Saint Bede Catholic Church
3686 Ironbound Road,
Williamsburg, VA 23188
Phone: (757) 229-3631
Parking: Parking available on site
Chrysler Hall
Upcoming Concerts at St. Bede Catholic Church
MOLA presents conductor JoAnn Falletta with Eroica Award for Outstanding Service to Music
MOLA: An Association of Music Performance Librarians honors Falletta for her many decades of exemplary leadership and tireless advocacy
BERLIN | June 5, 2023 — MOLA: An Association of Music Performance Librarians is honoring American conductor JoAnn Falletta with the 2023 Eroica Award for Outstanding Service to Music.
MOLA is the premier professional association for music performance librarians who acquire, prepare, catalogue and maintain music for their institutions. With more than 450 members, this international nonprofit represents more than 300 organizations, including symphony orchestras, opera and ballet companies, music academies, professional bands and ensembles across the world.
As a multiple GRAMMY® Award winner who has led more than 100 orchestras across the globe, Falletta is an internationally celebrated conductor and an outstanding ambassador for music. In a video message shared last night at the 41st annual MOLA conference in Berlin, Falletta spoke of her deep respect and gratitude for performance librarians.
“This award means so much to me,” Falletta said. “I think that many of you know how much I admire MOLA and the work that you do — how much I admire your scholarship, your wisdom, your understanding of music, your support and appreciation of each other, and your incredible patience with all of us.”
Falletta thanked several librarians by name and acknowledged the important role they play in the performing arts ecosystem.
“I know I could never have the life I have in music without your support,” Falletta said. “And I’m very grateful to you. How can I ever say ‘thank you’ enough for that? I will treasure this beautiful Eroica Award, but you are the true heroes.”
The criteria for the Eroica Award for Outstanding Service to Music is to recognize an individual (or group of individuals) who inspires MOLA with their advocacy for the art form, artistic excellence, and/or leadership. MOLA encourages nominations for those who champion underrepresented works or composers, mentor young musicians, bridge communities, or break new ground. Whether a performer, scholar or editor, the recipient can represent any facet of the music world.
Falletta embarked on her first season as music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic in the 1999-2000 season, and in doing so, became the first woman to lead a major American ensemble. However, her inspired leadership extends well beyond the podium. A passionate advocate for up-and-coming musicians, she has led seminars for women conductors and helped create mentoring opportunities for rising conductors at top conservatories, elite summer programs and at the Buffalo Philharmonic. She has been championing women conductors, composers and musicians for decades.
“JoAnn Falletta’s incredible leadership on and off the podium, her mentoring and advocacy for young conductors and musicians, and her selfless work helping the Hawaii Symphony through their reorganization, are just a few of the reasons that she received a record number of nominations from our MOLA member librarians,” said Courtney Secoy Cohen, MOLA president. “Her dedication to championing underserved composers and gracious interactions with everyone she works with have enriched the classical music world, and we are all so grateful for her altruistic contributions to help ensure the lasting future of classical music.”
MOLA member and principal librarian of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, Kim Kiyabu, said Falletta was a “superior” human being and nearly “overqualified” for the award.
“The Hawaii Symphony Orchestra would not exist without her massive donation of time, energy and goodwill,” Kiyabu said. “Emerging from a bankruptcy period in 2009, she has worked pro bono as our artistic advisor in the very difficult transition from the Honolulu Symphony into the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. She volunteered her time and expertise to counsel our board and leadership as the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra found its footing. She also voluntarily sat through auditions. She programmed the first-ever Ukulele Concerto by Byron Yasui with Jake Shimabukuro as the guest artist and championed other local Hawaii composers. She has conducted masterworks and community concerts in seemingly impossible places. I am unable to voice the enormous gratitude, “Mahalo Nui Loa” and “Aloha Kakou” — the closest meaning would be a love and sharing of our lives together — from the entire body of the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra for the life and passion of the always very gracious JoAnn Falletta.”
Other nominators echoed similar sentiments about Falletta’s generosity with time and advocacy for underrepresented musicians.
Virginia Symphony Principal Librarian and MOLA member Carl Wilder has enjoyed working with Falletta since day one.
“When I joined the Virginia Symphony, I was immediately impressed with her warmth and welcoming spirit,” Wilder explained. “Her support and respect of the library has been invaluable. She is incredibly kind and generous with her time and has mentored many composers and musicians. She is a wonderful person who has championed countless works, composers, and musicians throughout her career.”
Virginia Symphony Assistant Librarian and MOLA member Paula Peebles Bonds referred to Falletta as a “champion on and off the podium” as well as a “perfect candidate” for the honor.
Falletta is the second-ever recipient of the Eroica Award for Outstanding Service to Music. In 2022, the association presented violinist Jennifer Koh with the inaugural award at its 40th conference in Philadelphia.
For Falletta and MOLA, it’s clear the admiration is mutual.
“MOLA represents for me the epitome of professionalism and the highest standard of knowledge in our music world,” Falletta said. “You are the incredible people who make it possible for conductors and musicians to do the work they love. The orchestral world simply could not exist without you.”
Learn more about MOLA at mola-inc.org. Visit joannfalletta.com to learn more about this year’s award recipient.
For photography, interviews or media inquiries, please contact admin@mola-inc.org.
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About MOLA: An Association of Music Performance Librarians
Founded in 1983 as the Major Orchestra Librarians’ Association, MOLA’s mission is to facilitate communication between professional performance librarians, educate and assist them in providing service to their organizations, provide support and resources to the performing arts, and work with publishers to achieve the highest standards in music performance materials.
The first MOLA meeting was held in Philadelphia in 1983, when 25 librarians from the United States and Canada met for a day to discuss issues of common interest. Today MOLA is an international, nonprofit corporation spanning the globe with a membership of over 300 professional performing arts organizations, represented by more than 450 performance librarians from symphony orchestras, opera and ballet companies, music academies, professional bands and ensembles in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, South America, and Australasia. The job of these performance librarians is to acquire, prepare, catalogue and maintain the music for each institution. Through MOLA, librarians share information and resources to help them in their daily work. Learn more at mola-inc.org.
About JoAnn Falleta
Multiple GRAMMY® Award-winning conductor JoAnn Falletta serves as Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic, and the Connie and Marc Jacobson Music Director Laureate of the Virginia Symphony, Principal Guest Conductor of the Brevard Music Center and Artistic Adviser to the Hawaii Symphony. She was recently named one of the “Fifty Great Conductors,” past and present, by Gramophone Magazine, and is hailed for her work as a conductor, recording artist, audience builder and champion of American composers.
Upon her appointment as Music Director of the Buffalo Philharmonic, Falletta became the first woman to lead a major American ensemble and has been credited with bringing the Philharmonic to an unprecedented level of national and international prominence. The Buffalo Philharmonic has become one of the leading recording orchestras for Naxos, with two GRAMMY Award-winning recordings. This season, the BPO performed at Carnegie Hall for a centennial celebration of former BPO Music Director Lukas Foss. The orchestra also traveled to Florida for their fifth tour of the State under Falletta’s leadership.
Her North American guest conducting appearances include the National Symphony, and the orchestras of Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Detroit, Dallas, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Vancouver, Toronto, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Montreal, Seattle, San Diego, and the Orchestre Métropolitain of Montréal to name a few. Internationally, she has conducted many of the most prominent orchestras in Europe, Asia, and South America, with concerts in Spain, Sweden, Germany, Brazil, and Croatia earlier this season. In 2022, she led the National Symphony in two PBS televised specials for New Year’s Eve and the 50th Anniversary of the Kennedy Center and made her Boston Symphony Orchestra debut at the Tanglewood Music Festival.
With a discography of more than 125 titles, Falletta is a leading recording artist for Naxos. She has won two individual GRAMMY Awards, including the 2021 GRAMMY Award for Best Choral Performance as conductor of the world premiere Naxos recording, Richard Danielpour’s The Passion of Yeshua. In 2019, she won her first individual GRAMMY Award as conductor of the London Symphony in the Best Classical Compendium category for Spiritualist, her fifth world premiere recording of the music of Kenneth Fuchs. Her Naxos recording of John Corigliano’s Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan received two GRAMMY Awards in 2008. Her 2020 Naxos recording of orchestral music of Florent Schmitt with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra received the prestigious Diapason d’Or Award. Her most recent releases for Naxos include the complete William Walton Façade, with narrators Kevin Deas, Hila Plitmann and American Public Media Host Fred Child, and the Virginia Arts Festival Chamber Players, and two recordings with the BPO: Scriabin’s Poem of Ecstasy and Symphony No. 2, and a world premiere recording of Adophus Hailstork’s Piano Concerto together with Danny Elfman’s Violin Concerto.
Falletta is a member of the esteemed American Academy of Arts and Sciences, has served by presidential appointment as a Member of the National Council on the Arts during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations and is the recipient of many of the most prestigious conducting awards. She has conducted over 1,600 orchestral works by over 600 composers with over 150 world premieres In 2019, Falletta was named Performance Today’s first Classical Woman of The Year, calling her a “tireless champion, and lauding her “unique combination of artistic authority and compassion, compelling musicianship and humanity.” A leading advocate of works by women composers she has conducted over 135 works by over 70 women composer many of which were US or world premieres. ASCAP has honored her as “a leading force for music of our time.”
Falletta is a strong advocate and mentor for young professional and student musicians. She has led seminars for women conductors for the League of American Orchestras and established a unique collaboration between the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Mannes College of Music to give up-and-coming conductors professional experience with a leading American orchestra. In 2018, she served on the jury of the Malko Competition in Denmark. She has had great success working with young musicians, guest conducting orchestras at top conservatories and summer programs such as the National Repertory Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute, Interlochen, and Brevard Music Center, and as Artistic Advisor at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Falletta has held the positions of Principal Conductor of the Ulster Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Phoenix Symphony, Music Director of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Associate Conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director of the Denver Chamber Orchestra and The Women’s Philharmonic.
After earning her bachelor’s degree at Mannes, Falletta received master’s and doctoral degrees from The Juilliard School. When not on the podium, Falletta enjoys playing classical guitar, writing, cycling, yoga and is an avid reader.
For further information, visit joannfalletta.com.
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Holds Free Spring Concerts
HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA [May 24, 2023] – The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will present “Symphony Under the Stars” and “Symphony on the Lawn,” conducted by VSO’s Director of Education, Helen Martell and featuring Angelica Michelle, vocalist.
This year’s concerts, in partnership with the Gloucester Arts Festival and The Historic Cavalier Hotel, are free and open to the public.
The Symphony Under the Stars performance will be held Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 8 p.m. at the corner of Main and Walter Reed Way in Gloucester, Virginia.
The Symphony on the Lawn performance will be held Sunday, June 11, 2023, 7:45 p.m., at the Cavalier Hotel, Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The repertoire for this year’s concerts will include works from classical greats like Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship” from Scheherazade, plus music from popular contemporary composers like Alan Menken’s “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid, and Lin-Manuel Miranda and Mark Mancina’s “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana. For a comprehensive look at the repertoire, visit Concerts – Virginia Symphony Orchestra.
These performances are supported in part by the Arts Alliance, the Newport News Arts Commission, the York County Arts Commission, the City of Norfolk, the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission and the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Funding also provided by Sentara Healthcare, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s Regional Presenting Partner for our 2022-2023 season.
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As the region’s most celebrated musical, educational and entrepreneurial arts organization, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra continues to challenge expectations and push the boundaries of what an American orchestra can be. Innovation and excellence are at the heart of the VSO’s narrative.
The VSO has received national attention for its unique mission serving a home area of 1.7 million across the diverse communities of southeastern Virginia. Through appearances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and commitment to adventurous programming, the VSO and its musicians have been highlighted in the media including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio and BBC Worldwide News.
As the largest performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia, the VSO and VSO Chorus present more than 150 concerts and events annually for more than 100,000 residents and visitors. Recent innovations include health and wellness programs, including interactive therapeutic experiences for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and adopting welcoming concert environments for those who are neurodiverse. Since 2019, the VSO has been recognized nationally for striving to reflect the region’s ethnic and racial diversity in its members, its programming, and its leadership.
The selection of the young and dynamic conductor Eric Jacobsen as music director in 2021 was another bold step forward for the VSO, further expanding its vision to attract wider and larger audiences with engaging concert experiences and creative and relevant programming. Rounding out the artistic leadership team is Norfolk native Thomas Wilkins in the role of Principal Guest Conductor, reflecting the VSO’s commitment to tell its community’s stories and advance the important conversations that will promote understanding and belonging among all residents.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2023
Contact: De’Jonna Mayo, Communications Manager
Phone: 757.213.1424
Email: dmayo@virginiasymphony.org
Twitter: @VASymphony
Facebook: facebook.com/virginiasymphony
VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PARTICIPATES IN CARNEGIE HALL’S LINK UP PROGRAM
HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA [January 18, 2023] – In collaboration with Carnegie Hall, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra is participating in Link Up: The Orchestra Sings, a music education program provided by Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI), during the 2022-2023 season.
The nearly 30,000 students participating in the Link Up curriculum will attend culminating concerts across Hampton Roads, where they sing and play the recorder with the orchestra from their seats. This experience often serves as a students’ first concert and provides them with the opportunity to apply the musical concepts they have studied.
Participating school districts include Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Williamsburg, Hampton, Southampton, Franklin, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Chesapeake, as well as private schools and homeschooling groups across the region.
Date | First Concert | Second Concert | Venue | District |
February 14, 15, 16 (T,W,TH) | 10:15-11:15 | 11:45-12:45 | Sandler Center | Virginia Beach |
February 21, 2023 (T) | 10:30-11:30 |
| Chrysler Hall | Norfolk, CC, St Mathews |
February 28, 2023 (T) | 10:15-11:15 | 11:45-12:45 | Ferguson Center | Newport News |
March 2, 2023 (TH) | 10-11 | 11:30-12:30 | Ferguson Center | Hampton, + |
March 3, 2023 (Fr) | 10-11 | 11:30-12:30 | Southampton High School | Southampton/Franklin |
March 14, 2023 (T) | 10-11 | 11:30-12:30 | I.C. Norcom High School | Portsmouth |
March 15, 2023 (W) | 10-11 | 11:30-12:30 | I.C. Norcom High School | Portsmouth |
March 17, 2023 (Fr) | 10:30-11:30 | 12:00-1:00 | Kings Fork Middle School | Suffolk |
March 29, 2023 (W) | 10-11 | 11:30-12:30 | Sandler Center | Chesapeake |
March 30, 2023 (TH) | 10-11 |
| Sandler Center | Chesapeake |
March 30, 2023 (TH) |
| 11:30-12:30 | Sandler Center | Homeschools/private schools/ Norfolk 2nd date |
For more than 35 years, Link Up has paired orchestras with students in grades 3–5 at schools in their local communities to explore orchestral repertoire and fundamental musical skills, including creative work and composition, through a hands-on music curriculum. Link Up addresses the urgent need for music instruction and resources by providing a free, high quality, year-long curriculum that teachers can implement, along with classroom materials, online video and audio resources, and the professional development and support necessary to make the program an engaging experience for students. The curricular resources have been digitally enhanced and made available for both in-person and remote teaching settings, to best support educators as they adapt to the extraordinary conditions of the coronavirus pandemic.
The VSO is one of over 100 national and international organizations chosen for this program. Since 2003, Carnegie Hall has partnered with professional, community, and university orchestras across the US and around the world to support their existing education programs and strengthen their partnerships with local schools. In 2022-2023, Link Up will partner with sites in the US, as well as in China, Canada, Colombia, Spain, Kenya, New Zealand, Poland, and Japan, to serve approximately 450,000 students and teachers globally. Visit carnegiehall.org/LinkUp for a complete list of participants and further details.
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About the VSO
As the region’s most celebrated musical, educational and entrepreneurial arts organization, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra continues to challenge expectations and push the boundaries of what an American orchestra can be. Innovation and excellence are at the heart of the VSO’s narrative.
The VSO has received national attention for its unique mission serving a home area of 1.7 million across the diverse communities of southeastern Virginia. Through appearances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and commitment to adventurous programming, the VSO and its musicians have been highlighted in the media including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio and BBC Worldwide News.
As the largest performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia, the VSO and VSO Chorus present more than 150 concerts and events annually for more than 100,000 residents and visitors. Recent innovations include health and wellness programs, including interactive therapeutic experiences for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and adopting welcoming concert environments for those who are neurodiverse. Since 2019, the VSO has been recognized nationally for striving to reflect the region’s ethnic and racial diversity in its members, its programming, and its leadership.
The selection of the young and dynamic conductor Eric Jacobsen as music director in 2021 was another bold step forward for the VSO, further expanding its vision to attract wider and larger audiences with engaging concert experiences and creative and relevant programming. Rounding out the artistic leadership team is Norfolk native Thomas Wilkins in the role of Principal Guest Conductor, reflecting the VSO’s commitment to tell its community’s stories and advance the important conversations that will promote understanding and belonging among all residents.
About Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute
Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute produces an extraordinary range of music education and social impact programs each season that extend far outside the physical walls of the concert halls. These programs will reach over half a million people in New York City, across the US, and around the globe during the 2021-2022 season.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2022
Contact: Megan Garnache, Marketing Manager
Phone: 757.213.1413
Email: mgarnache@virginiasymphony.org
Twitter: @VASymphony
Facebook: facebook.com/virginiasymphony
VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MAKES HISTORY, NAMES DR. ANDREA F. WARREN AS CEO
HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA [November 28, 2022] – The Virginia Symphony Orchestra has named Dr. Andrea F. Warren as the organization’s president and chief executive officer following an executive search process guided by Arts Consulting Group. Dr. Warren succeeds Karen Philion, who served as president and CEO from 2014 through 2022. Dr. Warren will begin her tenure December 1, 2022.
“We are incredibly thrilled to welcome Dr. Warren’s leadership of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra,” said Mike McClellan, chair of the Board of Directors for the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. “She quickly impressed the search committee with her experience and commitment to our mission. Her record of leadership in the performing arts will be an invaluable asset to the Symphony Orchestra.”
Dr. Warren makes history as the first Black woman to serve as CEO of a leading symphony orchestra in the United States and Canada, and is one of few African Americans to have ever served in an executive leadership role for an orchestra. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in educational leadership from Virginia Tech and is longtime community leader, educator and advocate for the arts. Her career includes 13 years of service at the Governor’s School for the Arts, where she retired as executive director in 2021. During Dr. Warren’s tenure as executive director, she helped secure and plan for the school’s permanent home on Granby Street through the renovation of a century-old building into the Perry Family Arts Center. Under Dr. Warren’s leadership, the school created and expanded programs for middle and high school students across the state, including a Visual and Performing Arts College Fair and summer camps in the areas of visual arts, vocal music and musical theatre. Prior to her time at the Governor’s School, she was an educator for 20 years in various teaching and leadership roles for Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
“The performing arts are such an integral part of my family and my life’s work, and it’s an honor to lead the region’s most celebrated musical, educational and entrepreneurial arts organization,” Dr. Warren said. “I deeply appreciate the VSO’s commitment to challenging the expectations and pushing the boundaries of what an American orchestra can be, and I’m both passionate and mindful about the important role our work plays in educating, enriching and inspiring the community through music.”
Dr. Warren is married to the Rev. Samuel Warren Jr., pastor of Hood Chapel AME Zion Church in the Berkley section of Norfolk. Rev. Warren retired in 2022 from a career in an operations leadership role in Chesapeake City Public Schools. Dr. and Rev. Warren are the proud parents of Adrienne Warren, a 2005 graduate of the musical theatre department at the Governor’s School for the Arts. Adrienne Warren is a distinguished actress, singer and dancer. In 2021, Adrienne won both the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a musical and a Drama Desk Award for her performance as the title role in Tina, the Tina Turner Musical. She made her Broadway debut in 2012’s Bring it On! The Musical and has been nominated for her performances in several Broadway shows. She also received a Special Tony Award for her work as a co-founder of the Broadway Advocacy Coalition, a group dedicated to ensuring the arts industry plays an active role against racism.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2022
Contact: Megan Garnache , Marketing Manager
Phone: 757.213.1413
Email: mgarnache@virginiasymphony.org
Twitter: @VASymphony
Facebook: facebook.com/virginiasymphony
VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA COMMUNITY CONCERT UNITES REGION THROUGH MUSIC
HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA [September 1, 2022] – After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with the City of Norfolk and SevenVenues, will host its fourth annual CommUNITY Play-In and Sing-Along concert.
Members of the community are invited to play and sing alongside the VSO’s musicians on Sunday, September 11 at the Half Moone Cruise and Celebration Center in Downtown Norfolk. This year’s CommUNITY concert will commemorate the 21st anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001 by uniting people of all ages, faiths and backgrounds through participation in music, dance and spoken word.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 4:30 p.m., with doors opening at 2:30 p.m.
Some of the music featured in this year’s CommUNITY concert will include Ludwig Van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” Samuel Ward’s “America the Beautiful” and J. Rosamond Johnson and James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” as well as performances by the Fleet Forces Band and Norfolk State University’s Spartan Legion Marching Band.
Community members are invited to come play, sing or simply enjoy the festivities as we come together to celebrate our unique and diverse communities. Registration is required for all participants and audience members to guarantee seating for everyone who would like to attend – click here to register.
Partner organizations featured in this event also include Teens With a Purpose, the Governor’s School for the Arts, Harmony Project Churches and the Virginia Opera, as well as faith leaders Rev. Nicole Guns, Sheikh Ahmed Motawee and Rabbi Michael Panitz.
For more information about the CommUNITY Play-In and Sing-Along, or to register to play and download music, visit the VSO’s CommUNITY page here.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2022
Contact: Megan Garnache, Marketing Manager
Phone: 757.213.1413
Email: mgarnach@virginiasymphony.org
Twitter: @VASymphony
Facebook: facebook.com/virginiasymphony
VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HOLDS FREE CONCERTS UNDER THE STARS LABOR DAY WEEKEND
HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA [AUGUST 24, 2022] – Scenic outdoor venues across Hampton Roads – including Chesapeake, Williamsburg and Yorktown – will host Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s “Symphony Under the Stars” concerts this Labor Day weekend.
This year’s trio of concerts, part of the VSO’s popular annual Labor Day weekend celebrations, are free and open to the public.
The repertoire for this year’s concerts will include works from classical greats like Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King” from Peer Gynt and Stravinsky’s “Berceuse” and “Finale” from The Firebird, plus music from popular contemporary composers, including excerpts from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by Howard Shore and John Whitney and excerpts from Star Wars by John Williams. For a comprehensive look at the repertoire, visit virginiasymphony.org/symphony-under-the-stars.
Here’s a breakdown of the free Labor Day weekend concerts announced:
Thursday, September 1, 2022 | 7:30 p.m. | Lake Matoaka, Williamsburg (at the College of William & Mary)
The VSO returns once again to William & Mary’s Lake Matoaka Amphitheatre. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. Wristbands will be required for guests to enter due to venue capacity limitations.
Wristbands will be distributed by the venue ticket office beginning at 6 p.m. If wristbands run out, the concert will be sold out. Entry into the venue prior to the gates opening at 6:30 p.m. will not be permitted.
Drivers are encouraged to park in the garage located at 201 Ukrop Way, arriving after 5:30 p.m. to allow exiting day traffic to clear the lots. Handicap spaces will be available in the School of Business parking lot, and golf carts will be available beginning at 6 p.m. for those with mobility issues.
Beach chairs and blankets are welcome, but nothing that would block the view of other guests. Guests are welcome to bring personal coolers and picnic baskets; however, neither external alcoholic beverages nor glass containers are permitted inside the venue. All bags and coolers will be inspected prior to entry. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase inside the venue.
This concert is presented by William & Mary, the City of Williamsburg and the W&M Student Assembly.
For more information, click here.
Saturday, September 3, 2022 | 7:30 p.m. | Riverwalk Landing, Yorktown
The VSO returns to historic Yorktown for its annual performance under the stars. Visitors are encouraged to pack picnics, bring lawn chairs and/or blankets and arrive early for a Fifes and Drums of York Town performance at 6 p.m. Blue ribbons will be awarded to the most creative picnic set-ups prior to the event.
This concert is presented by the Celebrate Yorktown Committee.
To learn more, visit York County’s website.
Sunday, September 4, 2022 | 7:30 p.m. | Chesapeake City Park, Chesapeake
The VSO returns to Chesapeake City Park for a performance on the Bagley Stage. Bring a lawn
chair and/or a blanket – no pop-up tents permitted. Event parking and concessions will open at 6 p.m.
This concert is presented by the City of Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism and sponsored by Carl’s Wash.
To learn more, visit the City of Chesapeake’s website.
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As the region’s most celebrated musical, educational and entrepreneurial arts organization, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra continues to challenge expectations and push the boundaries of what an American orchestra can be. Innovation and excellence are at the heart of the VSO’s narrative.
The VSO has received national attention for its unique mission serving a home area of 1.7 million across the diverse communities of southeastern Virginia. Through appearances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and commitment to adventurous programming, the VSO and its musicians have been highlighted in the media including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio and BBC Worldwide News.
As the largest performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia, the VSO and VSO Chorus present more than 150 concerts and events annually for more than 100,000 residents and visitors. Recent innovations include health and wellness programs, including interactive therapeutic experiences for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and adopting welcoming concert environments for those who are neurodiverse. Since 2019, the VSO has been recognized nationally for striving to reflect the region’s ethnic and racial diversity in its members, its programming, and its leadership.
The selection of the young and dynamic conductor Eric Jacobsen as music director in 2021 was another bold step forward for the VSO, further expanding its vision to attract wider and larger audiences with engaging concert experiences and creative and relevant programming. Rounding out the artistic leadership team is Norfolk native Thomas Wilkins in the role of Principal Guest Conductor, reflecting the VSO’s commitment to tell its community’s stories and advance the important conversations that will promote understanding and belonging among all residents.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2022
Contact: Megan Garnache, Marketing Manager
Phone: 757-213-1413
Email: mgarnache@virginiasymphony.org
Twitter: @VASymphony
Facebook: facebook.com/virginiasymphony
CineConcerts and Warner Bros. Consumer Products Launch The Polar Express In Concert, Brining the Holiday Classic to the Ferguson Center for the Arts
Audiences will experience a live symphony orchestra performing Alan Silvestri’s complete score (with orig. songs co-written by Glen Ballard) live to picture at Diamonstein Concert Hall on November 26 – Tickets on sale at FergusonCenter.org
Trailer · Press Photos · Film Stills
[August 19 – NEWPORT NEWS] This holiday season…. Believe! CineConcerts, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, announces another once-in-a-lifetime concert event: The Polar Express in Concert, which brings the Oscarâ nominated holiday classic to Ferguson Center’s Diamonstein Concert Hall on Saturday, November 26 at 3 p.m. It will feature the Virginia Symphony Orchestra performing every note from two-time Academy Awardâ and Golden Globeâ Award nominee Alan Silvestri’s (Avengers, Forrest Gump, Back to the Future 1-3, Predator) masterful score (with original songs co-written by Silvestri and Glen Ballard) while the entire film is projected on a 40-foot HD screen. Directed in 2004 by Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future 1-3, Cast Away, Forrest Gump), the dazzling performance-capture animated film stars Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, Philadelphia) and was the first all-digital capture film ever released.
Justin Freer, President of CineConcerts and Producer/Conductor of The Polar Express in Concert world premiere explains, “It is with immense pleasure that we are able to bring this classic holiday film and music score to concert halls. The Polar Express in Concert will bring delight and happiness to people around the world for many years to come.”
In The Polar Express in Concert, experience the musical magic of Christmas Eve through Silvestri’s unforgettable score and be immersed as The Polar Express adventures up and down mountains, slip-slides over ice fields, and teeters across mile-high bridges. Embark on this musical journey to the North Pole while watching the iconic film about friendship, bravery, and the spirit of Christmas. The wonder of life never fades for those who believe. You’re on The Polar Express!
In addition to Oscar and Golden Globe nominations with Glen Ballard for Best Original Song (“Believe”), Silvestri also earned an ASCAP Film and Television Music Award for this score. The soundtrack was certified Gold by the RIAA in November 2007, and is considered among the best-selling film soundtrack/holiday albums of all time.
Brady Beaubien, Co-founder and CineConcerts Producer, adds, “The Polar Express in Concert reminds us that we are never too old to dream. With a warm cup of cocoa, a magical train ticket, and Alan Silvestri’s film score to steer us, we can inspire our children, create memories with our families, and all visit the North Pole together.”
The Polar Express in Concert will feature a matinee performance on Saturday, November 26 at 3 p.m. at Diamonstein Concert Hall in Newport News. Tickets will go on sale August 19 at 11 a.m. at the Virginia Symphony Orchestra Box Office and virginiasymphony.org. Visit polarexpressinconcert.com for more information.
Facebook: facebook.com/PolarExpressinConcert
Twitter: @PolarinConcert
Instagram: @PolarinConcert
Hashtag: #PolarExpressinConcert
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About CineConcerts – Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
CineConcerts is one of the leading producers of live and digital music experiences performed with visual media, and continues to redefine entertainment. Founded by Producer/Conductor Justin Freer and Producer/Writer Brady Beaubien, CineConcerts will engage over 4.8 million people worldwide in concert presentations in over 1,749 performances in 48 countries through 2022, and recently launched CineConcerts +PLUS – a global digital network and app suite with hundreds of exclusive podcast episodes and produced content. CineConcerts continues to work with some of the most prestigious orchestras and venues in the world including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, and more. Recent and current live and digital concert experiences include Elf in Concert, The Pinball Concert (Digital), The Polar Express in Concert, Rudy in Concert, The Passion of the Christ in Concert, The Da Vinci Code in Concert, The Harry Potter Film Concert Series, Gladiator Live, The Godfather Live, It’s a Wonderful Life in Concert, DreamWorks Animation In Concert, Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage 50th Anniversary Concert Tour, Breakfast at Tiffany’s in Concert, and A Christmas Dream Live.
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP), a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, extends the Studio’s powerful portfolio of entertainment brands and franchises into the lives of fans around the world. WBCP partners with best-in-class licensees globally on an award-winning range of toys, fashion, home décor, and publishing inspired by franchises and properties such as DC, Wizarding World, Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbera. The division’s successful global themed entertainment business includes groundbreaking experiences such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi. With innovative global licensing and merchandising programs, retail initiatives, promotional partnerships and themed experiences, WBCP is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
About Justin Freer
Justin Freer has established himself as one of the West Coast’s most exciting musical voices and is a highly sought-after conductor and producer of film music concerts around the world. He has served as composer for several independent films and has written motion picture advertising music for some of 20th Century Fox Studios’ biggest campaigns including Avatar, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Aliens in the Attic. As a conductor Freer has appeared with some of the most well-known orchestras in the world including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is also one of the only conductors to have ever conducted in both the ancient Colosseum and Circus Maximus in Rome.
Freer has been recognized with numerous grants and awards from organizations including ASCAP, BMI, the Society of Composers and Lyricists and the Henry Mancini Estate. He is the Founder and President of CineConcerts, a company dedicated to the preservation and concert presentation of film, curating and conducting hundreds of full-length music score performances live with film for such wide-ranging titles as Rudy, Gladiator, The Godfather, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, It’s a Wonderful Life, and the entire Harry Potter film franchise.
Mr. Freer earned both his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Music Composition from UCLA, where his principal composition teachers included Paul Chihara and Ian Krouse. In addition, he was mentored by legendary composer/conductor Jerry Goldsmith.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2022
Contact: Megan Garnache , Marketing Manager
Phone: 757.213.1413
Email: mgarnache@virginiasymphony.org
Twitter: @VASymphony
Facebook: facebook.com/virginiasymphony
CineConcerts:
Andrew P. Alderete
andrew@cineconcerts.com
Warner Bros Consumer Products:
Lindsay Kiesel
lindsay.kiesel@warnerbros.com
VIRGINIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WELCOMES 2022-2023 NEW BOARD MEMBERS
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [August 1, 2022] – The Virginia Symphony Orchestra has announced nine new members to the Board of Directors as of June 27.
Nat & Betty Brown reside in Williamsburg and are active members in the Let Freedom Ring Foundation and First Baptist Church of Williamsburg. Nat & Betty are both members of the VSO’s Music Advisory Council, bringing great insights and support to the organization.
John Garrett is a Vice President and Commercial Lender for TowneBank. As a Norfolk native and resident, John is an active member in the community, involved in numerous civic organizations centered on improving the region’s ability to attract and retain talent, and become an even more desirable place to live, work and raise a family.
Sarah Ortego became involved with the VSO in 2015 when she joined the Board for the Virginia Symphony Society in Williamsburg. She served on that Board for a total of seven years, the last four as president, leading and overseeing many events and initiatives in the Williamsburg area that have raised funds for the VSO. Sarah has also been very involved through her ex-officio role on the VSO Board, already serving on the EDI and Nominating/Governance Committees.
Lisa Pile is a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Newport News. A resident of Williamsburg, Lisa served on the board of the Peninsula Fine Arts Center for several years. Lisa’s goal is to deliver a comprehensive approach to managing wealth that begins with getting to know her clients and what matters most to them. She believes in participating in the communities we serve, which drives her interest in spending time volunteering with organizations, like the VSO, in the Hampton Roads community.
Gordon Robertson is CEO and President of The Christian Broadcasting Network and President of CBN’s humanitarian organization, Operation Blessing International. He now oversees CBN’s extensive television and digital programming, serving as executive producer and co-host of The 700 Club and 700 Club Interactive. Gordon is also executive producer of CBN’s Superbook and CBN Films. Through a long-standing partnership with the VSO, CBN has been a huge support both financially to the organization and through programming, recording, and community engagement.
Katya Santiago is an Assurance Senior Manager at BDO with nine years of professional experience in auditing of mid-large size private sector companies. She has served clients in a broad range of industries, including not-for-profit, construction, government contracting, specialty finance, and others. Katya plays the piano and has been attending VSO concerts for many years.
Blythe Scott has served as the Commissioner of the Revenue, for the City of Norfolk since April of 2021. She was the Chief Deputy for the Commissioner of the Revenue’s office for the three years prior to becoming the Commissioner. Previously, Blythe practiced law and managed law offices for 19 years in Norfolk and surrounding cities. She and her family have been active and supportive patrons of the Symphony for many years. Blythe also served on the Music Director Search Committee, which led to Eric Jacobsen’s appointment in June 2021.
Michael Stonecypher is Vice President of Media Operations and Affiliate Relations for The Christian Broadcasting Network. His media career spans over 40 years, bringing extensive knowledge in TV and Radio technologies, content distribution, and overall media strategies. Mike has been integral to the VSO in bringing the symphony to the inaugural annual Christmas Village as well as marketing and media partner for projects like the live-streamed performance of Messiah to the CBN Family App in 2021.
Mike McClellan, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Norfolk Southern, was re-elected to a one-year term as Chair of the Board. Carolyn Pittman, Chief Accounting Officer at Maxar Technologies, will serve as Board Treasurer and Susan Goode will continue her service as Board Secretary.
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As the region’s most celebrated musical, educational and entrepreneurial arts organization, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra continues to challenge expectations and push the boundaries of what an American orchestra can be. Innovation and excellence are at the heart of the VSO’s narrative.
The VSO has received national attention for its unique mission serving a home area of 1.7 million across the diverse communities of southeastern Virginia. Through appearances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and commitment to adventurous programming, the VSO and its musicians have been highlighted in the media including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio and BBC Worldwide News.
As the largest performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia, the VSO and VSO Chorus present more than 150 concerts and events annually for more than 100,000 residents and visitors. Recent innovations include health and wellness programs, including interactive therapeutic experiences for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and adopting welcoming concert environments for those who are neurodiverse. Since 2019, the VSO has been recognized nationally for striving to reflect the region’s ethnic and racial diversity in its members, its programming, and its leadership.
The selection of the young and dynamic conductor Eric Jacobsen as music director in 2021 and was another bold step forward for the VSO, further expanding its vision to attract wider and larger audiences with engaging concert experiences and creative and relevant programming. Rounding out the artistic leadership team is Norfolk native Thomas Wilkins in the role of Principal Guest Conductor, reflecting the VSO’s commitment to tell its community’s stories and advance the important conversations that will promote understanding and belonging among all residents.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2022
Contact: Monica Meyer, Interim Executive Director
Phone: 757.213.1431
Email: mmeyer@virginiasymphony.org
Twitter: @VASymphony
Facebook: facebook.com/virginiasymphony
CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO LEAVE VIRGINIA SYMPHONY THIS FALL
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [April 26, 2022] Karen M. Philion, who has served as the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s President and CEO since 2014, has announced she will step down in the fall after more than a decade with the organization.
During her tenure, Philion is credited with leading a historic financial turnaround, retiring all debt, and successfully operating the orchestra in the black every year since assuming the role of CEO. She also led the recent transition of artistic leadership, recruiting acclaimed young American conductor Eric Jacobsen to the VSO as Music Director and Thomas Wilkins as the VSO’s first-ever Principal Guest Conductor, while at the same time navigating the disruption of the orchestra’s work through the pandemic.
In making the announcement, VSO Board Chair Mike McClellan said, “On behalf of the Board, we are all grateful for Karen’s extensive service to the VSO. In addition to more than doubling our endowment assets, Karen expanded our vision to create new inclusive programming to diversify our sources of revenue. Karen’s clear, strategic thinking and fearless leadership served us extraordinarily well in overcoming the challenges of the pandemic. She has elevated the VSO’s stature in the region, guided us through a smooth and successful transition in artistic leaders and set us on a sustainable path.”
Philion added, “To have been one of the caretakers of this 100-year-old institution will always be a highlight of my career. I’m incredibly proud of what our team has done to strengthen the foundation of the organization. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to lead the VSO through a time of challenge and change and to have set it on a path to greater achievement and success. Music Director Eric Jacobsen and our musicians have the opportunity now to seize this moment to become everything a 21st century arts organization can be to its community.”
As part of a longer-term vision, in 2019 Philion began advocating for the symphony to prioritize equity, diversity, and inclusion as central to its mission to serve the region. Among her notable accomplishments is the establishment of a post-graduate fellowship program for African American string players who are seeking careers as orchestral musicians. Beginning next season, four full-time Fellows will play in the orchestra while teaching and mentoring in local public schools.
There have been many other firsts during Philion’s tenure:
- The most successful fundraising campaign in the organization’s history, raising nearly $16 million in outright and planned gifts
- Retired $4 million in debt, while achieving balanced budgets seven consecutive years
- Developed a strategic plan that expanded community partnerships and identified new opportunities to serve much more widely across Hampton Roads
- Reimagined programming to be more creative in content and presentation, including shorter concerts and more flexible ticket-buying options and improved customer service
- Steered the organization’s successfully through the pandemic with transparency, integrity and flexibility through the pandemic
- Brought a focus on EDI to areas of the organization and hired the organization’s first full-time Director of Diversity and Engagement to advance EDI goals and deepen community relationships
- Despite the pandemic, successfully conducted a critically important Music Director search that looks ahead to the Orchestra’s next chapter
“We all owe Karen our sincere thanks for her dedication and strategic vision,” said VSO Chair Emeritus Patrick McDermott. “Karen will be deeply missed by the Board, staff, community supporters and patrons alike. She is leaving us, however, with an organization that is financially sound, with the discipline to make data driven decisions that support our musicians in developing and sharing their talent at the highest level with our audiences and the entire Hampton Roads community.”
The VSO Board will launch a search for Philion’s successor in the coming weeks.
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As the region’s most celebrated musical, educational and entrepreneurial arts organization, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra continues to challenge expectations and push the boundaries of what an American orchestra can be. Innovation and excellence are at the heart of the VSO’s narrative.
The VSO has received national attention for its unique mission serving a home area of 1.7 million across the diverse communities of southeastern Virginia. Through appearances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and commitment to adventurous programming, the VSO and its musicians have been highlighted in the media including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio and BBC Worldwide News.
As the largest performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia, the VSO and VSO Chorus present more than 150 concerts and events annually for more than 100,000 residents and visitors. Recent innovations include health and wellness programs, including interactive therapeutic experiences for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and adopting welcoming concert environments for those who are neurodiverse. Since 2019, the VSO has been recognized nationally for striving to reflect the region’s ethnic and racial diversity in its members, its programming, and its leadership.
The selection of the young and dynamic conductor Eric Jacobsen as music director in 2021 and was another bold step forward for the VSO, further expanding its vision to attract wider and larger audiences with engaging concert experiences and creative and relevant programming. Rounding out the artistic leadership team is Norfolk native Thomas Wilkins in the role of Principal Guest Conductor, reflecting the VSO’s commitment to tell its community’s stories and advance the important conversations that will promote understanding and belonging among all residents.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2022
Contact: Collin Norman, Director of Marketing & Communications
Phone: 757.213.1424
Email: cnorman@virginiasymphony.org
Twitter: @VASymphony
Facebook: facebook.com/virginiasymphony
2.2.22 | JUST ANNOUNCED: Local Favorites Perform Beethoven and Haydn at the Ferguson Center, April 29, 2022
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [February 2, 2022] – Norfolk native and VSO Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins brings Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 to the Ferguson Center for the Arts with the Virginia Symphony on Friday, April 29, at 7:30 PM.
Mr. Wilkins found his passion for his orchestral career at age eight while attending a VSO concert. Having led major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Cincinnati Symphony, and after a 17-year stretch as the music director of the Omaha Symphony, Mr. Wilkins was named the VSO’s first-ever Principal Guest Conductor last June.
Also joining the orchestra to perform Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D will be Sterling Elliott, a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient and the youngest winner of the Sphinx Competition in history. Mr. Elliott, a native of Newport News, began his career in the Elliot Family String Quartet and is a former student of VSO principal cellist Michael Daniels. Now an accomplished soloist, Elliott’s previous engagements have included the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, and Dallas Symphony, among others.
Tickets to this performance start at $25 and can be purchased through the box office at 757-892-6366 or www.virginiasymphony.org.
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As the region’s most celebrated musical, educational and entrepreneurial arts organization, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra continues to challenge expectations and push the boundaries of what an American orchestra can be. Innovation and excellence are at the heart of the VSO’s narrative.
The VSO has received national attention for its unique mission serving a home area of 1.7 million across the diverse communities of southeastern Virginia. Through appearances at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and commitment to adventurous programming, the VSO and its musicians have been highlighted in the media including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Public Radio and BBC Worldwide News.
As the largest performing arts organization in southeastern Virginia, the VSO and VSO Chorus present more than 150 concerts and events annually for more than 100,000 residents and visitors. Recent innovations include health and wellness programs, including interactive therapeutic experiences for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and adopting welcoming concert environments for those who are neurodiverse. Since 2019, the VSO has been recognized nationally for striving to reflect the region’s ethnic and racial diversity in its members, its programming, and its leadership.
The selection of the young and dynamic conductor Eric Jacobsen as music director earlier this year was another bold step forward for the VSO, further expanding its vision to attract wider and larger audiences with engaging concert experiences and creative and relevant programming. Rounding out the artistic leadership team is Norfolk native Thomas Wilkins in the role of Principal Guest Conductor, reflecting the VSO’s commitment to tell its community’s stories and advance the important conversations that will promote understanding and belonging among all residents.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2022
Contact: Collin Norman, Director of Marketing & Communications
Phone: 757.213.1424
Email: cnorman@virginiasymphony.org
Twitter: @VASymphony
Facebook: facebook.com/virginiasymphony