Ferguson Center for the Arts
The Ferguson Center for the Arts, on the campus of Christopher Newport University, opened its doors in 2005 and houses the Diamonstein Concert Hall that we perform in (pictured above). Seating 1,725 people, the Orchestra, Parterre, and Grand Tier areas feature comfortable seating with several aisles. For the best experience, inquire about the box seating located on each level. Drinks with lidded cups purchased in the lobby are allowed inside the hall, and free parking with a convenient shuttle is offered in the garage behind the hall.
Christopher Newport University
1 Avenue of the Arts
Newport News, VA 23606
Phone: (757) 594-7448
Capacity: 1,600
Parking: Free parking is available in the garage adjacent to the Ferguson Center with complimentary shuttle service to take you to the lobby. In addition, the Ferguson Center also provides valet parking for a fee.
Accessibility
The Ferguson Center was built under the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) and meets the standards set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It is our intent to exceed standard requirements and provide exceptional service for our patrons with disabilities.
Special Features for patrons with disabilities
Complimentary wheelchairs are available at all performances. Speak to a member of House Management upon arrival.
Seating
To purchase accessible seating, contact VSO Patron Services at (757) 892-6366. Notice of special needs must be addressed at time of purchase so that we may best accommodate you. All accessible seats are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Parking
Handicap Parking is available in the parking garage. A shuttle service, via electric carts, is available at all performances to and from the parking garage.
Paid valet parking is available at most performances for all patrons. If valet parking is not available, disabled patrons may park in the drop-off circle. These services must be arranged at least 14 days prior to the performance. Contact Patron Services at (757) 594-8465.
Assisted Listening
An FM assisted listening system, including headsets and induction loop devices, is available at performances on a first-come, first-served basis.
Speak to a member of House Management upon your arrival.
Ferguson Center for the Arts
Upcoming Concerts at Ferguson Center for the Arts
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...
Symphony Notes | December 2024
Local Friends and Family Join the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for Holiday POPs! This Year
Vocalist Kathryn Whitbeck and Pianists Angela and Valerie Zhang HAMPTON ROADS, VA [December 4, 2024] The Hampton Roads tradition of Holiday POPs! continues this year with special performances suited for the whole family. Former U.S. Navy Fleet Forces Band Vocalist...
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...
A Very Merry Musical Market
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [November 11, 2024] WHO: Virginia Symphony Orchestra WHERE: Elation Brewing; 5104 Colley Ave, Norfolk, VA 23508 WHEN: Thursday November 21, 6-8:30PM WHAT: Get your holiday shopping done early while you listen to live chamber music performed by...
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Season Begins This Month!
There’s No Place like the VSO for the Holidays! HAMPTON ROADS, VA [November 4, 2024] The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is bringing seven unique programs to the Hampton Roads area this holiday season. Featuring brand new events, like A Very Merry Musical Market, and...
Singer-songwriter Aoife O’Donovan to celebrate the long fight for women’s equality in Newport News concert
Her latest work considers history, success, and the costs and fragility of victory. In the sweltering summer of 1920, thousands of supercharged lobbyists swarmed Nashville. It was an explosive mix of opponents and supporters sparring over whether American women should...
Symphony Notes | November 2024
Welcome back! We had a wonderful October sharing unforgettable memories and performances with you. As we enter November, we are excited to celebrate National Role Models Month. To honor this special time, we sat down with some of our talented VSO orchestra members to...
Fellows Welcomed for the Third Year of the VSO Professional Development for Black Musicians Program
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [October 8, 2024] The Virginia Symphony Orchestra has welcomed its third class of Fellows for the VSO Fellowship Program: Professional Development for Black Musicians, partnered with Old Dominion University. The fellowship is an extension of the...
Fall into Fun Things to Do: Norfolk’s Must-Attend Events This Season
As the crisp fall air settles in, Norfolk, VA, comes alive with a variety of exciting events that showcase the city's vibrant culture. From lively markets and community festivals to music, arts, and outdoor activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this...
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra Announces Seven New Members for the 2024-2025 Board of Directors
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [October 1, 2024] The Virginia Symphony Orchestra has announced seven new members to the Board of Directors as of June 20, 2024. Michael Harvey is the CEO and Co-Founder of Clean Wake Media. He previously has served as CTO of Corra/Group Vice...
A Legacy of Leadership: Virginia Symphony Conductors on ‘A Local Touch’
This Wednesday at 9:00 p.m., A Local Touch: Music with a Virginia Connection will feature a special edition dedicated to the remarkable conductors who have shaped the Virginia Symphony Orchestra over the decades. Hosted by Raymond Jones, the program will take...
SoundBridge: Bringing the Virginia Symphony Orchestra to the Next Generation
— Enjoy orchestral music in a vibrant, contemporary atmosphere with a range of engaging activities! HAMPTON ROADS, Va. — Today the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO) announced it is introducing a new program geared towards fostering new orchestra audiences in Hampton...
Fantastique Symphony Concert
Sandwiching a family-friendly, kid-thrilling, grownup-enthralling, brilliantly colorful new concerto for symphony and animation between a 21st Century fanfare and a 19th Century masterwork, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra opens its 2024–2025 Season with a Friday...
Fantastique Symphony Concert
Sandwiching a family-friendly, kid-thrilling, grownup-enthralling, brilliantly colorful new concerto for symphony and animation between a 21st Century fanfare and a 19th Century masterwork, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra opens its 2024–2025 Season with a Friday...
Virginia Symphony Orchestra kicks off 104th season in Newport News
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra opens its 104th season at the Ferguson Center for the Arts at Christopher Newport University in Newport News at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The VSO will perform “Pictures at an Exhibition,” a musical journey through an art gallery. The...
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Kicks Off 104th Season in Newport News
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [September 3, 2024] The Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO) and Music Director Eric Jacobsen open their 24/25 season, the 104th for the organization, with a program showing off all the colors of the orchestra. The magic begins at the Ferguson Center...
Arts Notes: The 2024-25 music season on the Peninsula warms up with VSO, arts exhibit
As a warmup to the official start of the 2024-25 music season, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra is holding its always popular outdoor concert, “Once Upon a Symphony,” at the picturesque Lake Matoaka amphitheater on Aug. 30. If you get a musical kick out of selections...
Virginia Symphony Orchestra brings ‘Where Wishes Come True: A Night of Enchanted Melodies’ to Norfolk
The theme of this year's Virginia Symphony Orchestra Concert in the Park at Town Point Park is "Where Wishes Come True: A Night of Enchanted Melodies." NORFOLK, Va. — A new concert is coming to Town Point Park in Norfolk on Sunday, July 21. For the eighth annual...
Virginia Symphony offers free summer concerts across Hampton Roads
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will host nine free concerts across six cities. From Mendelssohn to the music of Batman, local residents and visitors can experience in-person symphonic music at various Hampton Roads scenic out- venues this summer for free. The...
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Takes Center Stage This Wednesday on ‘A Local Touch’
Join WHRO-FM 90.3 this Wednesday evening at 9:00 for an enthralling concert featuring the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro Eric Jacobsen. Raymond Jones will open the night with "To Call the Rain," a work commissioned by the orchestra from Juhi Bansal....
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Concert brings to life music from popular films
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The eighth annual Virginia Symphony Orchestra Concert in the Park is scheduled to come to the Waterfront in July. Presented by The Perry Family Foundation and TowneBank, the event is scheduled for Sunday, July 21, from 6-10 p.m. (show starts at...
Virginia Symphony Orchestra holds free summer concerts
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. — The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will perform free concerts at scenic outdoor venues across Hampton Roads — including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, and Yorktown — as part of their Free Summer Concerts series. This year’s...
VSO to perform free concerts in Williamsburg, Yorktown
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will perform a series of free outdoor concerts in the Hampton Roads area this summer, including shows in Williamsburg and Yorktown.
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Holds Free Summer Concerts
HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA [June 24, 2022] – The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will perform free concerts at scenic outdoor venues across Hampton Roads – including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, and Yorktown – as part of their Free Summer Concerts...
Neptune Festival to host its 13th annual Symphony By the Sea in Virginia Beach
The Neptune Festival is hosting its 13th annual Symphony By the Sea at 31st Street and Atlantic Avenue. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A free concert series is coming to Virginia Beach Oceanfront! The Neptune Festival is hosting its 13th annual Symphony By the Sea at 31st...
This Wednesday on ‘A Local Touch’: the Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Join us this Wednesday evening at 9:00 on WHRO-FM 90.3 for A Local Touch, our weekly celebration of Virginia's rich musical heritage. Hosted by the esteemed Raymond Jones, this edition features a lineup of extraordinary classical performances that you won't want to...
Symphony Under the Stars draws 2,000
Gloucester Arts Festival and The Cook Foundation held the annual “Symphony Under the Stars” free family concert Saturday night, attracting a crowd of 2,000, according to festival representatives, to enjoy a Broadway Celebration with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra....
Symphony Under the Stars Saturday in Gloucester
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony Under the Stars, one of the signature events of the Gloucester Arts Festival, will take place on Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m. on the lawn at Main Street and Walter Reed Way in Gloucester. The local group Liberty Dolls will...
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...
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Presents 2024/25 Season
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [March 4, 2024] – The future of the VSO shines brightly. Today the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and Music Director, Eric Jacobsen announced details of the 2024/25 season. Patrons should look forward to a season full of joy, live music to enjoy...
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Presents Annual Concert Honoring Visionary Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King Jr.
HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA [January 4, 2024] – The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will present its annual concert paying homage to the life of visionary civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on January 14th & 21st, 2024. A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
Handel’s Messiah
It’s Southeastern Virginia’s grandest Messiah! Iconic music including the Hallelujah chorus portrays one of the greatest stories ever told. This year will feature the full Christmas portion in addition to selections from the second and third parts of this sacred...
Holiday POPs Series
Join us for the must-see holiday tradition of the season – Holiday POPS! 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 and special guests. Holiday POPS will...
Norfolk Native Thomas Wilkins Extended as Virginia Symphony Orchestra Principal Guest Conductor
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [November 6, 2023] The Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO) has announced the extension of Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins's contract through the 2026-27 season. From a student at Norfolk’s Booker T. Washington High School to the principal...
A Symphony Concert of Profound and Positive Hope
By Montague Gammon IIIVeer Magazine Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s Brahms and Dvořák with Thomas Wilkins November concert features “music that is going to make you feel better about yourself at the end of the evening,” says the VSO’s Principal Guest Conductor Wilkins,...
Noted Composer Adolphus Hailstork Honored as 2023 Arts Supporter of the Year Alongside 2021 Honoree Paula Bonds
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [October 30, 2023] Renowned composer, educator, and friend to the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO) Dr. Adolphus Hailstork has been announced as the 2023 Arts Supporter of the Year by Local No. 125 of the American Federation of Musicians. Dr....
Eric Jacobsen Extended as Virginia Symphony Orchestra Music Director
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [October 26, 2023] The Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO) has announced the extension of Music Director Eric Jacobsen’s contract through the 2026-27 season. From his first concert as Music Director with superstar saxophonist Branford Marsalis, Eric...
Rocking Rachmaninoff
By Jeff Maisey Veer Magazine Earlier this year, the Virginia Arts Festival celebrated in grand style the 150th birthday of Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff with a series of chamber music concerts featuring the internationally acclaimed Dali Quartet and violinist...
Feast Festively on Beethoven’s Bounty
By Montague Gammon III Veer Magazine The Virginia Symphony opens its 2023-24 Season with a Beethoven Festival whose bounties Music Director and concert conductor Eric Jacobsen twice likened to a “steak dinner with dessert,” a two course musical feast of “pieces that...
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Community Concert Unites Region Through Music
HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA [August 10, 2023] – The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with the City of Norfolk, will host its fifth annual CommUNITY Play-In and Sing-Along concert. Members of the community who play any instrument and are at any experience level...