West Virginia Symphony Orchestra presents Opening Night!

CHARLESTON, W.VA. (10/04/21) – The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO) kicks off its 2021-22 season Oct. 16 and 17 with a spectacular season opening concert in Charleston and Parkersburg.

On Saturday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Clay Center in Charleston, Music Director Lawrence Loh will lead the WVSO in an exciting evening of music, beginning with a premiere of Social Dissonance by Charleston native, Matt Jackfert. Social Dissonance was commissioned by the WVSO and touches on the current state of affairs in the world.

Following the debut, cellist Sterling Elliott takes the stage to join the orchestra for a performance of Haydn’s Cello Concerto in D Major. Elliott is the 2019 winner of the Sphinx competition, a national competition for young Black and Latinx classical string artists and is currently studying cello performance at the Juilliard School of Music. Opening Night! closes with Scheherazade, an epic piece of music by Rimsky-Korsakov that tells the story of the female lead and narrator of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights.

“We could not be more excited to welcome patrons back to the hall after a long hiatus,” said WVSO President Joe Tackett.

As part of the season opener, patrons are invited to a special pre-concert dinner on Saturday, Oct. 16 at the Clay Center celebrating the WVSO’s long awaited return to the stage. A cash bar opens at 4:30 p.m. Dinner begins at 5 p.m., a special presentation at 6:15 p.m., and the concert at 7:30 p.m. The dinner and concert package costs $75 per person or $150 a couple. Tickets can be purchased by calling Marketing Director Amanda McDonald at 304.957.9880, by email at amcdonald@wvsymphony.org or by visiting https://sforce.co/3uIR8D4.

The Elliot Foundation Symphonic Series concert is made possible by the generous support of the Elliot Foundation and Encova Insurance. Concert-only tickets start at $13 and are available at wvsymphony.org or by calling 304.561.3570.

The WVSO will also perform an Opening Afternoon! concert at Blennerhassett School in Parkersburg beginning at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17. Hosted by the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra of Parkersburg, tickets for the concert are $35 for adults or $10 for students and are available at wvsop.org, at the door, or by calling 888.699.8767 (MYWVSOP).  

 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, pops, family and chamber-music concerts annually throughout the Mountain State. Currently in its 82nd 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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