THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508230160
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
The Symphony is finally coming to Chesapeake.
In the past, smaller groups from the Virginia Symphony have played at various functions and events, but now Chesapeake gets its chance to enjoy the pleasures of a full symphony orchestra performing a program full of classics, pops, jazz and Broadway tunes.
The Virginia Symphony, under the direction of guest conductor Thomas Wilkins, will perform a program called ``Those Were the Days,'' a complete and varied concert program to make Chesapeake's Labor Day weekend memorable.
The free concert will be performed outdoors Saturday, Sept. 2, beginning at 7 p.m. The event has been dubbed ``Symphony Under the Stars.''
``This is the first time the full symphony has been in Chesapeake,'' said a proud L. Randy Harrison, Chesapeake's fine arts coordinator. ``We suggest families come early to have fun at Fun Forest, then bring along a picnic supper or buy dinner from Grand Affairs, who will be out there selling all manner of good food. Families should also bring folding chairs and blankets so they can relax and enjoy a symphony program the entire family will enjoy and appreciate.''
Norfolk native Thomas Wilkins, the resident conductor of the Florida Orchestra, will make his Hampton Roads debut conducting a program including Glinka's ``Russlan and Ludmilla,'' Dvorak's ``Slavonic Dances,'' Smetana's ``The Bartered Bride,'' Tchaikovsky's Polonaise from ``Eugene Onegin,'' J. Strauss' ``Music of the Spheres,'' along with a salute to George M. Cohan, a Duke Ellington Fantasy, selections from ``The Sound of Music'' and for young listeners, a piece called ``The Flintstones Meet the Jetsons.''
In conducting this varied and eclectic program, Wilkins brings several years of conducting and music teaching experience to Chesapeake City Park.
Before achieving his Florida post, Wilkins spent five years serving as associate conductor of the Richmond Symphony and artistic director of its Young Performer's Program, where he was actively involved in educational programs, school concerts and youth concerts.
Throughout his career, Wilkins has been featured with orchestras in both the U.S. and Europe, including the Southwest Michigan Orchestra, the Walla Walla Symphony in Washington state and the Jugendkammerorchester in Stuttgart, Germany.
Harrison said securing the services of Thomas Wilkins and the Virginia Symphony has been a big goal of Chesapeake's fine arts community and supporters.
``We wanted the symphony's presence here in Chesapeake,'' she said. ``We've been wanting to have them here for a long time. It's only through the graciousness from the community and city businesses that this finally came to be.''
Harrison said the symphony concert will become a reality thanks to contributions and support from Volvo Penta, Armada Hoffler Construction, Mitsubishi Kasei, Colonial Pipeline, the Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department and the Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission.
``The Virginia Symphony people were marvelous to work with,'' Harrison said. ``You couldn't work with a nicer group of people. They really wanted to make this happen. They really wanted to perform here in Chesapeake.''
Harrison said word of the symphony's first full concert in Chesapeake is beginning to spread through the city. People are excited, she said.
``Total strangers, people we've never talked to before, have been calling our office to tell us how excited they are about the concert,'' Harrison said. ``This is really going to be nice.'' by CNB