HAMPTON ROADS, VIRGINIA [August 10, 2023] – The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with the City of Norfolk, will host its fifth annual CommUNITY Play-In and Sing-Along concert.
Members of the community who play any instrument and are at any experience level are invited to play and sing alongside the VSO’s musicians and chorus on Sunday, September 10 at the Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall on the Norfolk State University campus. This year’s CommUNITY concert embraces our community’s cultural richness and diversity, 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 3:30 p.m.
All kinds of music will be featured in this year’s CommUNITY concert including Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and the exhilarating “Raiders March,” conducted by VSO Music Director Eric Jacobsen, Director of Education, Helen Martell, and NSU Assistant Director of Bands, Stephanie Sanders and more. There will also be appearances by the Fleet Forces Band and Norfolk State University’s Chorus and Vocal Jazz.
Residents of Hampton Roads are invited to play, sing, volunteer, or simply enjoy the festivities as we come together to celebrate our unique and diverse communities. Last year we welcomed over 1000 people aged 5 to 85 to make music together. With a bigger venue this year, space is available for even more area music lovers to come and experience the magic of CommUNITY. Registration is required for all participants and encouraged for 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, churches that are part of the VSO’s Harmony project, and MixMo, as well as faith leaders Rev. Geoffrey Guns, and Rabbi Michael Panitz. There will also be various community organizations from across Hampton Roads in attendance with informational tables about their upcoming events and services.
For more information about the CommUNITY Play-In and Sing-Along, to register to play and download music, or to volunteer, visit the VSO’s CommUNITY page here.
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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 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. 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.
