Sydney goes on a ‘Journey’ with Olympia Chamber Orchestra 

Rachel Benton

It remains an honor to attend performances and give you all, JOLT readers, an insider scoop on our local arts scene. While I believe my perspective is valuable, I also feel it's important that you hear multiple perspectives, when possible, which I offer in this column in a variety of ways. 

Every once in a while, an opportunity comes up where I can give someone from the community tickets to a performance and interview them afterward to hear about it.

Today, it is my delight to introduce you to my friend, Sydney Hann, owner of Hot Toddy boutique, who attended the Olympia Chamber Orchestra "Journey" concert on Oct. 25, in my place.  

Hot Toddy Boutique is where I get the majority of my performance outfits! Every time I step into Hot Toddy, I am enchanted by the vintage beauty that surrounds me, as well as the music they play from a bygone era. I’ve gone there when I needed peace, a dose of whimsy, or encouraging conversation with Hann.  

Hann is a truly delightful, down to earth, lovely person. I hope you enjoy hearing about her “Journey” with Olympia Chamber Orchestra.  

Sydney’s perspective 

Benton: How did you enjoy the concert?  

Hann: “It was so nice, lively, and fun to watch. It almost made me feel like I was getting out of Olympia, as the quality was more sophisticated than I would expect from a small town group. 

“Watching musicians and the different ways they would each play their instruments was exciting, and their enthusiasm was just wonderful. I loved the age diversity amongst the players. All the pieces the orchestra played were so different from each other, but all very well performed.  

“I left feeling so inspired, and it made me want to pick up the piano again! I left there feeling like I was riding high on a musical wave! I loved escaping into the music. The solo violinist (MJ McKean) played music to my ears (literally and figuratively). It was the sweetest, smoothest, silkiest music that just made my whole being happy! I thoroughly enjoyed it!”  

Benton: Was this your first time seeing the Olympia Chamber Orchestra? 

Hann: “I went one other time with my husband, the father of our children, 30 years ago on our first date. That introspection offered me a beautiful journey. It made me reflect on the person I was back then versus who I am now, and how far I’ve come. Going into this, I was pretty excited and feeling nostalgic, but it definitely exceeded my expectations.”  

Benton: If you were talking to someone about classical music, specifically someone who might find classical music boring, what would you say to them? 

Hann: “Music has always been my number one escape. Music is one of the most important forms of art as far as I’m concerned. When people chalk up classical music as boring, I think it is because they’ve only heard a few things and haven’t really explored the breadth of what’s out there. I would encourage people to go to live shows, explore music, and hunt down interesting pieces. You must be willing to listen to a lot to find what you like.

“You can’t just say, ‘I don’t like classical music’ because it’s like saying, ‘I don't like the Earth,’ or something like that; it’s too wide of a genre to completely write off. You just must find what you like, and you will find something you like because there’s such a great variety of amazing classical music out there that will blow your mind. There is something for everybody.  

“My husband, who has been deceased for a while now, really loved classical music and was a horrible snob about it, but I eventually opened him up to explore more. We thought, with such a rich history, how could you not think this was the greatest thing? He was very into Wagnerian opera, which I was not a fan of, but we still met each other in our love of classical music and the beauty it offers.

“I listen to KBRD a lot when I don’t want to have to curate anything because they play music from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. They play old 78s that were made a hundred years ago that have been digitalized. It’s really obscure music, but I really like it!”  

Take Sydney's word for it and make it a priority to attend an Olympia Chamber Orchestra concert this 2026-27 season.  

Find out more about the season on the Olympia Chamber Orchestra website, and keep an eye out for their concerts on the JOLT events calendar.  

Rachel is a writer, arts advocate, performing arts enthusiast, and passionate about our beloved Thurston County. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in History and Political Science and a minor in Music. You can enjoy more of Rachel's writings by visiting her website. All inquiries for Rachel can be submitted here.