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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Symphonicity, The Symphony Orchestra of Virginia Beach, today announced it has extended the contract of Music Director and Conductor Daniel W. Boothe through the 2031 season. This extension solidifies his artistic leadership and long-term vision for the orchestra, a role he has held since 2017 after winning a two-year international search.
Since Boothe became music director, Symphonicity has achieved significant milestones, including record subscriptions and overall concert attendance. Developing into one of America’s premier community orchestras, they have world-premiered seven new works and three new commissions, including an upcoming "Virginia Beach Symphony" by acclaimed composer Erich Stem that will be premiered in November.
Boothe’s work with the orchestra has been recognized by VEER Magazine with an Album of the Year award in collaboration with Jae Sinnett and Best Ballet Performance of the Year with Ballet Virginia. The orchestra’s artistry has hit new heights leading to regular featured recordings on WHRO Classical FM radio.
Famed conductor Joann Falletta has publicly described Symphonicity's live performance under Boothe as a "..excellent..beautiful performance!" and classical music reviewer John Campbell from Artsong Update wrote "...dazzlingly well played."
"He has 'the Gift' - the real intuitive feel for how a piece should be done," said Raymond Jones, a legendary radio host at WHRO Classical FM, who often features Boothe in interviews on the radio program "A Local Touch."
Under Boothe's leadership, Symphonicity has engaged in unique and bold partnerships, including a collaboration with the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art to produce "walk-thru concerts" during COVID, which set an example for ingenuity. They also released a binaural recording of Handel's full "Messiah" oratorio. Believed to be the only known binaural recording of the work in the world, it is published with a book by Hillery R. Schanck, "The Soul Feels Its Worth."
Boothe garnered a beer collaboration between Symphonicity and the Three Notch'd Brewing Company, creating a limited edition beer that reflected the orchestra's planned programming during the season. It was available in stores and restaurants throughout the city, leading to the opening of a restaurant by the brewery in Town Center.
He has revolutionized the symphony concert experience, tastefully integrating multimedia, special lighting and effects, players positioned 360 degrees around the audience, conversations from the stage, and unique integrations such as having large paintings created in real-time on the stage during the performance. Boothe's leadership has been a catalyst for collaboration in the Virginia Beach arts community, featuring as many as six other arts organizations in performances, as well as numerous local artists, schools and universities.
"We are extremely blessed in Virginia Beach to have such talented musicians under the direction of such an amazing director here in Virginia Beach," said Ashley McLeod, a Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commissioner.
In recent years, as a community orchestra, Symphonicity has also been noticed around the world.
“It is a great orchestra. It is extremely proficient and professional with regards to their approach to new works and as directed by an exceptional conductor, maestro Daniel W. Boothe," said Polo Piatti, a British-Argentine neo-romantic composer based in London who attended a world-premiere of his music by Symphonicity.
Emily S. Labows is the Director of the Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Virginia Beach and recently offered a letter to the Virginia Beach sister city of Ards and North Down Borough in Northern Ireland in advance of the orchestra’s first-ever international trip. “Symphonicity has long been a beacon of artistic distinction in our city," she wrote.
Boothe's vision has also led Symphonicity to become a leader in live-streaming, serving as the only orchestra in the region to offer all of its main indoor concerts with multi-camera angles and professional audio produced live from their concert hall home at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.
"Maestro Boothe’s visionary leadership, artistic excellence, and passion for connecting audiences through music have elevated our orchestra to new heights," said Marguerite Alley, President of the Board of Directors. "His innovative programming, inspiring performances, and deep commitment to our community make him not only a remarkable conductor but a transformative force in the cultural life of our region. Extending his tenure ensures that this extraordinary momentum will continue to grow—bringing even more unforgettable musical experiences to our stage and beyond!"
Boothe, who resides in Chesapeake with his wife and five children, brings more than just music to the community. He also serves as a military officer in the Air National Guard as Chief of Public Affairs for the 192nd Wing of the Virginia Air National Guard at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. He has also served as a Fine Arts Commissioner for the City of Chesapeake and as a board member for Hampton Roads Jazz Incorporated.
“I’m very happy to serve this wonderful organization for six more years which has truly been a team effort with the most generous and dedicated colleagues I have ever known,” Boothe said. “Together we will climb higher with our standards, reach further with our outreach, and dream even bigger with the community’s support, all through the love of music."
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