When the Virginia Arts Festival presents “Music of Queen — A Rock Symphony” May 15 at Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, much of the stage will be filled with members of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra with a rock band positioned front and center featuring Virginia Beach’s own Powell Randolph on drums and bassist Dan Clemens.
As longtime touring members of Windborne Music Clemens and Randolph fly around the country when concerts are scheduled with various orchestras for thematic symphonic celebration shows featuring the music of classic rock greats.
Dan Clemens and Powell Randolph also perform regularly in the Virginia Beach cover band Airliner.
This year’s Queen show will feature Filipino-Australians vocalist MiG Ayesa in the role of the late Freddie Mercury. Ayesa has appeared in stage productions of “Thriller Live,” “We Will Rock You” (in London), and was a finalist in the reality TV show “Rock Star: INXS.”
I recently caught up with Clemens to discuss the Music of Queen.
VEER: How long have you been performing in the Music of Queen production?
Dan Clemens: Windborne Music started in 1995. The first show was The Music of Led Zeppelin with the Virginia Symphony. I have been with Brent Havens (owner, arranger, conductor) since the beginning. The first Queen show was in 2009.
VEER: What has your experience been like when performing in markets outside of Hampton Roads?
Dan Clemens: I love what I do. We have played all over the United States and Canada. We have also performed several times in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sometimes the flights are long, but performing music in so many different places is a blast. Music has a way of bringing everyone together.
VEER: How does our Virginia Symphony stack up compared to other symphonies?
Dan Clemens: The Virginia Symphony is incredible. We have been lucky to perform with some of the most well-known symphonies in the world and Virginia is fortunate to have such top-notch musicians right here. I believe that The Virginia Arts Festival is helping the symphony get more notoriety. Rob Cross has put many shows on that bring national attention to our area. Last year Powell Randolph (drummer) and I were able to perform with the Virginia Symphony and the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s performance of the Black Sabbath Ballet. It was the debut in the United States. Great opportunity for the Virginia Symphony to get recognition……
