Is the Signature Symphony at TCC a professional or a college orchestra? 

Professional.  Our residence status at Tulsa Community College is an educational venture, but the Signature Symphony is a professional per service artistic ensemble, consisting of talented musicians from Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma.  Many of our players work full-time in music, as music educators in Oklahoma’s public schools and universities, or as professional soloists or ensemble members in addition to their employment with Signature Symphony. 

 How long has the Signature Symphony existed?

Although the name has changed, the ensemble has served Tulsa in performance since 1978.  It was originally conceived as the Tulsa Little Symphony Orchestra, a chamber ensemble, and in the early 80’s became known as Oklahoma Sinfonia, presenting a pops and light classics series at the Brady Theater. In 1996, the Sinfonia became orchestra-in-residence at Tulsa Community College and made the VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education its home.  To further enhance its identification at Tulsa Community College, the name changed to Signature Symphony at TCC.  The Signature Symphony has also served as the pit orchestra for Tulsa Ballet productions since 1991, and provides orchestral support for many other events around the Tulsa area.

 What does “Orchestra-in-Residence at TCC” mean?

This means that the Signature Symphony is housed with TCC’s VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education (PACE), and is an integral partner with TCC’s Performing Arts Institute and music education ventures.  Through this residency, Signature Symphony also provides a music education outreach on behalf of TCC to area public schools.  Most importantly, the administrative support of Tulsa Community College since 1996 has allowed us to continue providing professional orchestral services to Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma (now for more than 30 years). 

What is the Signature Symphony’s education outreach?

We believe it is important that artistic organizations have integral education relationships with the community at all levels.  Two of our most prominent education ventures are the Higher Scale Music Education Partnership with surrounding public schools, where we co-hire musicians to both perform and teach, and our Performance Plus! discussion/performance classes, where students get an in-depth look at the lives and works of master composers. 

We consider our most important program to be the Higher Scale instrumental education partnership with local public schools.  Through Higher Scale we have found a way to co-hire qualified instrumental specialists to teach music at elementary and middle-school level, where music education is critically needed today.  The other part of the co-hiring arrangement employs the intrumentalists as orchestra members, so that they have opportunities to both instruct and perform.

With Performance Plus! events, both student and adult attendees can delve into the lives of one or more master composers each year, with lively discussion led by Barry Epperley, and key compositions performed by talented Tulsa artists and ensembles.  This class has grown annually and is becoming a favorite for those interested in an entertaining approach to classical music education.

 Where else do the Signature Symphony instrumentalists perform?

Our players are at the core of the Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma symphonic community.  In addition to their work with the Signature Symphony, you will have seen many of them in the rosters of other concert organizations such as the former Tulsa Philharmonic, the Bartlesville Symphony, and the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. You will also find them in special event orchestras such as the masterful ensemble for the Luciano Pavarotti concert at the Mabee Center, and the highly acclaimed presentation of the Shostakovich 13th Symphony with poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center in 2005, as well as in pit orchestras for numerous musical and entertainment events in our area.

Why did you return to the Classics after years of success with pops programming?

This orchestra began in 1978 as a chamber orchestra, and our goal has always been to return as a classical series presenter when the time was right, for many reasons.  Our orchestra members are classically trained and love the challenge and depth of the masterworks.  The Signature Classics series also gives us the opportunity to create a new classical education experience that has generated an excellent audience response.  Since the series began in 2001, our classical series audience has grown to more than 1,000 members and continues to develop.  We’re very excited about this opportunity to develop a new classical music audience in Tulsa.

How can I audition for the Signature Symphony or for the Signature Chorale? 

Just follow the links to these pages for audition information.

• Signature Symphony auditions
• Signature Chorale auditions

Can students audition for the Signature Symphony?

Yes, instrumental students who qualify to play at a professional level are welcome to audition, and often have opportunities to perform in the orchestra.

Where is your office located?

We are located on the TCC Southeast Campus (81st & Hwy 169) in Room 6267F of the PACEClassroomsBuilding.  Our mailing address and phone are

Signature Symphony at TCC
Room 6267F
10300 E. 81st St.Tulsa, OK  74133
918-595-7786

Where is your ticket office located?

You can purchase Signature Symphony tickets at the PACE Ticket Office in the lobby of the VanTrease PACE, 10300 E. 81st Street, Tulsa, OK. 74133-4513.  Phone orders may be placed by calling 918-595-7777.  And you can now purchase single tickets to Signature Symphony events by going online to www.myticketoffice.com.

How can I get on your mailing list?

Just click here to send your request to our Ticket Office.



Have another question that is not addressed here? Send your query to the Signature Symphony.