Spring has sprung, and April is starting out with a plethora of arts offerings to give everyone a little spring fever.
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
On April 5, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra offers “To Whitney with Love” with “American Idol” finalist LaKisha Jones.
The show celebrates stars of soul such as Diana Ross, Donna Summer, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. Adam Turner, artistic director of the Virginia Opera, conducts.
The program starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Ferguson Center of the Arts in Newport News. For information, visit virginiasymphony.org or call 757-892-6366.
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Ewell Concert Series
This wonderfully eclectic series continues April 5 with Victor Haskins, director of the W&M jazz ensemble.
Haskins is a celebrated multi-instrumentalist, multidisciplinary artist, international performer, composer, improviser, bandleader, recording artist and educator. He’s performed throughout the United States, Canada, South Africa and Brazil in venues such as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Millennium Stage, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, New York’s Jazz Gallery, the Virginia Commonwealth Institute for Contemporary Art and jazz festivals everywhere.
He has also served on the faculty of the inaugural Izmir International Jazz Camp in Izmir, Turkey, along with educational involvement in public and magnet schools, conferences, the University of Georgia, the University of Richmond, France and the Royal Academy of Music. Additionally, he also directed In-School Jazz Ensembles for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Haskins teaches trumpet, improvisation and the Jazz Ensemble at W&M. Oh, yeah, he also has his own band and is the director of the Ewell Concert Series.
His program takes place at 7 p.m. in the W&M Phi Beta Kappa Hall Music Building Concert Hall. Open to the public and free. It should be a swinging affair.
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Dewey Decibel Series
The Williamsburg Regional Library’s Dewey Decibel Series is featuring an evening of folk-inspired, downhome, sincere music by Angela Easterling and Brandon Turner on April 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the library theater.
Songwriter Easterling’s voice has been described as a composite of the likes of Loretta Lynn, Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith, all of which result in “evocative singing and ability to pull every emotion out of a song’s lyrics.”
She applies her lyrical involvement to her songwriting which is extensive, her many albums filled with storytelling reflective of her South Carolina roots and creation of characters. Along with the talents of her longtime musical collaborator, Brandon Turner, their harmonies are balanced, beautiful and encourage peace with the world.
For ticket information, visit wrl.org/event/dewey-decibel-concerts-angela-easterling-2024.
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Gentlemen of the College
The Gentlemen of the College, an a cappella group at William & Mary, will present a special music performance at Hickory Neck Episcopal Church in Toano on April 6.
The Gentlemen, founded in 1990, perform a variety of musical genres while keeping in line with their barbershop roots. The group’s current repertoire includes everything from Motown to alternative rock to pop.
The group will perform at 5 p.m. in the church’s New Chapel at 8300 Richmond Road.
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Chamber Music Society of Williamsburg
Following the wonderfully exciting all Brahms Piano Trio program of the Merz Trio on March 12, the Chamber Music Society closes out its always rewarding 2023-24 concert season with the Telegraph Quartet on April 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Williamsburg Regional Library.
Established in 2013, the quartet is passionate about standard and contemporary works (a number commissioned by the quartet) and treats each genre with a “combination of brilliance and subtlety.” The artistic passion and technical skill delivered by Telegraph has received countless major awards and acclaimed appearances across the United States and abroad.
Not satisfied with being a hot ensemble on concert stages everywhere, the Telegraph devotes energy to the educational aspect of chamber music, offering master classes, artists-in-residence, workshops and a particularly innovative online video project, TeleLab, during which they offer participants a thorough appreciation of how those components fit together.
For the Williamsburg appearance, the Telegraph is scheduled to present Fanny Mendelssohn’s String Quartet, Dvorak’s String Quartet No. 14 in A-flat Major and George Walker’s String Quartet No. 11 (“Lyric”). In addition to being a composer of considerable note, Walker was also a pianist and organist and the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for his “Lilacs,” written for voice and orchestra.
For tickets and information, visit chambermusicwilliamsburg.org.
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Tidewater Cello Ensemble
The Tidewater Cello Ensemble is heading to Europe for a brief tour. Who? Just recently brought to my attention, the TCE is an ensemble of aspiring young cellists, ages 13 to 19, most of whom live in Williamsburg, as well as in York County, Newport News and Chesapeake (Warhill, Jamestown and Warwick high schools, Walsingham Academy, Peninsula Catholic and homeschooled).
None of this would be possible without Susan Hines and her desire 25 years ago to help provide a vibrant breeding ground for potential talent. (Her daughter, Erin, is co-director.)
Since 2002, Hines has been an elementary orchestra teacher for Williamsburg-James City County Schools. The current ensemble of 11 talented cellists is headed to Germany and Austria March 29 through April 4 at the University of Leipzig Paulinum Theatre and Sankt Andrea Church in Salzburg. Hines explained that “we have been wanting to go to Europe for a few years but COVID put a halt to that. We chose Leipzig because of Bach and other composers. Salzburg is not too far and is also a great center for music.”
Hines said the programs will feature mostly classical works, with lighter styles as the tango, jig and a special arrangement of “Shenandoah.” Bravo for such a fine endeavor and for spreading our area’s youthful talent to Europe.
Have information about the arts in the Historic Triangle? Contact John Shulson at johnshulson@gmail.com.
