West Virginia Symphony Orchestra presents Celebration of Keys

CHARLESTON, W.VA. (10/29/21) – The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO) continues its 2021-22 season with performances of Celebration of Keys on Nov. 13 and 14 in Charleston and Parkersburg.

The WVSO will be back on stage for its second concert in the Elliot Foundation Symphonic Series on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Clay Center in Charleston. The concert begins with Music Director Lawrence Loh leading the WVSO through a performance of Adolphus Hailstork’s An American Port of Call. The overture, which premiered in 1985, is an ode to the energy and business surrounding Norfolk, the port city where Hailstork lived at the time. Most recently, Hailstork received a Distinguished Alumnu Award from the Manhattan School of Music, making him the first Black composer to receive such an honor.

Music Director Lawrence Loh said, “I met Adolphus Hailstork while conducting his music with the Pittsburgh Symphony several years ago. Dr. Hailstork is an important American composer, a kind person and a unique voice in our musical landscape.”

Fan-favorite pianist, Jon Nakamatsu returns to Charleston to perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Nakamatsu is no stranger to the WVSO family, as he helped to choose the orchestra’s Steinway piano years ago. The program wraps up with an epic performance of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5.

“Jon Nakamatsu is such a supremely beautiful pianist and human being and his is a long-awaited rescheduling due to the pandemic,” said Music Director Lawrence Loh. “Jon's Rachmaninoff is exquisite, and it will be great to see him with our WVSO musicians again with this hallmark of the repertoire.”

The Elliot Foundation Symphonic Series concert is made possible by the generous support of the Elliot Foundation, the Cecil I. Walker Charitable Trust, City National Bank, AC&S Incorporated and Steptoe and Johnson, PLLC. Tickets start at $13 and are available at wvsymphony.org, by visiting the Clay Center Box Office, or by calling 304.561.3570.

The WVSO will also perform Celebration of Keys at Blennerhassett School in Parkersburg beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 14. Hosted by the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra of Parkersburg, tickets for the concert are starting at $25 for adults or $10 for students and are available at wvsop.org, at the door, or by calling 888.699.8767 (MYWVSOP). A talk will be held prior to the concert on site at 1:30 p.m.

In order to maintain the health and safety of the WVSO’s patrons, musicians, and staff, for all patrons over the age of 2, masks will be required to be worn for the duration of the concert, regardless of vaccination status. Additionally, the WVSO asks that attendees try to maintain a distance between others while in common spaces, such as the Ticketing Lobby, Grand Lobby, bathrooms, etc. The WVSO encourages all eligible individuals to get vaccinated to reduce the potential of unknowingly spreading COVID-19.

The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra is West Virginia’s premier performing arts organization, presenting classical and pops concerts annually throughout the Mountain State. Currently in its 83rd season, the WVSO is a proud member of the community and enriches the region by providing affordable, high-quality concerts, collaborations with West Virginia arts organizations and a nationally award-winning education program.

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