PORT ANGELES — After more than three decades in a donated space, the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra has moved into and purchased its own place.
“It seems to be the perfect setup for collaborative office work. It has a very open feeling, which really goes with my whole, dare I say, work philosophy,” said Jonathan Pasternack, who is both music director and executive director of the orchestra.
The nonprofit Symphony had to pack up and move last June. For 31 years, the Black Ball Ferry Line had provided the space at 216 N. Laurel St. free of charge, but early this year, the company let Pasternack know it needed the rooms for its own operations.
After putting out word that a new home was needed, Pasternack talked with Rick Thanem, longtime owner of The Violin Shop in Port Angeles. Thanem had moved his store from C Street to First Street, and was looking to sell the vacated space. The Symphony moved in, as a renter, at the end of June.
“It grew on them, I guess,” Thanem said this week.
He and the Symphony finalized the sale of the building at 922 S. C St. last month. It’s about 200 square feet larger than the previous office and has more storage, Pasternack said.
He noted too that this move bodes well for the orchestra’s future in Port Angeles.
“We were very fortunate,” he said, “to have far-sighted financial planning and management over the last two decades,” with a prudent board of directors and the now-retired Mark Wendeborn as the executive director.
“That, coupled with the generosity of patrons who have remembered the Symphony in their estate planning, means we found ourselves in the incredibly fortunate position — especially for a small nonprofit — to make an investment in property,” Pasternack said.
He added that music lovers who support the Port Angeles Symphony make it possible to present 14 concerts a year — and to keep the ticket prices affordable.
Less than half of the orchestra’s concert budget comes from season ticket sales; fundraisers and contributions from local supporters cover the rest.
The new C Street office is open from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and by appointment.
To reach the Symphony, call 360-457-5579 or email PASymphony@olypen.com.
Thanem, for his part, does sales and repair of violins and other stringed instruments in The Violin Shop at 330 E. First St.
He’s renting there, and opted to sell his old place to simplify his life prior to his eventual retirement. Thanem, 67, and his wife Debi aren’t retiring any time soon, but they did want to get the C Street building off their plate.
With the Symphony’s 87th concert season now in play — Pops & Picnic concerts were Sept. 27 and 28 at the Vern Burton Community Center — Pasternack is happy to have the transition made.
“I’m so grateful for all of the help we got,” he said, “from volunteers: musicians, the board, and supporters in helping this move go as smoothly as it did.”
For information about the orchestra, see portangeles symphony.org.
