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4.17.20 | Finding hope in a time of pandemic

Finding hope in a time of pandemic: How Hampton Roads artists are handling quarantine

With nearly a month of social distancing under our belts, it’s almost certain that most of us are in need of a little pick-me-up.

In times of uncertainty and discomfort, we often turn to the arts for distraction and relief. Like most things these days, the pandemic has made doing so a bit more difficult.

In this temporary world where concerts, movie screenings and art shows are banned for the foreseeable future, the artists who not long ago sat center stage are often still creating, practicing and sharing their efforts with the world.

We’ve asked local artists — from symphony musicians, rock singers and mural artists — to share their insights with us and tell us about what keeps their creative juices flowing and feeling hopeful.

Tom Reel
Bass player with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra

How artists are using their senses stay inspired in a time of isolation

Sight: The azaleas in the back yard are in full bloom.

Smell: It’s a good season for opening the windows — fresh air!

Hearing: With the windows open and the bird-feeders stocked, nature provides some music during the day, and at night I like to listen to old favorites (classical and Broadway, mostly) and also discover something new on occasion.

Taste: I am so not a chef! Fish sticks, pesto, lentils, lots of rice and pasta. Boring!

Touch: Actually practicing (double bass) a bit more even with no concerts on the near horizon. An old friend and good company.

What are you finding joy in during this time?

I’m watching classic historic baseball games on television. And if there sometimes appears to be a vacuum of leadership or goodwill where we might expect to find it, it is made up in the generosity and love and creativity to be found in everyday people. I’m especially hopeful for our future when I come across talented kids. They are more than the light at the end of the tunnel. They are the light in the tunnel!

 

Tanner Antonetti
Trombone player with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra

How artists are using their senses stay inspired in a time of isolation

Sight: I have a dog, so I usually walk around Ghent. Lately, it’s been surprisingly beautiful to walk around Colley Avenue at night. It’s unusually quiet, but still lit up as if everything is open.

Smell and taste: Before this, I was a pretty big wine nerd but now I definitely have the time to learn even more. As I have more time to have a more meaningful dinner ritual at home, I’m taking the time to allow myself to really taste and smell a nice glass of wine, patiently and without expectation.

Hearing: As predictable as it seems, I’ve been recalibrating my ear to the best recordings of trombone that I can find. I was worried going in to this unexpected time-off that I would have a lull in my motivation, but quite the opposite has happened. I feel like the more I listen to the classical music that I love and the musicians I admire, the more I want to take advantage of the time I have to delve further into my own development.

Touch: The first thing that comes to mind is my dog. His name’s Charlie, and I think he’s pretty happy to have more of mine and my fiancee’s attention. He sheds like you wouldn’t believe, but his hair is really soft and he’s a pretty handsome pup.

What are you finding joy in during this time?

The Confucius quote about everything having beauty but not everyone seeing it has been a pervasive thought lately. The ability to slow down in just about every aspect of my daily life has given me the opportunity to seek out the beauty in the everyday. The first coffee in the morning, cooking dinner at home, walking around my neighborhood. All without the seeming urgency of a clock ticking. I suppose my schedule for these things isn’t all that different from my life before this time, and I’m certainly not sleeping in all day and then just walking around for hours. But the lifted weight of having to be here or there at a certain time, having to rush in the mornings to walk the dog, make breakfast, “find” time for myself away from the job portion of my art. Because of that, I seem to be finding a silver lining as I let things slow down.

 

Anna Bishop
Violinist for the Virginia Symphony Orchestra

What songs are you listening to?

I’ve been listening to a Danish piano & bass duo called Bremer/McCoy. The last record I put on the turntable was Michael Franks’ “Objects of Desire.”

What books (or other reads) are helping you make it through the day?

Oh boy, I’m a big reader! I’ve recently finished: “The Far Field” by Madhuri Vijay, “Future Home of the Living God” by Louise Erdrich and “Lavinia” by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Is there a film or series you’ve watched recently that left you hopeful?

“Feel Good” starring and co-created by Mae Martin on Netflix.

Who are you reaching out to and how are you communicating with them?

I’ve been having fun getting back into art by writing letters to friends and family. It’s nice having a slower pace of life so we can get back to other ways of communicating besides texting and emailing.

What can you do to help others who are also struggling right now?

Richmond has an especially large amount of small businesses so we’re trying to do things like picking up food from small restaurants, breweries, and coffee roasters. This pandemic has been especially hard on the food and beverage industry so we’re trying to do our part.

What are you finding joy in during this time?

I’m finding deep gratitude for spring showing up during this difficult time so that we can take walks with our greyhound, Louie, and admire all the flowers emerging in our neighborhood.

Amy Poulter, 757-446-2705, amy.poulter@pilotonline.com

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CLASSICAL CHRISTMAS

HAMPTON ROADS, VA [December 2, 2024] WHO: Virginia Symphony Orchestra with Morihiko Nakahara and Jonathan Richards WHERE: Norfolk Academy’s Johnson Theatre 1585 Wesleyan Dr, Norfolk, VA 23502 William and Mary’s Music Arts Center 551 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA...

A GOSPEL CHRISTMAS FEATURING A TRIBUTE TO RICHARD SMALLWOOD

HAMPTON ROADS, VA [November 26, 2024] WHO: Virginia Symphony Orchestra with Dr. Henry Panion, III, and Earl Bynum Jr. WHERE: Chrysler Hall, 215 St Pauls Blvd, Norfolk, VA 23510 WHEN: Saturday November 30, 7:30PM WHAT: Dr. Henry Panion, III, is back at Chrysler Hall to...

  • Sentara
  • New Leaf
  • Bank of America
  • Truist
  • KPMG
  • NEA
  • Trust and Wealth Management
  • Virginia Symphony League
  • Norfolk Collegiate
  • Wilcox Savage
  • PBMares
  • Riverside Health
  • Wilbanks Smith and Thomas
  • WHRO
  • Seven Venues
  • Audacy
  • Norfolk Southern
  • Elation Brewing
  • Arts Alliance
  • Cape Henry Collegiate
  • 93.7 BOB FM
  • VSSGW
  • CBN
  • Birdsong Peanuts
  • Ferguson Center for the Arts
  • Breeden
  • Runnymede
  • TowneBank
  • Regent University
  • Rutter Family Art Foundation
  • PNC Bank
  • The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
  • Carl's Wash
  • CBN
  • Sentara
  • Norfolk Collegiate
  • Riverside Health
  • Audacy
  • Breeden
  • Elation Brewing
  • TowneBank
  • Ferguson Center for the Arts
  • Carl's Wash
  • 93.7 BOB FM
  • Cape Henry Collegiate
  • Norfolk Southern
  • The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
  • Truist
  • PNC Bank
  • KPMG
  • Arts Alliance
  • Runnymede
  • Virginia Symphony League
  • Wilbanks Smith and Thomas
  • Regent University
  • Trust and Wealth Management
  • Seven Venues
  • VSSGW
  • NEA
  • New Leaf
  • Wilcox Savage
  • WHRO
  • Bank of America
  • PBMares
  • Birdsong Peanuts
  • Rutter Family Art Foundation

Emmanual Losa

Emmanuel Losa

Cello

Born in 1998, Emmanuel Losa grew up in Marietta, Georgia to a Nigerian father and Jamaican mother. Starting his cello studies at the age of 12, he began to have an affinity for the orchestral world and later studying with the esteemed cellists of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, his primary instructor was Joel Dallow; in addition, studying with Dona Vellek (Assistant Principal Cello Emeritus) and Karen Freer (Assistant Principal Cello).

Emmanuel heavily enjoys studying various pieces of solo, chamber, and orchestral music, spending his summers at various festivals such as Bowdoin International Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, and Aspen Music Festival to name a few.

A student of Alan Stepansky at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Emmanuel is pursuing an undergraduate cello performance degree in orchestral performance. He continues his studies with a focus on winning a position with a major orchestra.

Zacherie Small

Zacherie Small

Double Bass

After migrating from his native island of Barbados, Zacherie Small began his Double Bass studies the age of 19 with Jonathan Dadurka at Miami-Dade College where he graduated with a Associate of Arts in Music. Afterwards, he went on to study with Luis Gomez-Imbert at Florida International University where he now holds a Bachelor of Music in Double Bass Performance; Cum Laude, and a Masters of Music in Double Bass Performance. Also, recently graduated with his second Masters from Temple University studying with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra such as Nathaniel West, Joseph Conyers, and Robert Kesselman.

Small has performed with various orchestras. He is a member of the Miami Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Eduardo Marturet. He was also the Principal Double Bass of the Miami Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Jorge Vazquez. Small periodically performs with the Colour of Music Festival Orchestra.

Small has attended the Miami Summer Music Festival at Barry University for 3 years. During the festival, he has performed in many concerts with various conductors like Michael Rossi, Yuriy Bekker, Joel Smirnoff, David Efron, Stephanie Rhodes, and Steve Gruman. Also, participated in the Philadelphia International Music Festival to study with Nathaniel West and under the baton of Kensho Watanabe.

As well as being a performer, Small is the secondary music director South-Dade Middle School and does masterclasses at various schools in Miami, FL. He is also a teacher for the Artist of the Miami Music Project where he guides children in troubled neighborhoods to bring about social change, cultivate lessons, and run ensembles.

Tyler McKisson

Tyler McKisson

viola

Tyler McKisson is a 26-year-oldorchestral and freelance violist originally from Arvada, Colorado. He has recently received an Artist Diploma from The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as a Diversity Fellow where he regularly performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. McKisson received a Master’s degree in viola performance at the University of Colorado Boulder and a Bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance at the University of Northern Colorado with honors. McKisson’s musical career started at age ten when he joined his school’s string orchestra program and at age fourteen, he began his studies under his first private instructor, Brian Cook. McKisson has also studied under Christopher Luther, Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti, Erika Eckert, and Catharine Carroll Lees. He has played with several American orchestras including the Cheyenne Symphony with tenure, Atlanta Symphony, Kentucky Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, and the Aspen Conducting Academy.

Camille Jones

Camille Jones

violin

A passionate collaborator and advocate for diversity in the arts, Camille has worked with various festival orchestras and chamber groups, including the National Orchestral Institute and Festival (NOI + F), Bowdoin International Music Festival, and Next Festival of Emerging Artists.

As a 2019 Sphinx Orchestral Futurist Fellow, she has helped commission works and curate a professional development workshop for K-12 students in Prince George’s County, Maryland.This project piloted what is now the K12 New Music Initiative, a commissioning project to expand the repertoire of K12 orchestras with music by BIPOC composers. In the Fall of 2018, she curated Voices Unheard, a concert series at UMD that celebrated works by women composers and composers of color. In addition, she had the opportunity to collaborate with esteemed cello professor Anthony Elliott for a concert series at the Kerrytown Concerthouse titled Passing the Torch in 2021 and 2022. Camille is establishing herself as a freelance artist in the Michigan area as well, having performed for singer Michael Bublé, rapper Big Sean and Darren Criss. She has also served as a teaching artist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Civic Youth Ensembles as well as the Sphinx Overture program in Detroit.

Camille received her B.M. in Violin Performance at the University of Maryland, College Park and a M.M. in Violin Performance from the University of Michigan, having studied under Danielle Belen.

Daphine Henderson

Daphine Henderson

bass

Daphine Henderson, a double bassist and vocalist in the DC metro area, completed her Master’s Degree in Double Bass Performance at the University of Maryland College Park in Spring 2023, where she also received two Bachelor’s Degrees in Music Performance with concentrations in Double Bass and Soprano Voice in Spring ’20. She was the first black woman to earn a Master’s Degree in Double Bass Performance at University of Maryland and the third black woman to receive a graduate degree in strings. Teaching herself the double bass at age 12, Daphine became extremely involved in music through her high school career, ranging from performing with the Maryland Senior All State Orchestra to being the drum major of her high school marching band. She is actively involved in the University of Maryland School of Music community, performing with numerous classical and wind ensembles.

Throughout her time at UMD, Daphine served as one of the ensemble assistants for the UMD Treble Choir, where she actively engaged with and lead her section. She sat as one of the student chairs and founding members of the School of Music’s IDEA Committee, which focuses on bringing diversity, accessibility, and inclusive engagement to the music community at College Park. Daphine is also a founding member of the PAGE (Project for All Gender Equality) for Bassists, where she spoke on a panel in the 2019 and 2021 International Society of Bassists conventions. Daphine teaches in Prince George’s County and Montgomery County, Maryland, and is an active strings coach for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra. Additionally, she teaches all string instruments, piano, and voice at Crescendo Studios in Falls Church, Virginia.

Daphine is taking steps in her musical career to create an impact and be an inspiration for younger musicians of color that would otherwise not have ample resources and opportunities to pursue their passion. Following the completion of her graduate degree, Daphine plans to continue establishing herself as an advocate through her performance and an arts administrator for underserved and minority musicians, while continuing to inspire others through her love for music.

Avery Robinson

Omari Imhotep Adbdul-Alim

Violin

Omari Imhotep Abdul-Alim is an accomplished violinist and educator with a Master of Music in Violin Performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is a dedicated instructor with extensive experience teaching violin to a diverse range of students, from young children to adults, in both individual and group settings.

Omari has also contributed significantly as a violin instructor and orchestral strings coach at the Academy for Discovery at Lakewood, as a member of VSO's first inaugural class of African American Fellowship.

In addition to his teaching accomplishments, Omari has an extensive performance background. He has been a substitute with VSO, New World Symphony, Chicago Civic Orchestra, and Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera. For the last year Omari has been an active performer in the San Diego area, playing with Coronado Philharmonia Orchestra, Poway Symphony Orchestra, the City Ballet of San Diego, La Jolla Symphony Orchestra and as resident violinist at First Lutheran Church of San Diego.

Omari is committed to enriching our musical education and performance landscape through his expertise and passion for music.

Avery Robinson

Avery Robinson

Cello

Avery Robinson grew up in Western Massachusetts where he was influenced by his parents’ love for jazz music. At the age of 10 he started playing piano and began learning bass when he was 12 years old. As a young musician, Avery’s passion for jazz persisted however, as he became exposed to the wonderful sounds of the symphony, his musical passion grew to include a second genre: classical music. After joining his high school orchestra, his career path was set.

Avery has studied at many top music schools such as the Eastman School of Music, The Hartt School of Music, and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and has graduated with honors. His teachers include Rachel Calin, Albert Laszlo, and Robert Black. Avery has been a member of the Kentucky Symphony, and most recently, the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. He has also worked as a substitute for the Amarillo Symphony and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. In addition to his orchestral career, Avery is also an accomplished recitalist, having performed many solo and chamber recitals at various venues such as the Chautauqua Institution and at the “Classical Revolution” Series in Cincinnati. His love for performing with others shows in his expressive and sometimes fervent style of playing.

Avery has other passions in addition to music. Firstly, he is a huge art and history buff and loves to frequent museums and galleries whenever he can. He is also a lover of sports and an avid golfer.