SEATTLE — Benaroya Hall will open its doors for a free, daylong celebration on Sunday, Oct. 18, bringing together live music, visual art, storytelling, video game composers, and even tattoo artists to mark its first major renovation since opening in 1998.
The event will feature a performance by members of The Head and the Heart, family activities, and opportunities to explore the renovated downtown concert hall.
Andrew Joslyn, associate director of popular programming for the Seattle Symphony, told KIRO Newsradio’s “Seattle’s Morning News” that the changes reflect a broader goal: making Benaroya a gathering place beyond scheduled concerts.
“We want to be able to create a hub and a space that we can bring community together,” Joslyn said.
Renovated Benaroya Hall aims to become a community gathering place
The renovation includes a redesigned gallery, relocated ticket offices, new seating, and expanded food offerings. Joslyn said the changes are intended to make the building feel warmer and encourage visitors to linger.
“It feels more inviting,” he said.
He envisions people stopping by during lunch breaks, meeting friends or bringing family members to enjoy the space, whether or not they plan to attend a performance.
That approach also shapes the open house, which Joslyn described as a celebration of a broad cross-section of Seattle’s creative community. Programming will span music, literature, visual art, food, and activities for children.
The Head and the Heart will return after a sold-out appearance with the symphony last season. The band’s members will perform during the event’s headlining concert at 4 p.m.
Chinese American Bear will also perform with a Seattle Symphony string quartet.
Families can sample the symphony’s Tiny Tots concert series, and the schedule includes a National Geographic presentation, a romance-fantasy literary panel and a DJ set.
For visitors looking for something more permanent, Mama Bird Tattoo will offer flash tattoos, predetermined designs rather than custom artwork, Joslyn said.
Seattle’s gaming industry inspires expanded symphony programming
Another centerpiece is a panel highlighting video game composers, an area Joslyn has worked to expand since joining the symphony about two years ago.
Calling himself “a closet video game nut,” Joslyn said game scores have increasingly earned recognition as sophisticated works worthy of orchestral performance.
He compared the complexity and richness of some game music to film scores, including those associated with composer John Williams.
Joslyn said the Pacific Northwest’s game industry provides an opportunity to showcase the artists working behind familiar titles and major studios. He pointed to Bungie and Microsoft as examples of the region’s gaming presence.
The panel, he said, is meant to introduce Seattle audiences to creative talent working close to home.
That effort complements the symphony’s growing lineup of video game concerts. Joslyn said recent performances featuring music from “Undertale” sold out the hall for two nights. The symphony has also presented music from “Stardew Valley” and “Elden Ring.”
Those concerts have demonstrated strong audience interest in hearing game soundtracks performed by an orchestra, he said.
Want to see The Head and the Heart? Arrive early for tickets
Although the open house is free, visitors will need tickets for the 4 p.m. concert featuring The Head and the Heart. Joslyn said tickets will be distributed in person at Benaroya Hall starting at 9 a.m. that day.
Seating will be general admission. Tickets are not required for the other open house events and activities, he said.
Joslyn encouraged people interested in the headlining concert to arrive early to pick up tickets, then spend time exploring the building and the rest of the celebration.
“Literally, we’re cramming, you know, a music festival and then some into the hall for the entirety of the day,” he said.
For Joslyn, the event offers a chance to show visitors how the renovated hall can serve Seattle’s community.
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Manda Factor is the host of “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. Follow Manda on X and email her here.