Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is an American regional orchestra
in the Hampton Roads
metro area. The orchestra performs at several venues in Virginia, including Chrysler Hall
in Norfolk
and the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News.
The orchestra was founded in 1920 as the Norfolk
Symphony, and was for a time the only American orchestra between Baltimore
and Atlanta. During the US economic crisis and recession of the 1970s, the Virginia Symphony assumed its present form in 1979 with the merger of the Norfolk Symphony, Peninsula Symphony Orchestra, and the Virginia Beach Pops Symphony.
Past music directors of the orchestra have included Henry Cowles Whitehead, Edgar Schenckman and Russell Stanger. In May 1991, JoAnn Falletta
was appointed the orchestra’s eleventh music director.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
in the Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
metro area. The orchestra performs at several venues in Virginia, including Chrysler Hall
Chrysler Hall
Chrysler Hall is a performing arts venue in Downtown Norfolk, Virginia. Built in 1972 and located next to the Norfolk Scope arena, the venue is home to the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Virginia Ballet and hosts Broadway plays while serving as Norfolk's primary theater and concert venue.The...
in Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
and the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News.
The orchestra was founded in 1920 as the Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
Symphony, and was for a time the only American orchestra between Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
and Atlanta. During the US economic crisis and recession of the 1970s, the Virginia Symphony assumed its present form in 1979 with the merger of the Norfolk Symphony, Peninsula Symphony Orchestra, and the Virginia Beach Pops Symphony.
Past music directors of the orchestra have included Henry Cowles Whitehead, Edgar Schenckman and Russell Stanger. In May 1991, JoAnn Falletta
JoAnn Falletta
JoAnn Falletta is an American classical musician and orchestral conductor.Falletta was educated at the Mannes College of Music and The Juilliard School in New York City...
was appointed the orchestra’s eleventh music director.
Music directors (partial list)
- Walter Edward Howe
- Henry Cowles Whitehead
- Edgar Schenkman (1948–1966)
- Russell Stanger (1966–1980)
- Richard Williams (1980–1986)
- Winston Dan Vogel (1986–1990)
- JoAnn FallettaJoAnn FallettaJoAnn Falletta is an American classical musician and orchestral conductor.Falletta was educated at the Mannes College of Music and The Juilliard School in New York City...
(1991–present)