Music in Motion: Inspiring the Next Generation
Music in Our Schools Month: Be Part of a Student’s First Musical Moment
Welcome Annie FIler Vogt
VSO Playlist: Maestro’s Picks featuring GIl & Orli Shaham
What About The Music?: Dvořák’s New World Symphony
Upcoming Performances
Celebrate March Birthdays with us!
Support the VSO
Symphonic Snapshots
Music in Motion: Inspiring the Next Generation
Dear Friends,
I am deeply grateful for your support of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and especially this time of year amid our run of 21 Young People’s Concerts. Nearly 20,000 students (entire grades across 8 cities!) are not just listening to their concert, they are playing recorder or violin, dancing, and singing along with the VSO. It is a culmination of the work the students have done on this curriculum all year, and I think this is the most important work the VSO does all season. For many of these students, it’s their very first experience with the power of orchestral music, music-making, and a world of opportunities for character development and fulfillment. I cannot imagine our community without this door open to every child, but I know it wouldn’t be possible without each of YOU!
You have my heartfelt thanks for your partnership in this fulfilling work.
Respectfully,
Christy
Chief Operating Officer
Music in Our Schools: When the Lights Go Down, the Music Begins
When students take their seats, something remarkable happens.
Conversations quiet. Curiosity grows.
As the Virginia Symphony Orchestra plays, music becomes something students can see, feel, and remember.
For many of the children we serve, this is not just a concert. It is their first time hearing a live orchestra. Their first time seeing musicians up close. Their first moment realizing that music is something they can belong to.
That moment does not happen by accident.
It happens because people like you choose to make it possible.
During Music in Our Schools Month this March, we are reminded that music education is not guaranteed. It requires intention. It requires partnership. And it requires supporters who believe that every child deserves access to inspiration, creativity, and excellence.
Your gift ensures that when students arrive, the musicians are ready.
And right now, we need your help to keep it going. Your contribution directly supports in-school concerts, educational programs, and live orchestral experiences for thousands of students across our community.
Will you make your gift today?
Whether your gift is $50, $250, or $1,000, it plays a vital role in ensuring that music continues to reach classrooms where it can change lives.
Please make your gift today and be the reason the music begins.
A Warm Welcome Back: Annie Filer Vogt Returns to the Virginia Symphony Orchestra
We’re delighted to share exciting news from the heart of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra family! This month, the VSO proudly welcomed back a familiar and treasured leader — Annie Filer Vogt — as our new Vice President of Development.
Annie’s return marks a meaningful moment in our organization’s journey. She first joined the VSO in the 1990s, where she quickly became known for her passion and dedication, helping grow annual giving, special events, and donor engagement. After advancing into leadership roles including Associate Director of Development and Interim Director of Development, Annie went on to build an impressive career in fundraising across arts and nonprofit organizations.
“I can still feel that electricity from the Symphony’s Carnegie Hall debut in 1997,” Annie reflects on her time with the VSO. While technology and tools may have changed since then, she notes, “the personal connection that brings donors to the table and puts generous butts in seats” remains at the heart of what we do.
Her deep understanding of donor relationships, strategic campaign leadership, and community engagement makes her an invaluable addition as we look toward the future. Annie’s experience will be essential as the VSO continues to strengthen our impact throughout Hampton Roads and beyond.
President & CEO Shannon Kelly shares her enthusiasm:
“We are thrilled to welcome Annie Filer Vogt to the VSO’s leadership team. Her impressive skills and experience will be a tremendous asset to the Virginia Symphony as we advance a new strategic vision.”
As we celebrate this local success story, we also honor the generous support of our donors, whose belief in the VSO’s mission makes transformative leadership like Annie’s return possible.
Thank you for being a vital part of our community, your support helps us make extraordinary music and unforgettable experiences for audiences across southeastern Virginia.
🎻 Together, we look forward to a vibrant season ahead
Maestro’s Picks
Inside the VSO’s Spotify Playlist:
What Our Guest Artists Are
Listening To: Gil & Orli Shaham’s Picks:
Step inside the musical worlds of our guest artists.
Orli Shaham shares the expressive energy of Kenji Bunch’s Suite for Viola and Piano, while Gil Shaham highlights the lyrical beauty of Noah by Mati Caspi and the fiery virtuosity of Nina by Roby Lakatos.
Listen now on Spotify and discover what’s inspiring them this month.
What about the music?
An inside look with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Dvořák’s New World Symphony + Gil & Orli Shaham
Friday, March 13, 2026 | 7:30PM | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk – Get Tickets
Saturday, March 14, 2026 | 7:30PM | Diamonstein Concert Hall, Ferguson Center, Newport News – Get Tickets
Internationally celebrated violinist Gil Shaham brings his signature warmth, brilliance, and expressive depth to the stage alongside his longtime musical partner and wife, pianist Orli Shaham. Together, they are known for performances that feel both virtuosic and deeply human, marked by a rare musical intuition shaped through decades of collaboration. Their artistry invites listeners not just to hear the music, but to feel fully immersed in its emotional world.
At the heart of the program is Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” one of the most iconic and beloved works in the orchestral repertoire. Written during Dvořák’s time in the United States, the symphony reflects themes of longing, discovery, and cultural exchange blending European tradition with inspiration drawn from American landscapes, spirituals, and folk music. Its sweeping melodies and unforgettable moments continue to resonate with audiences more than a century later.
Together, Shaham’s radiant musicianship and Dvořák’s expansive vision create a concert experience rooted in storytelling and emotional connection. This performance celebrates not only a masterpiece of symphonic literature, but also the power of artistic partnership, onstage and beyond, to bring timeless music vividly to life.
We’re Excited to See you at a Concert Soon!
New 25/26 Subscriptions Available NOW!
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Mozart’s Gran Partita
Mozart’s Gran Partita
COFFEE CONCERT: John Williams & Steven Spielberg: Iconic Film Scores
John Williams & Steven Spielberg: Iconic Film Scores
PB&J Family Series: John Williams’ Sounds of Adventure
John Williams & Steven Spielberg: Iconic Film Scores
Gospel Night with Tamela & David Mann
A Very Merry Musical Market
A Very Merry Musical Market
Benefit Concert for The Muse Writers Center
Classical Christmas
PB&J Family Series: Jingle Bell Jam
Holiday POPS!
Classical Christmas
Classical Christmas
March Birthdays
This month, we’re celebrating the birthdays of the incredible people who make the Virginia Symphony Orchestra shine, our core musicians, chorus members, per service musicians, and production crew. Your talent, dedication, and behind-the-scenes magic bring music to life for our community every day. Join us in wishing all of our March birthday honorees a year filled with harmony, joy, and many standing ovations!
Symphonic Snapshots
Mary Goode Brooke Legacy Program Kick-off Event on Feb 12, 2026
The Princess Bride on Feb 13, 2026
Young People’s Concerts