Tulsa Symphony Orchestra: 20th Anniversary Concert with Emanuel Ax
Tulsa Performing Arts Center
October 4, 2025
Last Saturday evening’s concert by the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra—a festive celebration of its 20th anniversary season—started a little differently than usual, with two communal moments that bonded the audience with the musicians before a single note was played.
First, TSO Executive Director Ron Predl welcomed us and asked us to acknowledge longtime Tulsa World arts writer James Watts, who was in the audience. The musicians and the crowd rose as one to thank this pillar of the Tulsa arts scene, whose recent termination by the corporate owner of the World is a true loss for our community.
Then Predl announced that the evening would start with a group-sing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” I was surprised, because classical music concerts don’t usually go there. It’s not a sporting event or a town hall meeting. Besides, I’m a little soured on the whole patriotism/singing/pledging thing lately, what with ICE and banned books and the rise of fascism and whatnot.