Virginia Symphony Orchestra Announces 2017-2018 POPS Season 

HAMPTON ROADS, VA [February 2, 2017] — Shortly after announcing its 2017-18 Classics season, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra announced today its 2016-17 POPS season – five weeks of popular-music programming in Norfolk and Newport News.

The upcoming season begins at the end of September with Unforgettable: The Music of Nat King Cole.  The baritone crooner, a paragon of America’s jazz and big band heyday, swooned listeners with hits like “Straighten Up and Fly Right,” “Route 66,” “Nature Boy,” and his signature song, “Unforgettable.” Joined by one of Canada’s favorite jazz vocalists, Juno Award nominee Denzal Sinclaire, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra will perform a tribute to Cole.

At the end of October, the symphony is to perform Faithfully: The Music of Journey.  Forever yours. Faithfully. For decades, Journey has been one of the world’s most revered rock bands of all time. With 25 gold and platinum albums, and 19 top 40 singles, this year the world celebrates their influence with the band’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Benjamin Rous and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra perform its own celebration of the band that never stopped believing. Faithfully: The Music of Journey boasts all the beloved rock ballads and hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” “Lights,” and, of course, “Faithfully.”

From Dec. 8-10, the VSO presents its annual holiday favorite performing Holiday POPS! Led by conductor Robert Shoup, Holiday Pops and will have all the magical elements you’ve come to expect Holiday Pops—high energy, familiar carols and lots of holiday warmth!

Following in February, the orchestra puts on its blue suede shoes for Elvis: The King’s Songbook. Guest conductor Michael Krajewski, Music Direct of the Philly Pops, backed by vocalists, piano, bass and drums, joins the symphony for a rockin’ good time of Elvis classics like “All Shook Up,” “Hound Dog,” and “Heartbreak Hotel.”

The POPS season closes in March with an audience favorite, The Music of John Williams. With a career spanning over six decades, John Williams has composed some of the most popular and recognizable film scores in the history of cinema. Benjamin Rous leads the orchestra through popular film scores from films like Indiana Jones, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park and, most notably, Star Wars.

Season tickets are available in packages for four concerts Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News or five concerts at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk and range in price from $88 to $433. Tickets for individual concerts will go on sale in July. Season tickets are available by calling VSO Patron Services at 757.892.6366 or visiting virginiasymphony.org/subscriptions.

Admired for his dynamism on the podium, Benjamin Rous began his tenure with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra in 2010 and quickly became a favorite among audiences throughout the Hampton Roads region. In 2013, he was promoted to Resident Conductor and took on an expanded role in the VSO’s calendar. He performs on every VSO series including Classics, Regional Classics, Pops, Young People’s Concerts, PB&J Family Concerts and multiple series in outdoor venues. In the summers, he serves as faculty conductor at Greenwood Music Camp in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.

Under the leadership of GRAMMY-winning music director JoAnn Falletta, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra is Virginia’s pre-eminent professional symphony orchestra with a mission of inspiring, educating and connecting audiences of all ages.

Founded in 1921, it is ranked in the top ten percent of professional orchestras nationwide and serves the entire Southeastern Virginia region with Classics, Pops and Family concert series in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News and Williamsburg as well as performances in outlying Virginia and North Carolina communities, reaching more than 160,000 concert-goers every year. Additionally, the orchestra annually reaches 45,000 children, students and lifelong learners with its education and community programs. The Virginia Symphony has performed at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center and is the cornerstone of the performing arts in Hampton Roads.

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2017-2018 Virginia Symphony Orchestra POPS Season at a Glance

Programs, artists and dates are subject to change

Unforgettable: The Music of Nat King Cole
Thursday, September 28, 2017 | 8 PM | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News
Saturday, September 30, 2017 | 8 PM | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk

Benjamin Rous, conductor
Denzal Sinclaire, vocals

Faithfully: The Music of Journey
Friday, October 27, 2017 | 8 PM | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News
Saturday, October 28, 2017 | 8 PM | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk

Benjamin Rous, conductor

Holiday POPS!
Friday, December 8, 2017 | 8 PM | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News
Saturday, December 9, 2017 | 8 PM | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk
Sunday, December 10, 2017 | 7PM | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach

Robert Shoup, conductor
Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus

ELVIS: THE KING’S SONGBOOK
Thursday, February 1, 2018 | 8 PM | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News
Saturday, February 3, 2017 | 8 PM | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk

Michael Krajewski, Conductor
Allison Blackwell, vocalist
The Dave Bennett Quartet
Dave Bennett, vocalist
Tad Weed, piano
Shelly Berger, bass
Pete Siers, drums

The Music of John Williams
Saturday, March 24, 2018 | 8 PM | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk

Benjamin Rous, conductor