorn, appearances by three talented women as soloists and guest conductor, and Handel’s “Hallelujah” Chorus will once again echo through the Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center in December.

“The orchestra is a very versatile and flexible one, able to take on any stylistic and interpretive challenges thrown to it,” said Music Director Adam Stern. “The 40th anniversary season will highlight the Federal Way Symphony’s ability to shine in a wide spectrum of repertoire, from Bach and Handel to some of the finest works from the 20th century.”

The 2022-23 season line-up is:

Season Premiere, “Strings and …” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 16.

The season opener will showcase the string section with a variety of other instruments: harpsichord, oboe, harp plus vibraphone and timpani. Seattle Symphony principal oboist Mary Lynch VanderKolk will perform Vaughan Williams’ Concerto in A minor in honor of the composer’s 150th birth anniversary.

“I’m excited to collaborate with Mary Lynch VanderKolk on what is considered to be the foremost concerto for oboe other than Mozart’s,” Stern said. “Vaughan Williams is my favorite 20th-century composer and Mary’s stunning technique and sensitive lyricism are exactly what his gorgeous concerto needs.”

“Holiday Traditions” at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 is a concert of popular carols plus a suite of the best-known and most-loved choruses from Handel’s Messiah featuring the Federal Way Chorale. The concert will be followed by the annual Federal Way city tree lighting at Town Square Park.

Big Band Concert “Flugelhorn Fantasy” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023. After a three-year hiatus, the Federal Way Symphony Big Band will return to the stage. Soloist Dmitri Matheny will bring the flugelhorn’s distinctive mellow tone to the traditional big band sound.

Spring Concert, “Words and Music” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 5, 2023. Guest conductor Anna Wittstruck will take the baton as Stern recites Edith Sitwell and William Walton’s Façade. “Walton’s mini-masterpiece is really a concerto for speaking voice,” Stern said. “He painstakingly set Sitwell’s whimsical texts to specific rhythms; the result could legitimately be called ‘classical rap.’” The concert will also include The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant by Francis Poulenc.

Season Finale and 40th Anniversary Celebration, “Masterpieces from Three Centuries” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 16, 2023. The Symphony will mark its 40th anniversary with pieces by Haydn and Dvořák, Schubert’s Symphony No. 5 and a trio of American pieces for flute and orchestra featuring Federal Way Symphony principal flutist Kate Mondragon.

Season ticket packages are $150 for adult admission, $100 for seniors and military and free for children under 18.

Adult and senior/military packages save $5 per concert over single-concert prices which are $35 for adult admission, $25 for senior/military and free for children under 18.

“We are thrilled that our generous donors and sponsors allow us to offer discounted and free tickets for children, seniors and our military,” said Jenkins-Moak.

All Federal Way Symphony concerts are at the Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center, 31510 Pete von Reichbauer Way South, which offers convenient access to I-5 and ample free parking.