The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will perform in Virginia Beach and Portsmouth this January.
HAMPTON ROADS, VA [December 22, 2025] The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, partnered with the City of Virginia Beach, the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission, and City of Portsmouth will present two free concerts celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a beacon of hope and justice. Conducted by VSO Music Director Eric Jacobsen, The Macon and Joan Brock Chair, the concert will feature Earl Bynum & The Mount Unity Choir.
“The MLK concerts are always deeply meaningful to conduct,” Says Jacobsen. “They reflect not only the transformational power of Dr. King’s message, but also the joy we feel working with the extraordinarily talented young musicians in our region. This program gives us the opportunity to spotlight an exciting emerging artist in our concerto winner, Elise Hill, while also coming together with our community partners in a true celebration of connection and shared purpose. Moments like these remind us how deeply rooted the Symphony is in Hampton Roads.”
Each year, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra also hosts a concerto competition to showcase a talented, local, young Black instrumentalist. This year’s winner Elise Hill is a senior at Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, Virginia and is also a student at The Governor’s School for the Arts, where she studies cello performance under Leslie Frittelli. Elise’s dedication to music earned her the title of the 2025 Governor’s School for the Arts Concerto Competition Winner, as well as the 2025 NAACP ACT-SO “Instrumental Classical” Regional Gold Medalist, which gave her the opportunity to compete at the national level. Hill will perform Max Bruch’s’ Kol Nidrei, Op. 47 as the soloist with the orchestra.
“Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei is a piece I hold close to my heart. Every time I have the opportunity to perform it, I fall in love with it all over again and I’m absolutely elated that I am able to play it again on such a large scale,” Says Hill. “When I received the news that I had won this concerto competition, it almost felt surreal. Having the opportunity to perform alongside many of the individuals who have taught me, as well as the many other incredibly talented musicians of the VSO, whom I have grown up watching, is an honor that words cannot express.”
Two Hampton Road citizens will be awarded the annual Dreamer Award during the concerts. This award is given to community leaders who amplify Dr. King’s dream through service, advocacy, justice, leadership, philanthropy, and excellence. Previous recipients include New Journal & Guide President and Publisher Brenda Andrews, Portsmouth community advocate Tyrone T. Hines, Dr. Darlene Sparks Washinton, Captain Janet Days, Victor Wooten, and more.
A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Virginia Beach will be held on January 18th, 2026, at 7PM at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Market St UNIT 204, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. This FREE General Admission event is made possible by the generous support of the City of Virginia Beach and Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission. Registration is encouraged. https://virginiasymphony.org/event/a-tribute-to-mlk-vb/
A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Portsmouth will be held on January 20th, 2026, at 7PM at I.C. Norcom High School, 1801 London Blvd, Portsmouth, VA 23704. This FREE General Admission event is made possible by the generous support of the City of Portsmouth. Registration is encouraged. https://virginiasymphony.org/event/mlkjr-tribute-porstmouth/
####
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 its 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. Since 2019, the VSO has been recognized nationally for striving to reflect the region’s ethnic and racial diversity in its members, programming, and leadership. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s Fellowship Program for up to 4 early-career, underrepresented orchestral musicians work to advance the goal of increased diversity of orchestral musicians nationwide. This initiative is a continuation of the VSO’s commitment to creating extraordinary musical experiences with and for our entire community.
Celebrating his fifth year, Music Director Eric Jacobsen, The Macon and Joan Brock Chair, continues to expand the VSO’s vision to attract wider and larger audiences with engaging concert experiences and creative and relevant programming. Rounding out the artistic leadership team is Connie and Marc Jacobson Music Director Laureate JoAnn Falletta and 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.
