VSO PRESENTS “HOPE FOR THE FUTURE” CONCERT

HAMPTON ROADS, VA [June 25, 2021] – Join musicians of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra on June 26 for a special healing event as communities begin healing from the pandemic. This “Hope for the Future” concert will happen at Second Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk and is free and open to the public. Doors open at 5:00pm for a 5:30pm show.

This evening’s concert will be facilitated by Mrs. Barbara Hamm Lee of WHRO’s “Another View.” She is well known in the Hampton Roads community and beyond for her grasp and insight of issues that directly impact the Black American communities on both the Southside and The Peninsula. Joining her as a facilitator is Mrs. Elizabeth Eccles who now serves as the Interim Music Director for the I. Sherman Greene Chorale. She was also the 2020 Dreamer Award recipient from the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

This concert will feature several instrumental ensembles of the VSO playing music which will focus on “Hope For The Future” as communities begin a recovery from the pandemic and as a memorial for congregants from each HARMONY church who passed away because of it. Following the program will be a talk-back session with the musicians who performed which will give audience members an opportunity to ask questions.

The HARMONY Project is a long-term initiative that creates reciprocal relationships between the VSO and historically Black churches in the Hampton Roads communities by offering free performances and educational events for the congregation, sometimes including collaboration with church choirs. The HARMONY Project is specifically designed to meet the interest of each church congregation and its worship context.

###

As the region’s most celebrated musical, educational and entrepreneurial arts organization, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra continues to challenge expectations and push the boundaries of what an American orchestra can be. Since the ground-breaking appointment of JoAnn Falletta in 1991, innovation and excellence have been at the heart of the VSO’s narrative.

The VSO has received national attention for its unique mission serving a home area of 1.7 million across the diverse communities of southeastern Virginia. Through appearances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and  commitment to adventurous programming, the VSO and its musicians have been highlighted in the media including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio and BBC Worldwide News.

The largest performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia, the VSO and VSO Chorus present more than 150 concerts and events annually to educate, enlighten and entertain more than 100,000 residents and visitors. Recent innovations include health and wellness programs, including interactive therapeutic experiences for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and adopting welcoming concert environments for those who are neurodiverse. Since 2019, the VSO has been recognized nationally for striving to reflect the region’s ethnic and racial diversity in its members, its programming, and its leadership.

The selection of Eric Jacobsen as music director in 2021 is a bold step forward for VSO, further expanding its vision to attract wider and larger audiences with engaging concert experiences and creative and relevant programming. Jacobsen also shares the VSO’s commitment to tell our community’s stories and advance the important conversations that will promote understanding and belonging among all our residents.