The Federal Way Symphony begins its new season October 4 and 5 with a bang, or rather with the incredibly smooth and burnished sounds of Joshua Roman, the former darling of the Seattle Symphony.

At age 22, Roman became the youngest member of the Seattle Symphony, only to leave after this lasts season to purse a solo career.

His small intimate concert excursions around Seattle at the Triple Door and Town Hall included lines of young adoring girls waiting to see the mop-headed virtuoso and get his autograph.

The Seattle Symphony quickly took notice and began using him at various functions, a walking advertisement, so to speak, that classical music can be young, "with-it" and not the stuffy music of long-dead composers.

Roman has added an air of young, fun sophistication to the art of cello performances, looking much like a modern version of a Botticelli painting.

His music has been called, "clearheaded, natural, unforced", with a "personal vision of how music should be presented."

It was only natural that after such a glamorous introduction and subsequent success in a big city orchestra that Roman has joined Opus3, one of the largest artist management companies in the world, as a solo force to be reckoned with.

Roman is also retaining his Seattle connections by taking the reins as the artistic director of Town Hall's new TownMusic Series.

That's quite some accomplishment for someone whose contemporaries are just out of college and looking to dabble his toes in a very uncertain world.

Joshua Roman has arrived in grand style, cello in hand.

Maestro Davenport will begin his 28th season as the Music Director of the Federal Way Symphony at the premiere concert opening with Joshua Roman October 4 and 5.

The Symphony's premiere concert takes place at St. Luke's, located at 515 South 312th Street. The October 4 show begins at 7:30 p.m., while the Sunday, October 5 performance commences at 2 p.m.

The season also includes a Holiday Concert, December 6 and & 7; a Swing Concert, February 7 and 8; Winterlude, March 6 and 7; Chamber Concert, April 5; and the Season Finale, May 2 and 3.

Tickets are $20-$25 for a single concert, and season tickets for all six concerts are also available.

Season subscribers are eligible for a discount for the New Year's Eve Concert at The Commons.

Students 18 and under are admitted free to regular season concerts.

For information, please call the Symphony office at 253-529-9857.