The Virginia Symphony Society of Greater Williamsburg will host its 10th annual black-tie gala on April 16.
“Symphonique: Jazz it Up!” promises dinner, drinks and dancing, but the gala’s purpose is rooted in the society’s mission: “to support and create awareness for the Virginia Symphony in the Greater Williamsburg area,” society president Barbara Vollmer said.
Proceeds from the gala, the society’s main fundraiser, benefit the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Last year, Vollmer said the organization presented the orchestra with a $55,000 check.
“It’s a very unique and wonderful orchestra,” Vollmer said. “We’re very fortunate to have so many opportunities to hear all kinds of music in the Williamsburg area.”
Among them, Vollmer continued, a full orchestra at Virginia Symphony’s level. Led by music director JoAnn Falletta, who recently closed her 25th anniversary season, the symphony is ranked in the top 10 percent of professional orchestras nationwide.
“We want to bring the symphony more into Williamsburg,” Vollmer said.
The local society especially hopes to continue bringing the symphony into Williamsburg-area schools, as it has in recent years, and proceeds from the gala also help fund such efforts.
“We want to expand the program, and we cannot do it without funding,” said Alice Herring, chair of the society’s education committee.
Herring said the society works through the Virginia Symphony’s School/Orchestra Artistic Residency (SOAR) program to underwrite an annual visit from orchestra members to select schools in the Williamsburg area.
In past visits, nine to 12 orchestra members have spent a day in the schools either performing or working with musicians from the strings sections of school orchestras. Herring hopes the program expands to include working with brass and percussion sections, as well as providing in-service workshops for teachers.
“The Virginia Symphony is such a valuable asset,” she said. “Without us doing these kinds of programs, the students just don’t get much exposure to the symphony.”
“And the students respond so well to it, that we know that we are giving them something that they need,” Herring said.
The gala kicks off with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and a live auction. Auction highlights include a weekend at Brevard Music Festival spent with Falletta, a trip to Washington, D.C. and even the chance to conduct a Virginia Symphony performance in Williamsburg.
And what would a symphony gala be without music? Sal Andolina, saxophonist and clarinetist, will perform Benny Goodman classics throughout the evening. Andolina is a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and has appeared in venues such as Carnegie Hall.
Bridges can be reached by phone at 757-275-4934.
Want to go?
When: 5:45 p.m., April 16
Where: Two Rivers Country Club, 1400 Two Rivers Road
Tickets: $175, call Donna Henderson at 757-419-8815.
Info: vssgw.com/events.html
