Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Virginia Symphony Perform?
We perform in several venues across the Hampton Roads region. Click on the links below for specific information about the venue nearest you:
- Chrysler Hall in Norfolk
- Harrison Opera House in Norfolk
- Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach
- Regent University in Virginia Beach
- First Baptist Church (Warwick Blvd) in Newport News
- Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News
- Crosswalk Community Church in Williamsburg
- Phi Beta Kappa Hall (on the College of William & Mary campus) in Williamsburg
- Saint Bede Catholic Church in Williamsburg
- Jamestown High School in Williamsburg
- L. Douglas Wilder Center in Norfolk
- Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake
How do I get to your performance venues?
Please view our Directions & Parking page to find directions to one of our performance halls.
What about parking?
Free parking available at or near all venues EXCEPT Chrysler Hall and Harrison Opera House in downtown Norfolk. Click here for specific parking information at each of our venues.
Reserved parking at Chrysler Hall and Harrison Opera House available for subscribers. ($7 per concert).
Are your performance venues handicapped accessible ?
All of our performance venues are handicapped accessible. If you require accessible seating, please notify the box office when purchasing your tickets. For information specific to each venue, please select a venue from our website navigation under Concerts.
For more information or for assistance, please call the VSO Box Office at 757-892.6366.
As a season subscriber, what benefits do I receive?
FANTASTIC SAVINGS.
- No matter which concert series you choose, you’ll save up to 25% off of single ticket prices.
- VSO Subscribers also save 10% when purchasing additional single tickets for regular season concerts.
GUARANTEED SEATING.
- Your seats are guaranteed. Period. Even for sold-out concerts. You’ll get the best available seats for every concert.
- Each season, you’re given the first option to renew or upgrade your current seats.
- Only subscribers can purchase additional tickets for concerts BEFORE they go on sale to the general public.
FREE TICKET EXCHANGES.
Subscribers to the 8-concert classics packages can exchange tickets for any other concert during the concert season.
Subscribers to all other packages can exchange to another performance within the same concert weekend. Simply call our Patron Services Team 48 hours in advance.
THE BEST REASON OF ALL.
World-class musicians, extraordinary concert halls, and one of the finest orchestras in America, right here in Hampton Roads!
I am a subscriber. How can I exchange my tickets?
By phone – call our box office at (757) 892-6366
In person – visit our box office at 150 Boush Street, Ste 201 Norfolk Va, 23510
Subscribers with eight Classics concert subscriptions may exchange season tickets for any other regular season concert (excluding opening night and special events). All other subscribers may exchange within a given concert weekend.
Exchanges are subject to availability, and must be made 48 hours prior to the requested concert. You will receive two emails: one automatically sent acknowledging the receipt of your request, the second manually addressing your specific request.
How long is a typical symphony performance?
Virginia Symphony Classics and Pops concerts generally run two hours, including a 20-minute intermission.
Our Peanut Butter & Jam Family Classics generally are one hour in length with no intermission.
Will I recognize any of the music?
Odds are you’ll recognize far more than you realize. Classical music is all around us: in commercials, movie soundtracks, television themes, cartoons, retail shops, and even some elevators! Popular music often quotes classical melodies, too. While you’re listening in the concert to a piece you think you’ve never heard before, a tune you’ve heard a hundred times may jump out at you. Whether or not you’ve heard the music before the concert, as you listen, you’ll notice that each classical piece uses its own group of several tunes over and over, in different ways. You’ll start to “recognize” these melodies as a work progresses. Listen for the ways a melody is repeated: Is it exactly the same as the first time, or with a different character? Is it played by the same instruments, or different ones? Does it start the same as before, but go off in a different direction? Or start differently and surprise you by developing into the tune you recognize from earlier in the piece?
Do I need to know the music before I attend a performance?
You don’t have to be a gourmet chef to enjoy a fine meal, and you don’t need to know the music on the program to have a meaningful concert experience. One of the great joys of going to a Virginia Symphony concert is being introduced to a great piece of music you’ve never heard before, or listening to a superb performance of a piece you haven’t heard in years. Many audience members find it enhances their enjoyment of the music if they take time before the performance to read the notes in the program about the composer and the pieces that are to be played. Extended performance notes are also available on our website prior to each concert.
You can also come to our Behind the Notes pre-concert lectures, which take place one hour prior to each Classics concert. These informative sessions provide you an opportunity to hear Eric Jacobsen, our guest conductor or soloist share insights into the music to be performed that night.
How do I purchase tickets? Are they refundable?
There are several convenient ways to purchase Virginia Symphony tickets:
- By Phone: (757) 892-6366
- In Person: 150 Boush Street, Suite 201, Norfolk 23510, 10am – 4:30pm Mon-Fri.
- Online: Buy Tickets
Please note that all sales are final. Once an order is placed, tickets may not be refunded or exchanged.
I can’t attend a concert I have a ticket for. Can I exchange them for another performance?
Ticket exchanges are a benefit that is available only to our subscribers. Subscribers to the 8-concert classics packages can exchange tickets for any other series concert during the concert season (special events excluded). Subscribers to all other packages can exchange to another performance within the same concert weekend. Simply call our Patron Services Team at (757) 892-6366 no later than 48 hours in advance.
I can’t attend a concert I have a ticket for. Can I exchange them for another performance?
Flex vouchers must be redeemed in advance of your selected concert performance. You can redeem them by calling our Patron Services team at (757) 892-6366.
I received a voucher for tickets at a charity even. How can I redeem my voucher for actual concert tickets?
You can request your concert tickets by calling our Patron Services team at (757) 892-6366.
How can I redeem my flex vouchers?
By phone – call our box office at (757) 892-6366
In person – visit our box office at 150 Boush Street, Ste 201 Norfolk VA, 23510
Subscribers with eight Classics concert subscriptions may exchange season tickets for any other regular season concert (excluding opening night and special events). All other subscribers may exchange within a given concert weekend.
Exchanges are subject to availability, and must be made 48 hours prior to the requested concert. You will receive two emails: one automatically sent acknowledging the receipt of your request, the second manually addressing your specific request.
What should I wear?
Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. Contrary to what many people think, formal attire (like tuxedos and evening gowns) is NOT required! You’ll notice that some concertgoers tend to dress up a bit, but we encourage you to wear whatever you think would make you comfortable in the setting of a concert hall. A good guideline is to dress as you would for a nice dinner out with your friends.
When Should I arrive?
VSO concerts begin promptly at the announced starting time. We recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to the concert start time in order to park and find your seat before the concert begins. This will also give you an opportunity to enjoy our student showcase performances in the lobby.
If you would like to learn more about the performance, we invite you to join us for Behind the Notes, our pre-concert lectures, which take place one hour prior to each Classics concert and guide you through the music’s historical and cultural context. It’s a great way to gain insight into the music and what to listen for before the music is performed.
What is your late seating policy?
VSO concerts begin promptly at the announced starting time. We recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to the concert start time in order to park and find your seat before the concert begins. This will also give you an opportunity to enjoy our student showcase performances in the lobby.
If you are unexpectedly delayed, the ushers, out of respect for the artists and our seated patrons, will be able to seat you during the first appropriate pause in the program, at the discretion of management.
After the performance begins, reserved seats are not guaranteed. Latecomers may be seated in the back or in the balcony, again out of respect for the musicians and seated patrons. Some programs are performed without an intermission or without a late seating break before intermission; therefore, no late seating can be offered at those concerts.
If you need to leave the hall before or during a work, you will be seated after the completion of the work. We ask that, if possible, you remain in your seat until the concert has concluded.
For more information about your upcoming program and the late seating policy, please call the VSO Box Office, 757-892-6366.
Are food, beverages and smoking available?
Food and beverages are available for purchase at all of our performance venues and are permitted in lobby areas only.
All performance venues are smoke free.
When should I applaud?
Generally, it is considered proper concert etiquette to clap only after a piece is complete. That means that, for example, if you’re listening to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, which has four movements, it is appropriate to applaud after the last movement. You can look at your program book to find out how many movements a piece has. Usually, there is a 15- to 30-second pause in between movements. If all else fails, you can always wait for the rest of the audience to clap before applauding.
Another good sign is when the conductor either turns around or steps off the podium (the elevated “box” s/he stands on).
Can I bring my children?
We love young children but discourage their attendance at evening concerts because of concert length. We recommend children be six or older to attend a Symphony concert.
If your children are younger than six, you may want to consider our Peanut Butter and Jam concerts, which are created especially for children ages 2-12 and their families.
Please note that everyone, regardless of age, must have a ticket to attend any of our concerts.
Another good sign is when the conductor either turns around or steps off the podium (the elevated “box” s/he stands on).
I am unable to attend a concert. How can I donate my tickets?
Subscribers and ticket holders unable to attend a concert may make a tax-deductible donation, allowing their seats to become available for resale. Requests for ticket donations must be made 48 hours prior to a concert and may not be made for concerts in the past.
Tickets can be donated two ways:
By phone – call our box office at (757) 892-6366
In person – visit our box office at 150 Boush Street, Ste 201 Norfolk, VA 23510, Monday – Friday, 10am – 4:30pm
