Category Archive: Uncategorized

  1. James Ross to Step Down as Music Director of Alexandria Symphony Orchestra Following 2025/26 Season – Will assume the title of Music Director Laureate

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    ALEXANDRIA (3/5) – Music Director James Ross has let the Board of Trustees of the Alexandria Symphony know of his intention to step down as Music Director following the soon to be announced 2025-26 season.    The board immediately and unanimously named him Music Director Laureate, beginning with the following season.

    A search committee will be convened to identify the Symphony’s next Music Director.

    “All of Alexandria has benefited from the creativity and vision that James has brought to the Symphony over his eight seasons.  We are fortunate that he will continue to be appearing with us in the future in his new and duly deserved role,” said Board Chair Nancy Davenport.

    James Ross stepped onto the podium as Music Director beginning with the 2018-19 season.   He swiftly reshaped the organization’s artistic profile and was instrumental in navigating the Symphony through the pandemic.   Audiences and subscribers have not only returned but grown significantly.

    “The passing of time is something that music embodies in a very palpable and singular way.  Every moment in the middle of a piece connects organically back to its beginning and sends simultaneous arrows flying towards its potential futures,” says James Ross.  “My time at the Alexandria Symphony is now at such a moment.  My upcoming eighth season as Music Director will be my last in that capacity before morphing elegantly into the role of Music Director Laureate.  I am beyond grateful to all those who have supported me and our orchestra along this musical journey….who have kept us safe and thriving and heard.   As we unveil our plans for this celebratory next season, I look back with pride at what our orchestra has become, what it has achieved in these tumultuous times.  My love for the city and community of Alexandria remains steadfast – a place I have come to know as home.  As newly minted Music Director Laureate, I will look forward to continuing to reflect on life at each very moment through the clarifying lens of phrases and sounds made by our beloved ASO.”

    James Ross is Director of Orchestral Studies at the Curtis Institute of Music and will join the conducting faculty at the Tanglewood Music Center beginning this summer.   A native of Boston, he has led the National Youth Orchestra USA as Orchestra Director since its founding in 2013. He served as Professor and Director of Orchestral Activities at the University of Maryland for 16 years and was also Music Director of the Orquesta Simfònica del Vallès in Barcelona, Spain. Jim’s principal conducting teachers were Kurt Masur, Otto-Werner Mueller, Seiji Ozawa, and Leonard Bernstein.

    Founded during the Second World War, the Alexandria Symphony provides music education and performance to the western Potomac community.  It currently presents five concert pairs each season.   Saturday evenings are performed at Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, and Sunday matinees at George Washington Masonic National Memorial.    The 2025-26 season, James Ross’ last as Music Director, will be announced in the coming weeks.   Subscriptions may be purchased at 703-548-0885.   Information on the Alexandria Symphony will be found at AlexSym.org.

     

  2. Celebrate the Holidays with the Alexandria Symphony and Chelsey Green!

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    A Holiday Celebration with the Alexandria Symphony and Special Guests Chelsey Green and The Green Project
    Holiday Classics, Jazz, Soul, and Classical styles to Brighten the Season

    Alexandria, VA—The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (ASO) invites you to join in the holiday festivities with a concert showcasing a blend of beloved holiday tunes and dynamic musical performances on Saturday, December 21, 2024 (7:30 p.m.) at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall, and Sunday, December 22, 2024 (3:00 p.m.) at the George Washington Masonic Memorial.

    Under the direction of Music Director James Ross, ASO is proud to feature jazz violinist Chelsey Green and the Green Project, internationally acclaimed for their unique jazz style. Chelsey Green has shared the stage with legends such as Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé. Her electrifying presence and musical mastery bring a fresh and exciting dimension to this year’s holiday concert.

    The program includes Green’s interpretations of “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music, Gershwin’s timeless “Summertime,” alongside holiday favorites like “Silent Night” and “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Audiences will also be treated to the lively rhythms of Cuban Suga Salsa, and selections from Tchaikovsky’s and Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suites. Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride and A Christmas Festival will round out the evening with joyful seasonal flair.

    Music Director James Ross is enthused by this special collaboration: “Chelsey Green is a jazz icon. She and The Green Project will light up our ASO Holiday program of ‘hot and cold’ favorites, including ‘Summertime’ in December!”

    Billboard-charting recording artist Dr. Chelsey Green and her ensemble, The Green Project, blend Classical and Contemporary music in electrifying performances. Hailing from Houston, Texas, Dr. Green is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and educator known for captivating live shows across the globe, including Carnegie Hall and the GRAMMYs. An Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music, she is dedicated to music education and advocacy. Follow her on Instagram @drchelseygreen.

    These family-friendly concerts, presented without intermission, offer a unique opportunity to experience the holidays in a rich, multicultural way. Free parking is available at both venues.

    TICKET INFORMATION
    Tickets start at $22 for adults, with youth tickets (ages 18 and under) priced at just $5. Senior and Military and discounts are available in certain sections. Seating at the George Washington Masonic Memorial is limited, so early ticket purchases are highly recommended.

    For tickets and more information, visit alexsym.org or call (703) 548-0885.

    CONCERT DETAILS

    • Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
      Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center
    • Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
      George Washington Masonic Memorial

    Tickets: Adult tickets start at $22. Youth tickets $5 (age 18 and under) with adult purchase. Discounts available for military, seniors, and groups.

    Free parking is available at both venues. The Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall is accessible via Metro bus lines 7A, 7B, 7F, 7Y, 25A, 25C, and 25E, as well as DASH bus line AT6. The George Washington Masonic Memorial is accessible by the Blue and Yellow Metro lines (King Street Station), multiple Metro and DASH bus lines, and the King Street Trolley.