behind the curtain
MUSICAL directors
Svend Rønning | Artistic Director (2007-present)
In his fifteenth year as Artistic Director of the Second City Chamber Series, Svend is one of the most active musicians in the Puget Sound, serving as Chair of the Faculty of Stringed Instruments at Pacific Lutheran University and Concertmaster of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. As soloist, he has appeared with various orchestras, including the Charlottesville Symphony, the Prague Radio Symphony and Orchestra Seattle and has served as Concertmaster for several orchestras around the country, including the Charlottesville Symphony, the San Jose Symphony, and the Tacoma Opera. Dr. Rønning has an extensive experience in chamber music, having founded the Rivanna String Quartet at the University of Virginia and currently serving as violinist with the Regency String Quartet at PLU.
Svend Rønning graduated from Pacific Lutheran University where he was mentored by violinist Ann Tremaine and SCCS Artistic Director Emeritus Jerry Kracht, and has worked with a number of other distinguished teachers including Syoko Aki, Sidney Harth, Jaap Schröder and members of the Tokyo String Quartet. He is a former faculty member of the University of Virginia and holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Yale University.
The Second City Chamber Series has received consistent critical acclaim during Svend Rønning’s tenure as Artistic Director. Rosemary Ponnekanti of the Tacoma News Tribune summarizes, “Thank Goodness for the Second City Chamber Series.”
Dr. Zachary Lyman | Director, Young Chamber Players
Zachary Lyman is Professor of Music at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), where he teaches classroom music, directs the trumpet ensemble, coaches chamber music, and performs with the Lyric Brass Quintet. He received the 2017 Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching. Dr. Lyman holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Trumpet Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa where he was the recipient of the prestigious Iowa Performance Fellowship, the highest award for graduate study. He received the Bachelor of Music Degree with honors from the College of Wooster and the Master of Music degree with honors and distinction in performance from the New England Conservatory of Music.
He has performed with the New England Philharmonic, and the Boston Philharmonic, Cedar Rapids, and Quad Cities Symphony Orchestras. Lyman has also performed as featured soloist with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, PLU Wind Ensemble, PLU Symphony Orchestra, the University Chorale, Choir of the West, the Tacoma Community College Orchestra, the Seattle Bach Choir, the Tacoma Brass Band, and many others.
He plays throughout the northwest as a member of the Seattle-based Mosaic Brass Quintet. He has appeared with the Vashon Opera Orchestra, at the Olympic Music Festival, and plays regularly with Symphony Tacoma, the Tacoma Opera and City Ballet Orchestras, and is on Evergreen Music Festival’s summer faculty.
Jerry Kracht | Artistic Director Emeritus
Jerry served as Second City Chamber Series artistic director for twenty-five years and as frequent clarinetist on the Series from its inception in 1977 through the close of the 2006-2007 season. During that time he oversaw the programming and production of nearly 150 concerts, performing on some 80 of them himself. Under his leadership, Series offerings were more than doubled over the years, with venues added at Lakewold Gardens and First Lutheran Church in addition to the original Annie Wright School. He also led the Series to awards for artistic excellence from both the Tacoma Arts Commission and the Pierce County Arts Commission and established an educational adjunct for young musicians, the Young Chamber Players, soon to enter its third decade.
Dr. Kracht taught clarinet and conducted the University Symphony Orchestra at Pacific Lutheran University for over thirty years. He is now emeritus professor of music there, where he was also a founding member of the Camas Wind Quintet and the Regency Concert Series. In addition to his many performances in the Northwest–both for Second City Chamber Series and Pacific Lutheran University–he has performed in Canada, Japan, The Peoples Republic of China, Hong Kong, Australia, Norway and Germany. For his work in both organizations, he was given the 2007 Margaret K. Williams Excellence in the Arts Award by the Pierce County Arts Commission.
He has served in an advisory role as artistic director emeritus at Second City Chamber Series since 2007.
Dedicated BOARD and staff
Special thanks to all who serve on our board of directors. Their commitment and vision are instrumental in helping the Second City Chamber Series achieve its mission.
Angelia Alexander | President
Philip Pletcher | Vice President
Marissa Caswell | Secretary
Robert Beck | Treasurer
Rena Konaka | Executive Assistant to Artistic Director and YCP Director
Jennifur Newhouse
Kathleen Wiegman
Debbie Winskill
Jessa Delosreyes | Interim Administrative Intern
