The finale of the Charlottesville Symphony's 2023-2024 season is the Academic Festival, hosted on Saturday, April 20th, at 7:30pm in Old Cabell Hall on the Grounds of the University of Virginia and Sunday, April 21st at 3:30pm at Charlottesville High School’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center.

Benjamin Rous, conductor
Nicole Mitchell, flute
JoVia Armstrong, percussion
Free Bridge Quintet

Program:
BERSTEIN — Overture to West Side Story (1957)
MITCHELL — Flight for Freedom (2011)
ARMSTRONG — “Creation”, “Embryo”, “Birth” (2021)
D'EARTH — Concerto for Quintet and Orchestra (2006)
RAVEL — Boléro, arr. Rous (1928/2024)

“West Side Story” was inspired by William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” The overture sets the stage for a timeless story of forbidden love and the rivalry between two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds, the Jets and the Sharks.

One of Ravel’s most colorful orchestral works, the hypnotic, ever-expanding theme builds to a volcanic climax. Charlottesville Symphony Music Director Benjamin Rous has created a special arrangement for the full orchestra and all of the guest artists appearing on the program.

These audience favorites bookend works by three by versatile UVA composers and teaching artists:  Nicole Mitchell’s Flight for Freedom, John D’earth’s Concerto for Quintet and Orchestra featuring the Free Bridge Quintet, and Benjamin Rous’s orchestral arrangement of JoVia Armstrong’s “Creation”, “Embryo” and “Birth”.

Nicole Mitchell Gantt is the University of Virginia's Professor of Composition and Computer Technologies. Mitchell is an award-winning creative flutist, composer, conceptualist, bandleader and educator. A United States Artist (2020), a Doris Duke Artist (2012), and a recipient of the Herb Alpert Award (2011) her research centers on the powerful legacy of contemporary African American culture and black experimental art. For over 20 years, Mitchell’s critically acclaimed Chicago-based Black Earth Ensemble (BEE) has been her primary compositional laboratory with which she has performed at festivals and art venues throughout Europe, Canada, and the US.

JoVia Armstrong is an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Virginia. Armstrong is a percussionist, sound artist, composer, and educator from Detroit, MI. She endorses several companies, including Sabian, Gon Bops, QSC, and Icon Pro Audio. In 2015, she won the Best Black Female Percussionist of the Year through the Black Women in Jazz Awards and received the 3Arts Siragusa Foundation Artist Award in 2011 for her work as an educator. JoVia sits on the executive board of Chicago's AACM as Secretary. She has performed with Omar, Res, Syleena Johnson, Frank McComb, El DeBarge, Eric Roberson, Rahsaan Patterson, Maysa, The Impressions, Nicole Mitchell, Ballaké Sissoko, Babani Kone, JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound, and Chilean artist Joe Vasconcellos.

Free parking is available in the UVA Central Grounds Parking Garage, located on Emmet Street South on Saturday nights and at Charlottesville High School’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center on Sunday afternoons. The Charlottesville Free Trolley stops at McCormick Road near the UVA Amphitheater, in close proximity to Old Cabell Hall. Both venues are wheelchair accessible.

Single tickets are $10-$46 for adults and $10 for students. UVA students may request one complimentary ticket in advance. Single tickets may be purchased at the University of Virginia Arts Box Office, (434) 924-3376, 12:00-5:00pm, Tuesday through Friday in the lobby of the UVA Drama Building at 109 Culbreth Road, or online at www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door. Online ticket sales begin on 8/21/23.

All University of Virginia employees (faculty and staff of all UVA departments and professional schools) are entitled to a 20% discount on tickets to individual performances. This offer does not apply to subscriptions, the December Family Holiday concerts, Pops at the Paramount or previously purchased tickets.

"Know before you go"  Answers to frequently asked questions about Charlottesville Symphony Concerts.

Click here to add to your Google Calendar (4/20 concert)

Click here to add to your Google Calendar (4/21 concert)

CONCERTS IN THE 2023-2024 CHARLOTTESVILLE SYMPHONY SEASON

SCHUBERT'S UNFINISHED SYMPHONY
Saturday, September 23, 2023, 7:30pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds (Tickets)
Sunday, September 24, 2023, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center (Tickets)

Benjamin Rous, Conductor
Kelly Peral, Oboe

JOYCE — Side by Side (2021)
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS — Concerto for Oboe and Strings in A minor (1944)
SCHUBERT — Symphony No. 8 in B minor D. 759, “Unfinished” (1822)
MUSSORGSKY — Night on Bald Mountain (1867)

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BEETHOVEN'S EMPEROR CONCERTO
Saturday, November 11, 2023, 7:30pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds (Tickets)
Sunday, November 12, 2023, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center (Tickets)

Benjamin Rous & Michael Slon, Conductors
Arunesh Nadgir, Piano
UVA University Singers

BEETHOVEN — Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73, "Emperor" (1809)
COPLAND — Choral Finale from Canticle of Freedom (1955)
WHITACRE — Equus (2012)
HIGDON — O magnum mysterium (2002)
HAILSTORK — I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes (1997)

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FAMILY HOLIDAY CONCERTS
Saturday, December 2, 2023, 7:30pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds (Tickets)
Sunday, December 3, 2023, 3:30pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds (Tickets)

Michael Slon, Conductor
UVA University Singers

Features audience favorites “The Twelve Days of Christmas" , “Sleigh Ride” , and
“Hallelujah” from Handel’s Messiah as well as new holiday treats.

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SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE
Saturday, February 10, 2024, 7:30pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds (Tickets)
Sunday, February 11, 2024, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center (Tickets)

Ken Lam, Guest conductor
Nathaniel Lee, Trombone

DEBUSSY — Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun (1894)
ALBRECHTSBERGER — Trombone Concerto (1759)
BERLIOZ — Symphonie fantastique (1830)

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MOZART AND SHOSTAKOVICH
Saturday, March 16, 2024, 7:30pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds (Tickets)
Sunday, March 17, 2024, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center (Tickets)

Benjamin Rous, Conductor

MOZART — Overture to Don Giovanni (1787)
UVA Concerto Competition Winner — TBA
SHOSTAKOVICH — Symphony No. 9 in E-flat major, Op. 70 (1945)

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ACADEMIC FESTIVAL
Saturday, April 20, 2024, 7:30pm, Old Cabell Hall, UVA Grounds (Tickets)
Sunday, April 21, 2024​, 3:30pm, Martin Luther King, Jr. Performing Arts Center (Tickets)

Benjamin Rous, Conductor
JoVia Armstrong, Percussion
Nicole Mitchell, Flute
Free Bridge Quintet

BERSTEIN — Overture to West Side Story (1957)
MITCHELL — Flight for Freedom (2011)
ARMSTRONG — “Creation”, “Embryo”, “Birth” (2021)
D'EARTH — Concerto for Quintet and Orchestra (2006)
RAVEL — Boléro, arr. Rous (1928/2024)

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All artists, programs and venues are subject to change.