Vadym Kholodenko, Van Cliburn gold medalist

It’ll be going on tour with Cliburn gold medalist (and the FWSO’s new artistic partner) Vadym Kholodenko to five cities: Madrid, Oviedo, Alicante, Zaragoza and San Sebastian — with a possible sixth city to be arranged.

International touring, musical director Miguel Harth-Bedoya says, is just what the orchestra has needed. The last time the FWSO toured was in 1989 — also to Spain.

Here are the details:

The FWSO Announces Tour of Spain in May 2016

FORT WORTH – May 15, 2014 – The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association is proud to announce that the Orchestra has been invited to participate in a multi-city tour of Spain to take place in May 2016. The tour will be presented by Conciertos Augusto, a highly-regarded arts management firm based in Madrid, which has already secured five performances in cities across Spain. The Fort Worth Symphony is also pleased to announce that the featured soloist for this tour will be 2013 Cliburn gold medalist and the Orchestra’s new Artistic Partner, Vadym Kholodenko.

“Many would say that the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra has achieved the status of a ‘great’ orchestra,” states Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Music Director of the FWSO. “There is only one thing that I believe has been missing, and that is international touring. I am deeply honored to be part of this important milestone in the Orchestra’s history.”

The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Association has not undertaken a project of this magnitude in more than 25 years. The Orchestra has been on three international tours in its history: its first was to Mexico in 1981, followed by a historic 21-day tour of China in 1983, and most recently, a tour to Spain in 1989.

“One of the biggest obstacles to international touring for orchestras is the monumental cost of such an endeavor,” says Amy Adkins, President and CEO of the FWSOA. “However, I am thrilled to report that more than 80% of the funding is already in place, which allows us to embark on this historic project without compromising our financial stability.”

Conciertos Augusto has confirmed five dates at major halls in the cities of Madrid, Oviedo, Alicante, Zaragoza and San Sebastian, and they are seeking a sixth city.