Founded in 2010, Seattle Modern Orchestra (SMO) is the only large ensemble in the Pacific Northwest solely dedicated to the music of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Led by co-artistic directors Julia Tai and Jérémy Jolley, SMO commissions and premieres new works from an international lineup of composers, in addition to presenting important pieces from the contemporary repertoire that are rarely if ever heard by Seattle audiences. The ensemble "operates at that exciting cusp between old and new, between tradition and innovation" (Vanguard Seattle) curating new sounds and experiences for concert goers in the region.

SMO provides audiences with performances of the best in contemporary chamber and orchestral music, and develops radio talks, lectures, and other forms of outreach in an accessible and inviting format all designed to expand the listener’s appreciation and awareness of the music of today.

Seattle Modern Orchestra: Sonidos Music of the Americas

Friday, October 20, 2023 @ 8:00pm – 9:30pm (PDT)
The Chapel at the Good Shepherd Center, Seattle, WA, United States
Angélica NegrónEspacios, objetos, sonidos, y tiempo (for flute, percussion, piano, cello, & electronics; 2021)
Carlos Sanchez-GutierrezTrio Variations (for flute, clarinet, & piano; 2005)
Silvina Milsteincristales y susurros (whispers and crystals) (for quintet; 2007; US premiere)
Luis Fernando AmayaStudies for Bestiario: seis (for soprano, flute, clarinet, percussion, & electronics; 2020)
José-Luis HurtadoRetour (for seven instruments; 2013)

$25 ($15 senior, $10 student)

Seattle Modern Orchestra: The Nothing Man & Other Tales

Saturday, June 3, 2023 @ 8:00pm – 9:30pm (PDT)
The Great Hall at Town Hall Seattle, Seattle, WA, United States
Online and in-person

In person: $30 ($15 senior, $10 student) |
Stream: $15

Seattle Modern Orchestra with UW Composers

Tuesday, February 7, 2023 @ 7:30pm – 9:30pm (PST)
Meany Studio Theater at Meany Hall, Seattle, WA, United States
Jeffrey BowenStalasso II (for flute, violin, cello, & piano)
Joe KryciaOver It (for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion, & electronics)
Yonatan RonThe Bent Spoon (for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, & percussion)
Melissa WangCrushed Splits (for flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano, & percussion)

$20 ($15 UW Affiliate/employee/retiree/UWAA member, $10 student/senior)

Seattle Modern Orchestra: therefore i was

Friday, February 3, 2023 @ 8:00pm – 9:30pm (PST)
The Chapel at the Good Shepherd Center, Seattle, WA, United States

$25 ($15 senior, $10 student)

Seattle Modern Orchestra: Threadgill, Iyer, Kim, Xenakis

Tuesday, November 8, 2022 @ 8:00pm – 10:00pm (PST)
The Royal Room, Seattle, WA, United States
Program includes works by Henry Threadgill, Vijay Iyer, Ha-Yang Kim, and Iannis Xenakis.

$15

SMO @ The Royal Room

Tuesday, November 8, 2022 @ 8:00pm – 10:00pm (PST)
The Royal Room, Seattle, WA, United States
Henry ThreadgillSixfivetwo (for string quartet, Seattle premiere; 2018)
Vijay IyerMutations (IV, VI, and VII for string quartet, piano, and electronics; 2005)
Ha-Yang KimLens (for cello and pedals; 2006)
Iannis XenakisMikka (1971)
Iannis XenakisMikka «S» (1975)
Iannis XenakisAkéa (1986)

$20 at the door ($15 in advance)

Seattle Modern Orchestra: The shape of the wind, the shadow of time

Friday, June 24, 2022 @ 8:00pm – 9:30pm (PDT)
The Great Hall at Town Hall Seattle, Seattle, WA, United States
Online and in-person
Tania LeónIndigena
Kate SoperNow Is Forever (for soprano & chamber orchestra)
Huck HodgeThe shape of the wind, the shadow of time (for percussion soloist & ensemble; world premiere)

Online: $15 | In person: $25 ($15 senior, $10 student)

Seattle Modern Orchestra: Darius Jones in Seattle

Friday, April 15, 2022 @ 8:00pm – 9:30pm (PDT)
The Forum at Town Hall Seattle, Seattle, WA, United States
Online and in-person
Christopher DeLaurentiGrey Angel (for guitar and electronics)
Angelique PoteatCyclic Complement (for bass clarinet and electronics)
Anne Leilehua LanzilottiFind (for solo viola and electronics)
Yiğit KolatInference Engines
Eva-Maria Houbenecho fantasia V (for any kind and number of instruments or voices)
Darius JonesWAR (world premiere)

Online: $15 | In person: $25 ($15 senior, $10 student)

Seattle Modern Orchestra: Concert 1 – Dissociation

Friday, November 19, 2021 @ 8:00pm – 9:30pm (PST)
The Forum at Town Hall Seattle, Seattle, WA, United States
Online and in-person
Kaley Lane Eaton – Dissociation, or Self-Portrait (world premiere)
Marisol Jiménez – Bestiario Onírico II – Ciudadela (US premiere)
Marisol Jiménez – Yiríya aiteiya (US premiere)
Wang Lu – Ryan and Dan
Fausto Romitelli – Professor Bad Trip – Lesson 1

Online: $15 | In-person: $25 ($15 senior, $10 student)

Seattle Modern Orchestra: Anahita Abbasi – World Premiere [LIVE]

Sunday, June 6, 2021 @ 10:30pm – 11:30pm (EDT)
Online event
Marcos Balter – Vision Mantra for violin, viola, and cello (2009)
Sarah Hennies – Growing Block for 4 to 10 musicians (2019)
Anna Thorvaldsdottir – Shades of Silence for violin, viola, cello, and piano (2017)
Anahita Abbasi – Situation VI – Happenings for piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, and bass (2021) [world premiere]

$10

Music for Paul: A Concert in Memory of Paul Taub

Sunday, May 30, 2021 @ 7:00pm – 9:00pm (EDT)
Online event
Featuring performances by Seattle Modern Orchestra, Claire Chase, Byron Schenkman, Jovino Santos Neto, Kin of the Moon, Angelique Poteat, & many others in memory of flutist/contemporary music champion Paul Taub.

Free

Seattle Modern Orchestra: Darius Jones – World Premiere [LIVE]

Saturday, May 1, 2021 @ 10:30pm – 11:30pm (EDT)
Online event
Experimental saxophonist/composer Darius Jones collaborates with SMO for this world premiere to coincide with May Day.

$10

Seattle Modern Orchestra: Ha-Yang Kim – the day is burnt, the night is calm [LIVE]

Sunday, March 14, 2021 @ 10:30pm – 11:30pm (EDT)
Online event
World premiere of Ha-Yang Kim's new work for violin, viola, cello, bass, harp, & electric guitar, exploring "the sonic wonderland of microtuning". Additional works TBA.

$10

Seattle Modern Orchestra: Jérémy Jolley – (contro-)clessidra I, III, IV [LIVE]

Sunday, January 31, 2021 @ 10:30pm – 11:30pm (EST)
Online event
SMO features Jérémy Jolley's new piece, (contro-)clessidra I, III, IV
, a series of duets exploring the tension between “being together” & “being apart.”

$10

Seattle Modern Orchestra: This is Beethoven – Farrin, Wang, & Kagel (on-demand until 12/19/2020)

Wednesday, December 16, 2020 @ 10:30pm – 11:30pm (EST)
Online event
Suzanne Farrin – uscirmi di braccia (leave my arms) for viola and percussion
Wang Lu – New work TBA (world premiere)

Ticket price TBA

Seattle Modern Orchestra: Tom Baker – Simultaneously Solitary

Friday, October 23, 2020 @ 10:30pm – 11:30pm (EDT)
Online event
Edison Denisov – Clarinet Sonata
Lou Harrison – Air in G minor
Jarrad Powell – The Moon and Sun are Eternal Travelers
Tom Baker – Simultaneously Solitary (Shendos No. 14)
Tyshawn Sorey – In Memoriam Muhal Richard Abrams for violin and glockenspiel

$10

[BROADCAST] Seattle Modern Orchestra: Messiaen, Dixon, Hodge

Saturday, July 25, 2020 @ 10:30pm – 12:00am (EDT)
Online event
Olivier Messiaen – Quatuor pour la fin du temps (excerpts) (1941)
Greg Dixon – Mirror Lake II for clarinet and electronics (2020) [world premiere]
Huck Hodge – Alêtheia (2011) [US premiere performance 2014]

Free

[BROADCAST] New Music Gathering: Seattle Modern Orchestra w/ Cristina Valdés

Monday, June 29, 2020 @ 9:00pm – 10:00pm (EDT)
Online event
Melia Watras – Otra vez for piano (2019) (world premiere)
Yiğit Kolat – Tierra Arrasada ("Scorched Earth") (excerpt) (world premiere)
Kaley Lane Eaton – Dissociation (excerpt) (world premiere)
Wayne Horvitz – 188 Sullivan: Varèse meets Bird (excerpt)

Free