Featured in Bellingham Alive magazine, written by Chloe Nelson
For tens of thousands of years, music has been a gateway for people from all walks of life to get together, bond, and create community. We’re lucky enough to have an orchestra right in Bellingham that embodies these very things. Bellingham Symphony Orchestra (BSO), the resident orchestra of Mount Baker Theatre, has been around for 50 years as of 2025.
“We are so excited for our Golden Season! We decided to dream big for our 50th and think outside the box,” says Executive Director Gail Ridenour.
BSO was created in 1976 by local musicians who came together to celebrate the United States Bicentennial, going by the name ‘Whatcom County Bicentennial Orchestra.’ The name changed to Whatcom Symphony Orchestra in 1985, and in 1991 the orchestra started performing at Mount Baker Theatre. In 2019, the name was officially changed to the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra, and the rest is history.
Read the rest of Chloe Nelson's Bellingham Alive feature and see more photos here:
https://bellinghamalive.com/lifestyle/bellingham-symphony-orchestra-celebrates-50-years/
