West Virginia Symphony Orchestra Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Roanoke’s Hardcore Music Scene And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, we take a deep dive into the mosh pit and the hardcore music scene of Roanoke, Virginia with music photographer Chelse Warren. Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams has more.

On this West Virginia Morning, we take a deep dive into the mosh pit and the hardcore music scene of Roanoke, Virginia with music photographer Chelse Warren. Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams has more.

Also, in this show, this week’s episode of Mountain Stage is a special featuring the 70 plus member West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, under the musical direction of Maurice Cohn. Our Song of the Week is “Michael from Mountains” sung by folk music icon Judy Collins. The song was written by Joni Mitchell and released on Collins’ 1967 landmark album Wildflowers.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.

Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from CAMC and Marshall Health.

West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caroline MacGregor, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.

Eric Douglas is our news director. Caroline MacGregor is our assistant news director and producer.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

W.Va. Symphony Orchestra To Perform Sounds Of The Season

The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra will perform a holiday favorite, Sounds of the Season, at select venues around the state.

Michelle Merrill will return as a guest conductor to lead the orchestra on Dec. 2-4 for the show that will feature selections including “The First Noel,” “Deck the Halls,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and “The Polar Express Suite,” a statement from the orchestra said. The music will feature vocal numbers from the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the West Virginia State University Chorus, the University of Charleston Choir and the Symphony Chorus of Parkersburg.

“There’s something for everyone at this year’s sounds of the season concert – and we are looking forward to sharing some cheer with you and yours at the start of this merry season!” Merrill said.

The concert will be held in Lewisburg on Dec. 2, in Charleston on Dec. 3 and in Parkersburg on Dec. 4.

West Virginia Symphony Orchestra Cancels 1st Half Of Season

The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra has announced it is canceling the first half of its season this fall due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The cancellation affects the concerts scheduled for October through January. The organization hopes to resume with programs scheduled for February through May if possible.

President Joe Tackett said in a news release the orchestra has received support from patrons, donors and corporate, foundation and community partners for 81 years but expects the cancellations will have “a tremendous impact on the finances of the orchestra.”

The orchestra is looking into other options such as live streaming, according to a news release.

W.Va. Awarded Funds to Promote Arts & Culture

West Virginia’s arts and culture just got a boost through a federal grant.

The National Endowment for the Arts, or NEA, awarded West Virginia nearly $800,000 this week to support programs that aim to preserve the state’s cultural history and promote arts education.

According to a release from the NEA, the funds are meant to help provide access to the arts for people across the country and support programs that provide jobs to artists, administrators, and other creative workers.

The majority of West Virginia’s award will be given to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History – through a grant of more than $650,000. The Heritage Farm Foundation, which works to preserve and develop Old Central City in Huntington, will see $75,000 of the grant.

Other groups that will see some of the funds, include the West Virginia Humanities Council ($34,000), the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra ($15,000), and Allegheny Echoes ($10,000) – an organization based out of Marlinton that helps support summer workshops that focus on Appalachian arts and music.

Loh Picked as West Virginia Symphony Orchestra Conductor

Lawrence Loh has been selected as conductor and music director of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

Loh was chosen Tuesday, May 30, from among six finalists to succeed Grant Cooper, who is retiring after 16 years.

Loh currently is music director of Symphoria in Syracuse, New York, and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

He also had a decade-long stint in various roles with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Enjoy these Holiday Radio Specials from WVPB

Discover our holiday line-up of radio specials.

With a combination of local and national programs, pianist Bob Thompson’s “Joy to the World” once again takes center stage. The producers of “Mountain Stage with Larry Groce” celebrate this 23-year tradition with jazz arrangements of holiday favorites new and old, featuring special guest vocalist Lena Seikaly. This year’s episode premieres Monday, December 19th at 9pm, with several repeats scheduled. A Joy to the World mini-marathon is also planned for overnights during the Christmas weekend.

Local productions during the season include specials with The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and The Appalachian Children’s Chorus, as well as the unveiling of 2016’s Inspiring West Virginians.