Cooper, 87, died in October and the tributes about her work continue. Cooper spent decades, primarily as a volunteer, championing the arts. She was also active in preserving local Jewish heritage.
Despite all the faces making music together when the Virginia Symphony Orchestra paired with its chorus, JoAnn Falletta could always spot one.
The longtime, legendary conductor was drawn to the robust alto section where Minette Cooper beamed.
“She would stand out because she was glowing,” said Falletta, the Grammy-winning pioneer who spent 29 years as music director of the Virginia Symphony. ”She had this incredible love for music. Looking at her just made my spirits soar.”
Bettie Minette Cooper, who died last month at 87, was a transformative figure in Hampton Roads arts through six decades of largely volunteer service. The number of boards she served on and the leadership positions she held fill eight pages.
Yet Cooper was never about advancing her own career.
Her dedication to elevating the arts locally reflected her vision that inspiring young, diverse audiences was essential to education and community growth. She was equally passionate about sustaining arts programming for future generations.
