For her tireless work as a volunteer for the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Fran Pedersen received the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads’ top award for support of the arts.
Pedersen started playing bass with the symphony while she was a student at Maury High School in Norfolk. She was president of the Virginia Symphony League from 2012-16 and wrote its newsletter for 10 years. While working for Virginia Beach schools, she played in music ensembles, bands and church groups and has long been a volunteer extraordinaire, said Joan L. Rhodes-Copeland, executive director of the alliance.
“Fran has spent her life giving back to the Hampton Roads community,” Rhodes-Copeland said. “Her passion for music and the arts has permeated nearly all the musical organizations and ensembles in the area.”
Pedersen was presented with the Vianne B. Webb Lifetime Achievement Award on Sunday during the Cultural Alliance’s annual Alli Awards at The American Theatre in Hampton.
Four special Alli Awards were presented : Support Portsmouth Public Art, the Arts Partner Award; Nicole Harp, Norfolk-based artist and educator, the Bettie Minette Cooper Alli Educator Award; Renata Sheppard, artistic director of Experimental Film Virginia in Cape Charles, Creative Leadership; and Deborah Thorpe, assistant director and foundation director of the Governor’s School for the Arts, the Star Alli Award.
Three business Alli Awards were presented : Croc’s 19th Street Bistro in Virginia Beach, Small Business Award; the Muse Writers Center in Norfolk, Medium Business Award; and YNot Italian, Large Business Award.
Three Alli Awards were presented to individuals: Charles J. Woodward, artistic director of the Virginia Chorale, Arts Professional Award; Andy Li of the Virginia Opera, Emerging Volunteer Award; and Susan Grube of Symphonicity, Individual Volunteer Award.
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