VIRGINIA BEACH, VA—Symphonicity, the Orchestra of Virginia Beach, will present an extraordinary concert as part of their Voices of America season with a first-ever, "Virginia Beach Symphony," on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m. at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. The performance will feature this world-premiere commissioned by the orchestra as part of its 45th Anniversary season. The concert will also highlight a performance by one of America's most acclaimed violinists.

World Premiere: A Symphony Dedicated to Virginia Beach


This concert will offer the world-premiere of “Virginia Beach Symphony” by American composer Erich Stem. Symphonicity commissioned the work, which is the first-ever known symphony dedicated to Virginia’s largest city.

The composer, a native Virginian, drew inspiration from the city's diverse landscape and spirit.

“The Virginia Beach Symphony reaches beyond my own story, aiming to capture the city’s spirit through music,” said Stem. “Its four movements paint a portrait of Virginia Beach’s character and contrasts — from the vast expanse of the ocean and the vibrant energy of the Town Center to the quiet reflection of Pungo’s rural life... The final movement brings the powerful yet familiar presence of the Navy’s F/A-18 fighter jets to life, serving as a musical tribute to the women and men of the military.”

Erich Stem, composer

MICKIE WINTERS PHOTOGRAPHY

The work will also feature a poem by Claudia Emerson, a Virginian poet who won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for her collection Late Wife. She was named the Poet Laureate of Virginia by Governor Tim Kaine in 2008.

Stem also noted his personal connection to the work, stating, “As a composer from Virginia, my connection to Virginia Beach runs deep — not only through personal memories but also through the city’s role in shaping my early musical path.”

Read more about the composition in the composer's own words: https://www.erichstem.net/news/erich-stem-commissioned-by-symphonicity-for-new-virginia-beach-inspired-symphony

(Click to watch or share the above video trailer which features music from "Virginia Beach Symphony" by Erich Stem)

A Dazzling and Difficult Concerto


The concert also features celebrated violinist Irina Muresanu performing Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto.

Muresanu, hailed by the Boston Globe for her "irresistible exuberance, precision, and tone," will tackle one of the most demanding concertos ever written for violin and orchestra.

Known for her passionate, stylish, and charismatic performances, Muresanu has won significant acclaim worldwide. Her artistry promises a breathtaking rendition of Barber's intensely emotional work.

See Muresanu's full biography: https://www.irinamuresanu.com/biography

Irina Muresanu, violinist

Maaike Bernstrom Photography

Completing the Program With Unique Connections

Symphonicity, led by Music Director and Conductor Daniel W. Boothe, will open the concert with “Fanfare 250” by Noah D. Taylor. Taylor joined the U.S. Army's West Point Band in 2015 as Staff Arranger and currently serves in the rank of Sergeant First Class. Boothe also served as a composer and conductor in the U.S. Air Force and now serves in the rank of Major as a public affairs officer in the Virginia Air National Guard,192nd Wing.

Garnishing the concert's big features will be Leonard Bernstein’s popular and energetic “Candide Overture" that showcases the orchestra in dazzling riffs, flourishes and musical exclamations. Bernstein studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where Barber, composer of the program's violin concerto, also served on faculty. 


The program will conclude with a fun musical connection to Philadelphia with John Philip Sousa’s “Liberty Bell March" which will give ring to the patriotic undercurrent in Symphonicity's "Voices of America" season.

Concert Details Summary


• Who: Symphonicity, The Symphony Orchestra of Virginia Beach
• What: Voices of American concert, featuring the world premiere of Erich Stem's “Virginia Beach Symphony” and violinist Irina Muresanu in Barber’s Violin Concerto.
• When: Sunday, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m.
• Where: Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Market St., Virginia Beach, VA 23462
• Tickets: Single tickets for the season are available for purchase at the Sandler Center or best prices are on the Symphonicity website starting at $29. Subscriptions for the entire season are also available, offering a savings of up to 15%. Tickets will also be available through the Sandler Center Box Office. LIVE-STREAM tickets are also available for $15 on the Symphonicity website.

The 2025-26 season continues with a series of concerts at the Sandler Center


• December 23, 2025: Symphonicity Messiah Sing-Along (Free Admission)
• January 11, 2026: "It's a Jazz Orchestra, Charlie Brown!" (Children's Concert)
• February 15, 2026: “Come Sunday! A Spiritual Salute”
• March 22, 2026: “The B-Sides: Undiscovered Gems” with Andrea Boothe, soprano
• April 12, 2026: “America the Beautiful” with Jeff Midkiff, mandolin

Symphonicity, the symphony orchestra of Virginia Beach, was founded in 1981 by music director David S. Kunkel and is composed of more than 200 talented musicians from the local community. As a proud resident member of the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, the orchestra brings together professional musicians, music educators, and passionate amateurs who collectively contribute more than 12,000 hours each year to present high-quality, innovative, and dynamic symphonic experiences. These musicians represent a wide range of backgrounds, including medicine, education, business, religious service, the military, homemaking, and engineering, and they perform purely for the love of music. To learn more and to find out how you can get involved, visit symphonicity.org.

Media Contact:

Name: Nikki Bergman

Title: Executive Director

Office: 757-671-8611

Email: office@symphonicity.org