Currently led by Steven Brindle, the Hampton Roads Philharmonic was formed in 2013 after a group of community musicians envisioned creating a new orchestra to serve the area. The Hampton Roads Philharmonic is now dedicated to building a community where classical music serves as an integral and thriving art form. The orchestra strives for artistic excellence, increases community awareness and participation in the performing arts, performs a diverse repertoire selection, and creates various educational opportunities and experiences. The Hampton Roads Philharmonic now presents four concert programs each season throughout the Hampton Roads area, hosts its annual Young Artist Competition, connects community musicians, and provides chamber music ensembles to local events. 

Steven is a conductor, cellist, and music educator who works with musicians of all ages and backgrounds. Steven studied at Christopher Newport University, earning his degree in Music Education, and has attended conducting workshops at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and at the Peabody Conservatory.

Since 2013, Steven has served as the founding Music Director for the Hampton Roads Philharmonic and as conductor for the Bay Youth Concert Orchestra since 2016. Throughout his career, he has also served as the Music Director for Tidewater Opera Initiative, conductor for Symphonicity's productions of The Nutcracker, and conductor for Capitol Opera Richmond.

As a proponent of new music, Steven regularly commissions works and collaborates with composers. In 2010, he conducted the world premiere of David and Glass, an opera by Chris Lamb. Since then, he has conducted and performed in the premier of over fifteen new works, including the 2016 concert premiere of The Snow Maiden of Appalachia by Andrew H. Austin.

Steven lives in Norfolk, Virginia, and teaches at The Academy of Music and Ghent Montessori School. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society, Pi Kappa Lambda music honor society, Alpha Chi academic scholarship society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Experience the season’s magic with the Hampton Roads Philharmonic in a festive blend of winter wonder and holiday cheer! Join us for our Golden Baton winner’s conducting debut of Sleigh Ride and Hampton mayor Donnie Tuck as special guest narrator for ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. From cherished Christmas classics to enchanting winter-inspired masterpieces, this concert is alight, bite-sized concert to delight the whole family.

Program notes by Kaysea Calvert
HRP Presents: Winter Classics and Holiday Favorites
Sunday December 10, 2023 2:30pm at The American Theatre

A Christmas Festival Overture, Leroy Anderson-
In 1950, Arthur Fiedler, conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, asked Leroy Anderson to write a special piece for a Christmas recording. Anderson selected popular Christmas melodies including “Joy to the World”, “Deck the Halls”, “God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen”, “Good King Wenceslas”, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, “Silent Night”, “Jingle Bells”, and “O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)”. The original performance contained “The First Noel” however Anderson eliminated it for publication in 1952.

In the Bleak Midwinter, Holst/Darke arr. Charles E. Peery
This work is beautifully arranged for full orchestra, with opt. Organ, by Charles E. Peery. This setting begins in a quiet, almost other-worldly fashion, and alternates between the well-known Holst and Darke tunes as it builds to a stately climax and then recedes again.

Taiga, Ilari Hylkila- 
This work was composed for symphony orchestra in 2016 by Ilari Hylkila. It is inspired by the Taiga biome also known as snow forests or boreal forests. It takes the listener through beautiful landscapes and stormy weather to experience the miracles of wild northern nature.

Sleigh Ride, Leroy Anderson-
This holiday classic was completed and first performed in 1948. Anderson started writing this work during a heat wave the year before and it was not written as a Christmas piece, but rather to describe an event that took place in the winter. A quote from Anderson on this piece: “‘Sleigh Ride’ was one of the first things I wrote when I got out of the Army and moved up here to Woodbury, Connecticut. Actually, I first came here in 1946; you may remember there was a housing shortage then, and my mother-in-law was living up here, had a cottage that was vacant, so since we had no other place to go, we packed our 14-month old daughter, plus the upright piano, and came on up here to Woodbury, and during that first summer that we were here, I started ‘Fiddle-Faddle’, I didn't finish that until the following winter, and ‘Sleigh Ride’ and ‘Serenata’. And ‘Sleigh Ride’, I remember, was just an idea because, it was just a pictorial thing, it wasn't necessarily Christmas music, and it was written during the heat wave."

Christmas at the Movies, arr. Bob Krogstad-
This work was arranged by Bob Krogstad and published in 2006. This impressive concert medley for orchestra includes music from six classic holiday films, recalling some of the most memorable songs and themes. Included are: Somewhere in My Memory (from "Home Alone").

The orchestra is raising money for the following:

Additional Staff
Music Rental/Purchase
Increased funding for our Young Artist Competition
Professional Printer/Copier

8^th Annual Young Artist Competition Performance

March 10 | 2:30pm
The American Theatre 
125 East Mellen Street 
Hampton, VA 23663

Join us for a special evening celebrating the remarkable talents of our 8^th Annual Young Artist Competition winner. This concert showcases dedication and accomplishment, providing a platform for these outstanding young musicians to share their passion for performing. Competition winner Angela Zhang will perform the Molto allegro con fuoco from Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto in G Minor and the orchestra will add Beethoven’s dramatic Egmont Overture and Grieg’s Symphonic Dances to complete the program.

Donnie R. Tuck is serving his second term as Mayor of Hampton, having taken office in 2016. Before that, he served six years on City Council.

A native of Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuck earned a bachelor’s degree in public policy studies from Duke University in 1976 and a master’s degree in public administration from Old Dominion University in 1993. He worked in the field of athletic public relations, first at Duke and Howard universities and later with the NFL’s Washington Redskins. He served as division manager for the City of Norfolk’s Department of Public Works. Tuck also worked as a contracted technical writer.

In 2021, He was one of 38 mayors worldwide chosen to participate in an intensive education program through the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative at Harvard University, designed to help mayors and their leadership teams manage the complexities of running a city.  Earlier this week, Mayor Tuck returned from the COP28 Local Climate Action Summit for mayors in Dubai, United Aram Emirates.

He is married to Robie Tuck (Major, USAF retired) and has a daughter, Elizabeth.

ASHLEY CARROLL
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
O: 757.965.5155
D: 757.916.7344
F: 757.965.9211
TIDEWATER ARTS OUTREACH