Saint Bede Catholic Church
3686 Ironbound Road,
Williamsburg, VA 23188
Phone: (757) 229-3631
Parking: Parking available on site
Chrysler Hall
Upcoming Concerts at St. Bede Catholic Church
7.16.21 | THOMAS WILKINS NAMED PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR OF THE VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
THOMAS WILKINS NAMED PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR OF THE VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [July 16, 2021] – Internationally renowned conductor and Norfolk native Thomas Wilkins has been named the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s first-ever Principal Guest Conductor. Having recently stepped down after 17 years as music director of the Omaha Symphony, Mr. Wilkins is currently principal conductor of the fabled Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, as well as Artistic Advisor for Education and Community Engagement at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. His guest conducting credits include leading the orchestras of Cleveland, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, the New York Philharmonic among others, in addition to his posts at the Hollywood Bowl and BSO.
A frequent guest conductor and favorite of VSO audiences, Mr. Wilkins credits a performance by the Virginia Symphony for inspiring him at the age of eight to pursue a career as a professional conductor, when he attended a youth concert as a student at Young Park Elementary in Norfolk (now Park Place Elementary).
“I often say that I didn’t choose music; music chose me,” said Mr. Wilkins. “And to be invited to return as a leader to the place where I made that decision to embrace music as a career and way of life so many years ago is incredibly moving for me. I have enormous love and respect for the musicians of the Virginia Symphony and I’m thrilled and honored to join them in this new role.”
Mr. Wilkins joins the organization at an exciting time as the orchestra begins its second century. 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 appointment of Wilkins as not only the orchestra’s first Principal Guest Conductor but its first Black artistic leader comes just weeks after 38-year-old Eric Jacobsen was selected as the VSO’s new music director, another bold step toward expanding the VSO’s vision to engage wider audiences with creative and relevant programming.
In announcing the appointment, VSO Board Chair Mike McClellan said, “This is a true dream team! Eric and Thomas share the VSO’s commitment to telling our community’s stories and advancing the important conversations that will promote understanding and belonging among all our residents.”
The symphony will host a welcome event for Mr. Wilkins on Monday, July 19th at 4:30pm at the Chrysler Hall Dress Circle Lobby, with a special performance by the Boys Choir of Hampton Roads, led by Julius McCullough. Free and open to the public; please RSVP by registering here.
Devoted to promoting a life-long enthusiasm for music, Mr. Wilkins brings energy and commitment to audiences of all ages. He is hailed as a master at communicating and connecting with audiences. Following his highly successful first season with the Boston Symphony, the Boston Globe named him among the “Best People and Ideas of 2011.” In 2014, Mr. Wilkins received the prestigious “Outstanding Artist” award at the Nebraska Governor’s Arts Awards for his significant contribution to music in the state, while in 2018 Mr. Wilkins received the Leonard Bernstein Lifetime Achievement Award for the Elevation of Music in Society conferred by Boston’s Longy School of Music. And in 2019 the Virginia Symphony bestowed Mr. Wilkins with its annual Dreamer Award.
During his conducting career, Mr. Wilkins has led orchestras throughout the United States, including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Cincinnati Symphony, and the National Symphony. Additionally, he has guest conducted the Philadelphia and Cleveland Orchestras, the Symphonies of Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Baltimore, San Diego and Utah, and the Buffalo and Rochester Philharmonics, as well as at the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago.
Mr. Wilkins is a graduate of the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. He and his wife Sheri-Lee are the proud parents of twin daughters, Erica and Nicole. Mr. Wilkins’ first appearance with the orchestra in his new role will be February 18-20, 2022. Tickets will be on sale in mid-August at www.virginiasymphony.org.
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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.
For Immediate Release
July 16, 2021
Contact: Kristen Bennington
Director of Marketing & Communications
Phone: 757.213.1411|
email: kbennington@virginiasymphony.org
Twitter: @VASymphony | Facebook: facebook.com/virginiasymphony
Twitter: @VASymphony
Facebook: facebook.com/virginiasymphony
Concertmaster Vahn Armstrong will transition into a new role in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [May 14, 2024] Today the Virginia Symphony Orchestra announced that Vahn Armstrong is stepping down after 31 years leading the ensemble as Concertmaster. He will remain in the VSO as Concertmaster Emeritus in the third chair of the First Violin section.
During his tenure thus far, Vahn has led the VSO to Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, and through countless Young People’s Concerts and opera tours. He has been featured as a soloist in an astonishing range of significant concertos over the years, including works by Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Prokofiev, Barber, and many more.
“It has indeed been an honor and a privilege to serve as Concertmaster for the Virginia Symphony these last thirty-one years,” expressed Armstrong. “It is a wonderful orchestra, made up of wonderful people. I am so proud of all we have been able to accomplish together artistically over three decades and recall fondly so many moments of camaraderie and friendship, as well as many performances of beauty, excitement, and emotional and sonic power. Any success I may have had in leading the orchestra over the years is entirely dependent upon the abundant goodwill and astonishing commitment to excellence of my colleagues, on stage and off, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.”
The Concertmaster holds the highest leadership position among all of the musicians in the orchestra. They are the leader of the first violin section and they make decisions regarding bowings, phrasing, and articulation for the entire string section. They lead the orchestra in tuning before concerts and rehearsals, and they serve as the conduit between the conductor and the orchestra. While a conductor may be shaping the contours of a work, the Concertmaster helps to lead the ensemble in real-time in the logistics of bringing the conductor’s vision to life. They hold a unique leadership position that contributes to the overall unity and cohesiveness of the ensemble.
A few members of the VSO’s artistic and administrative teams past and present expressed their thanks to Vahn and shared some of their thoughts about his tenure as Concertmaster.
“I have learned so much from working with Vahn, especially about artistic advocacy and diplomacy,” stated Christy Havens, the VSO’s Executive Vice President & General Manager. “He always held me accountable and to a high standard, and I have depended on his thoughtful leadership. I hope he will continue to lend me a few well-chosen words of advice (spoken with the ultimate gravitas).”
“Vahn is a great leader, a wonderful musician, and an eloquent and gracious gentleman,” said Karen Philion, former CEO & President of the VSO. “I’ve always enjoyed our conversations on all things VSO – artistic and institutional. The position of Concertmaster is of major significance to any orchestra, and I am grateful that Vahn was in that role during my time as CEO.”
VSO Music Director Laureate JoAnn Falletta stated, “I feel very fortunate to have collaborated with Vahn Armstrong as my concertmaster for almost my entire tenure with the Virginia Symphony. His arrival in 1993 brought the orchestra to a new level of artistry, and he was an extraordinary musical partner to me throughout those years. Vahn’s background as an outstanding quartet player was always evident in his subtlety, his exquisite musicianship, his sense of color, his stylistic sensitivity, and his musical imagination. His leadership was exemplary, and I will cherish the memories of his wonderful concerto performances during his tenure as well.”
VSO Music Director Eric Jacobsen expressed, “The first time I got to work with Vahn was when I guest conducted in 2018; we played Scheherazade, and I think the only thing more impressive than Vahn’s solo on this piece was his clear understanding of leadership with the orchestra! I feel so lucky to have gotten to work with Vahn in an even deeper way over the past several years. I’ve learned so much from him and think it is so thrilling now to get to do one more Scheherazade together in a couple of weeks. Bravo, Vahn!”
Vahn will continue to serve as Concertmaster until a successor has been appointed – the search for whom will begin with an audition September 17-18, 2024, and will continue with trial weeks throughout the season. Full information on the Concertmaster audition will be posted to the VSO’s website on June 1.
Don’t miss Vahn at the VSO’s last performances of the 23/24 season.
Romeo & Juliet with JoAnn Falletta
Friday, May 17, 2024 7:30PM – Ferguson Center, NN
Saturday, May 18, 2024 7:30PM – Wilder Performing Arts Center, Norfolk
Chris Thile (Co-production with Virginia Arts Festival)
Thursday, June 13, 2024 7:30PM – Chrysler Hall, Norfolk
Friday, June 14, 2024 7:30PM – Sandler Center, VB
Saturday, June 15, 2024 7:30PM – Ferguson Center, NN
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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. Innovation and excellence are 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 its 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.
As the largest performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia, the VSO and VSO Chorus present more than 150 concerts and events annually for 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 the young and dynamic conductor Eric Jacobsen as music director earlier this year was another bold step forward for the VSO, further expanding its vision to attract wider and larger audiences with engaging concert experiences and creative and relevant programming. Rounding out the artistic leadership team is Norfolk native Thomas Wilkins in the role of Principal Guest Conductor, reflecting the VSO’s commitment to tell its community’s stories and advance the important conversations that will promote understanding and belonging among all residents.
Holiday Brass
Join us for the must-see holiday tradition of the season! There’s no better way to lift your spirits than with seasonal songs and traditional carols delivered in full sound and spectacle by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Brass.
The bold sounds of the Virginia Symphony brass section ring in the holidays with a blast! Experience the festive sounds of the season in a concert filled with wit, virtuosity, and the glorious music of the holidays—featuring the VSO brass and percussion sections in an all-new program. You’ll enjoy music from a variety of styles that have made this concert a new holiday tradition!
Paul Bhasin, conductor
A Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.
Join the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for a concert paying homage to the visionary civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This concert is FREE, but registration is encouraged.
Everett McCorvey, conductor
Summer Littles, violin
Alicia Russell Tagert, soprano
Amandla Quartet, vocal quartet
Patrick Riddick & D’vyne Worship, choir
This FREE event is made possible by the generous support of the City of Norfolk and the City of Portsmouth.
Chris Thile
Here’s a program to delight the imagination, tickle the funnybone, and spur conversation long after the last note rings out!
GRAMMY-winning mandolinist Chris Thile’s witty new “narrative song cycle for extroverted mandolinist and orchestra” – co-commissioned by Virginia Arts Festival and Virginia Symphony Orchestra – tells, plays, and sings the true story of when Thile “attempted to impress a Starbucks executive and accidentally met Carrie Fisher as a result.” Thile has captivated audiences with always fresh-sounding music that ranges from Baroque to bluegrass and beyond. Don’t miss this Festival favorite as he returns to join this thrilling concert! Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director Eric Jacobsen rounds out the concert with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, bringing the mysteries of the Arabian Nights to opulent, gorgeous life; and Virginia Arts Festival Composer-in-Residence Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst is a string-driven, pulse-pounding piece that imagines the birth of a galaxy in brilliantly hued exploding stars.
Eric, Jacobsen, conductor
Chris Thile, mandolin and vocals
Jessie Montgomery: Starburst
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
Chris Thile: ATTENTION!
Co-commissioned by
The Knights
Carnegie Hall
Los Angeles Philharmonic
Louisville Orchestra
National Symphony
Tanglewood
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Virginia Arts Festival
Co-presented with the Virginia Arts Festival.
6/13 Sponsored by
6/14 Sponsored by
This Production made possible through a generous gift from the Susan Goode Performance Fund.
Media Sponsors: Audacy, Veer Magazine, and WHRO Public Media
This special event presentation is not eligible for new subscriptions or exchanges.
Romeo & Juliet with JoAnn
JoAnn Falletta returns to conduct one of her favorites—Prokofiev’s powerful and passionate music for Romeo & Juliet. Plus, Hampton Roads’ own Adolphus Hailstork, hailed as “the Dean of African-American composers,” brings us a brand new piano concerto in its local premiere, featuring Lara Downes – Performance Today’s 2022 Classical Woman of the Year.
JoAnn Falletta, conductor
Lara Downes, piano
Joaquin Turina: Danzas Fantasticas
Adolphus Hailstork: Piano Concerto No. 2, “The Peaceable Kingdom”
Scott Joplin/Buck: Magnetic Rag
Scott Joplin/Buck: Maple Leaf Rag
Sergei Prokofiev: Selections from Romeo and Juliet
Free benefit with every ticket:
Behind the Notes with Music Director Laureate JoAnn Falletta and piano soloist Lara Downes!
Behind the Notes is a unique opportunity to hear JoAnn Falletta and Lara Downes provide insights to better understand and appreciate the concert program. Learn more about the journey of the Orchestra and artists working to make the performance come together. Join us from 6:30-7pm in the concert hall!
THANKS TO OUR CONCERT SPONSOR
THANKS TO OUR CLASSICS MEDIA PARTNER
Click for a Parking Map
Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
One of the most beloved works of all time, Tchaikovsky’s concerto will take you on a journey – from the bold and virtuosic, through the lyrical and melancholy, to a grand and cathartic finale. Join us for this unforgettable performance, led by our own Principal Guest Conductor and Norfolk native Maestro Thomas Wilkins.
Thomas Wilkins, conductor
Geneva Lewis, violin
Zoltán Kodály: Dances of Galanta
George Butterworth: A Shropshire Lad, Rhapsody for Orchestra
Alexander Borodin: Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto
PREVIEW THE MUSIC!
Free benefit with every ticket:
Behind the Notes with Thomas Wilkins!
Behind the Notes is a unique opportunity to hear Thomas Wilkins provide insights to better understand and appreciate the concert program. Learn more about the journey of the Orchestra and artists working to make the performance come together. Join us from 6:30-7pm in the concert hall!
THANKS TO OUR CLASSICS MEDIA PARTNER
To Whitney with Love
Join American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones in a celebration of the great ladies of soul, from Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Tina Turner, the legendary Aretha Franklin and the one and only Whitney Houston.
Adam Turner, conductor
LaKisha Jones, vocalist
THANKS TO OUR POPS MEDIA PARTNER
THANKS TO THIS WEEKEND’S CONCERT SPONSOR
Carmina Burana
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will be joined by the Virginia Children’s Chorus to take the stage for one of the most epic works ever written! Join us for Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana – an uproarious and intoxicating depiction of a raucous medieval paradise.
Eric Jacobsen, conductor
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Virginia Children’s Chorus
Jasmine Habersham, soprano
Brian Giebler, tenor
Joshua Jeremiah, baritone
Juhi Bansal: To Call the Rain (World Premiere)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 31, “Paris”
Carl Orff: Carmina Burana
Carmina Burana is performed in Latin, German, and French with projected English translations.
A note from Juhi Bansal: There is a tradition in Hindustani classical music of Malhar ragas, of music that – when played with intention and inspiration – holds the capacity to invoke rain. To Call the Rain imagines this ritual in orchestral sound. Solo strings play delicate melodies drawing upon one of the ragas, and the orchestra reacts in vivid colour, responding to the call. What begins as a melodic voice grows from gentle patter to downpour, as movement and flow, drops and ripples and lush textures fill the space.
To Call the Rain was commissioned by the Virginia Symphony Orchestra; Eric Jacobsen, Music Director.
Free benefit with every ticket:
Behind the Notes with Eric Jacobsen!
Behind the Notes is a unique opportunity to hear Eric Jacobsen provide insights to better understand and appreciate the concert program. Learn more about the journey of the orchestra, choruses, and guest artists working to make the performance come together. Join us for a thirty minute discussion in the hall one hour before the concert starts.
THANKS TO OUR CLASSICS MEDIA PARTNER
THANKS TO OUR CONCERT SPONSORS
Sinatra and Beyond
Called “two parts Frank Sinatra and one part Billy Joel,” the triple-threat singer/pianist/songwriter Tony DeSare takes on the legend of Ol’ Blue Eyes himself. From jazz clubs to Carnegie Hall to headlining with major symphony orchestras, Tony DeSare delivers a fresh take on old school classics in an outstanding, critically-acclaimed tribute to the great Frank Sinatra that includes songs like Come Fly with Me, I’ve Got the World On a String, It Was A Very Good Year, One for My Baby, The Summer Wind, I Get A Kick Out of You, Night and Day, New York, New York, My Way, and so many more Sinatra classics.
Tony DeSare, conductor, vocals, and piano
THANKS TO OUR POPS MEDIA PARTNER
Tchaikovsky 6: The Story Behind the Music
In this intimate program, join Eric Jacobsen as he tells us the story behind the music of Tchaikovsky’s final completed symphony, full of passion and emotion. Excerpts from the work will illustrate a narrative that brings the music to life, setting the stage for a complete performance of Tchaikovsky 6 after intermission.
Eric Jacobsen, conductor
Curtis Stewart, violin
Curtis Stewart, Andrew Roitstein, and Hamilton Berry: 3 Selections from Negro Melodies for Violin and String Orchestra
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6
Free benefit with every ticket:
Behind the Notes with Eric Jacobsen, Curtis Stewart, and Dr. William Tortolano!
Behind the Notes is a unique opportunity to hear Eric Jacobsen and special guests provide insights to better understand and appreciate the concert program. Learn more about the journey of the Orchestra and artists working to make the performance come together. Join us one hour before the performance in the concert hall!