Campaign Update

Campaign Goal:

$12 Million

Raised to Date:

$11 Million

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View Our Latest Campaign Update

​The Virginia Symphony Orchestra proudly announces its largest fundraising campaign in its history…

Vision Forward Campaign

Celebrating 100 years of community service and creativity, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra has launched its “Vision Forward” campaign. This unique initiative will preserve the orchestra as a strong community asset for generations to come by significantly increasing the size of its endowment and providing the stimulus for future innovative programming both on and off the stage.

“The future of the VSO is bright and Vision Forward has created new momentum for the organization, we continue to evolve into an even stronger community partner serving all of Hampton Roads as its only full-time, professional symphony orchestra.”

– Mike McClellan
Chair, VSO Board of Directors

“As we look forward together to celebrating the VSO’s 100th anniversary in the upcoming season, the organization has much to celebrate – not only a venerable history of extraordinary musical performances and deep community engagement, but a strong financial foundation on which to build for the future.”

– Karen M. Philion
VSO President and CEO

Beyond The Stage

Since 2016, the VSO has significantly expanded its strategic vision by deepening its education and community service beyond presenting concerts. The VSO has created new and unique programming throughout the region including music therapy-based health and wellness programs with non-traditional partners including hospitals and nursing homes. Additionally, the VSO’s collaboration with Old Dominion University is one of the only programs of its type in the country that enhances music education for students by providing hands on instruction with the VSO’s professional musicians. And, just this past year, the VSO performed its first-ever sensory-friendly concert to expand access to people on the autism spectrum.

To learn more about Vision Forward, please call
Lauren DiPeppe, Director of Development, at 757-213-1417.

Special thanks to our Vision Forward donors

Anonymous (3)

Mr. and Mrs. Bert Aaron

Abbitt Family Foundation

Baldwin Advisory LLC

Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Banks

Clay H. Barr

David and Claire Benjack

Birdsong Peanuts

Sarah and Bruce Bishop

Lilly and Bruce Bradley

Joan Brock

John and Kathleen Broderick

Capt. and Mrs. James Burritt

Leroy and Cora Collins

Minette and Charles Cooper

Dr. and Mrs. William A. Coulter

Parker Councill and Robin Everett

Page and Virginia Cranford

Mrs. Nancy A. Creech

Debra Wendells Cross and Robert W. Cross

Stacy and Aimée Cummings

The Curtis Group

Dr. and Mrs. Robert T. Davis

Ms. Ernestine I. Dole

F. Ludwig Diehn Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation

Cheryl Dronzek

The Fannie, Milton, and Leslie Friedman Family Foundation

Kelly and Tim Faulkner

John and Irene Field

Barry and Anita Fletcher

Leslie H. Friedman

Goode Family Foundation

Susan and David Goode

Conrad Hall

Jim and Helene Haluska

Jo Ann and Buzzy Hofheimer

Mr. and Mrs. Stan Howard

Dr. and Mrs. TW Hubbard

Connie Jacobson

Dan Jobson

Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kern

Ms. Maria Latona

Drs. Donald R. and Elyse B. Lehman

Dr. and Mrs. Edward Lilly

David Littley

Mrs. Eleanor Marshall

Bill Martin and Pamela Russell

Joanne C. McClellan

Andria and Mike McClellan

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick B. McDermott

Oriana McKinnon

Elizabeth Miklos

Robert and Kathleen Morris

James Muir

Newport News Shipbuilding

Mr. and Mrs. Richard O’Hanlon

Dennis W. and

JoAnn M. Olson

Deb Butler Painter

The Perry Family Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Perry

Diane and Bob Petterson

Karen and Tom Philion

Bradley and Carolyn Pittman

Mrs. Sandra Armstrong and Mr. Tom Richmond

Mr. and Mrs. John E. Roberts, Jr.

Louis F. and Prudence H. Ryan

Dr. Paul Sayegh

Mr. Asa Shield, Jr. and Helene Uhlfelder, Ph. D

Jane and Win Short

Charla Smith-Worley

Linda Ferro and Dr. Mark Sorin

Joan and Jim Spore

James A. Squires and Karen Jones Squires

Ira and Jean Steingold

Mr. Lawrence L. Steingold

Vanessa Allen Sutherland and Elliot Wolf

Elaine M. Themo

Mr. and Mrs. Rony Thomas

Garland Tillery and Jim Early

TowneBank Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. William R. Van Buren, lll

Virginia Chamber Players

John T. Vojtek

Cathy and Ken Walsh

Eleanor and Henry Watts

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne F. Wilbanks

F. Blair and Jane S. Wimbush

Don and Amanda Winchester

Steve and Lynne Winter

Mr. and Mrs. John and Deborah Wyld

  • Smithfield
  • PBMares
  • Birdsong Peanuts
  • VSSGW
  • Virginia Symphony League
  • Bank of America
  • Truist
  • Trust and Wealth Management
  • Optima Health
  • Ferguson Center for the Arts
  • CBN
  • Breeden
  • KPMG
  • Norfolk Southern
  • Norfolk Collegiate
  • New Leaf
  • Wilbanks Smith and Thomas
  • Sentara
  • Carl's Wash
  • Cape Henry Collegiate
  • Art Works
  • Capital Group
  • Business Consortium for Arts Support
  • Riverside Health
  • PNC Bank
  • Regent University
  • Associates Dermatology

Nathaniel StampleySTAR OF BROADWAY MUSICALS THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS, THE COLOR PURPLE, THE LION KING, and RAGTIME

Nathaniel Stampley starred as ‘Porgy’ in the Broadway National Tour of The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. He has also starred on Broadway in CATS, The Color Purple, and The Lion King. West End (London): The Lion King. Broadway National Tours include Ragtime and Orpheus Returns. Other credits include Big Love, Fiorello! and Lost in the Stars, New York City Center's Encores!; Abyssinia, Pacific Overtures, Strike Up the Band, One Touch of Venus, Violet, Once on This Island, Big River, The Color Purple, Dreamgirls, Show Boat, Harriet: The Woman Called Moses, El Capitan, Girl Crazy, and The King and I. He has performed in The Weill Music Institute concert series, Musical Explorers and Link Up with the Orchestra of St. Luke's at Carnegie Hall, and at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Other concerts include 92Y, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra (Naxos recording). El Paso Symphony Orchestra, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, West Michigan Symphony and Bernstein's Mass with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra.

@nathanielstampley

Ali EwoldtAli Ewoldt has appeared as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, Cosette in Les Miserables (Broadway, National Tour), The King and I (Broadway, Lyric Opera of Chicago), and Maria in West Side Story (National Tour, International Tour). Ali’s concert work includes: Alice Tully Hall, NY Pops at Carnegie Hall, Houston Symphony, Kaohsiung Symphony and The Boston Pops. Ali has a BA in psychology from Yale University and is a proud Filipina-American. @aliewoldt

Teri HansenSTAR OF BROADWAY MUSICALS SHOW BOAT, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, and THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE

Teri Hansen has received International recognition for her crossover abilities as a singing actress from Opera to Broadway and concert stages around the world. Miss Hansen made her Broadway debut in The Boys From Syracuse and starred in London’s West End as ‘Magnolia’ in Hal Prince’s Tony award winning production of Show Boat. Most recently she starred in the National Tours of The Sound Of Music (Elsa) and the Tony Award winning An American In Paris. Miss Hansen starred in tours of The Music Man as ‘Marian Paroo’, ‘Guenevere’ in Camelot and as ‘Magnolia’ in Show Boat. Internationally recognized as an interpreter of Weill, Miss Hansen starred as “Rose” in the film version of Kurt Weill’s Street Scene. Miss Hansen also toured for years with Marvin Hamlisch, appeared at the Lincoln Center singing Rodgers and Hammerstein, as well as regular appearances there as a part of the prestigious “Meet the Artist” series. Her solo CD “Into Your Arms…Love Songs of Richard Rodger’s” is available worldwide.

@teridhalinks

VSO Guest Artist: Andrew von Oeyen

Hailed worldwide for his elegant and insightful interpretations, balanced artistry and brilliant technique, Andrew von Oeyen has established himself as one of the most captivating pianists of his generation.

Since his debut at age 16 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Esa-Pekka Salonen, Mr. von Oeyen has extended his interpretive voice to a broad spectrum of repertoire as both a soloist and recitalist. He has collaborated with such ensembles as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Saint Louis Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Mariinsky Orchestra, Berlin Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony, Grant Park Orchestra, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, Utah Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique de Marseille, Geneva Chamber Orchestra, Spoleto USA Orchestra, Slovenian Philharmonic and Slovak Philharmonic. As both soloist and conductor he has led concerti and orchestral works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Ravel and Kurt Weill. On July 4, 2009, he performed at the U.S. Capitol with the National Symphony in “A Capitol Fourth,” reaching millions worldwide in the multi-award winning PBS live telecast.

‍Mr. von Oeyen has appeared in recital at Wigmore Hall and Barbican Hall in London, Lincoln Center in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Boston’s Symphony Hall, Zürich’s Tonhalle, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall, St. Petersburg’s Philharmonia, Dublin’s National Concert Hall, Royce Hall in Los Angeles, Herbst Theater in San Francisco, Spivey Hall in Atlanta, Sala São Paulo, Teatro Olimpico in Rome, in Mexico City, Hanoi, Macau, and in every major concert hall of Japan and South Korea. Festival appearances include Aspen, Ravinia, Grant Park, Mainly Mozart, Saratoga, Schubertiade, Spoleto, Brevard, Grand Teton, Chautauqua and the Mariinsky’s “Stars of the White Nights.”

Mr. von Oeyen has recorded for Warner Classics since 2017. His albums under that label, including works for piano and orchestra by Saint-Saëns, Ravel and Gershwin and a disc including Debussy’s Fantaisie pour Piano et Orchestre, have been met with critical acclaim. Mr. von Oeyen has also recorded award-winning recital albums of Liszt, Debussy, and Stravinsky under the Delos label.

Mr. von Oeyen, of German and Dutch origin, was born in the U.S. He began his piano studies at age 5 and made his solo orchestral debut at age 10. An alumnus of Columbia University and graduate of The Juilliard School, where his principal teachers were Herbert Stessin and Jerome Lowenthal, he also worked with Alfred Brendel and Leon Fleisher. He won the prestigious Gilmore Young Artist Award in 1999 and also took First Prize in the Léni Fé Bland Foundation National Piano Competition in 2001. Mr. von Oeyen lives in Paris and Los Angeles.