Few cities the size of Williamsburg can claim to have their own professional orchestra.
The Williamsburg Symphonia, made up of about 45 professional musicians who play everything from traditional classical music to The Beatles, has reached its 30th birthday — with no end in sight.
The ensemble was founded in 1984 by Carl Andersen, Elnore Andersen, Marian Harding, Mary Selby and Rebecca Siegel, and began as a means of bringing classical music to children. The first performance was Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.
The success of the Symphonia led to concerts for the general public as well.
Tonight and Tuesday, the Williamsburg Symphonia will present two performances of Masterworks Concert #2, the second major performances of its 30th anniversary season. Three of the five founders were on hand for the season’s opening in September.
Carolyn S. Keurajian, executive director, said the Symphonia plays 10 masterworks concerts at the Kimball Theatre every year, in addition to three Holiday Pops concerts on Grand Illumination weekend in December.
Harkening back to its roots, the Symphonia has a large education program in which musicians visit local schools to play, teach and engage students on the importance of music. It also supplies instruments for students who want to play but do not have the means and can provide private lessons if funds are available.
Keurajian has been in her position since January, but already hopes to expand on the Symphonia’s projects for the future. She said they are looking to draw in another pops concert and additional educational programming.
She credits much of the ensemble’s success to Janna Hymes, who serves as musical director. Like JoAnn Falletta, director of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Keurajian said Hymes is “one of the premiere female conductors in the United States.”
“She kind of transformed the organization into the professional orchestra that it is now,” Keurajian said.
Ingrid Brown agreed. Brown is president of the Williamsburg Music Association’s Board of Trustees, the umbrella organization for the Symphonia, the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra and their fundraising arm, the Williamsburg Symphony League.
“[Hymes] has made a tremendous contribution to the growth of this orchestra — growth not in size but in musical quality,” Brown said.
Hymes is also celebrating an anniversary: This will be her 10th season with the Symphonia. She said she took on her role with the goal of raising the performance quality of the group.
“When I first came, I just felt like the orchestra just needed some focus in sound,” she said.
After much hard work to develop a cohesive consistency, Hymes said the group is now equipped to play anything.
Hymes said most of the players of the Symphonia live in Virginia, and play a small number of rehearsals together for each concert.
Because of the variety and spread of concerts over the year, she said they are able to stay fresh and don’t suffer from withdrawal after the conclusion of a program they have played day in and day out. It creates a fun challenge to be constantly changing gears.
The 30th season brings with it added excitement in the form of a slew of soloists. The Masterworks Concert #2 features only the string section of the orchestra and a guest harpsichord player, but Hymes said this year’s roster includes many more all-star musicians than usual.
Violinist Stefan Jackiw joined the Symphonia in September, and March’s Masterworks concert will include three opera singers who will also be involved in free master classes for the public.
In addition to being a treat for the audience, Hymes said it’s beneficial for the musicians to work with artists at such an “incredible level.”
The Symphonia has seen other changes this year in the structuring of its board. Brown said rather than the executive committee bringing matters to the full board for a vote, members wanted to be more involved in the process.
The board currently has 21 members including Brown, all of whom are involved in one or more of the group’s seven committees.
It is this community involvement that has given the Symphonia its life so far, and bodes well for its future.
“The strength of a community symphony really reflects the strength of the city itself,” Keurajian said.
Brown is excited by the “feeling of energy” from the members of the organization working together, but sites budget constraints as a possible issue — one many other orchestras are facing across the country.
Less than half of the Symphonia’s budget comes from ticket sales, and the rest from grants, individual donors and company sponsors. The governing of the organization is done entirely by volunteers, with the exception of the executive director.
“That’s why it’s so important to have a high quality orchestra, so people want to come hear you, donate time and money,” Brown said.
Keurajian stressed the Symphonia relies on its loyal supporters. The ensemble does have a strong following, she said, with most concerts selling out.
The Symphonia is smaller in size than the Richmond or Virginia Symphony, but Hymes said that can be to their advantage. “We want to be Williamsburg’s very own orchestra” as the city’s source for orchestral music, right at home, she said.
With performances at the Kimball Theatre, audience members can enjoy dinner in Colonial Williamsburg before walking across the street for a concert. Keurajian said it’s an intimate space that makes one like a part of the program.
Don’t let the reduced size of the orchestra reflect on its playing ability, she said.
“Although we’re smaller, we perform at the same level as the big boys,” she said. “Truly, we are the city’s symphony.”
A small number of tickets are still available for Masterworks Concert #2. To order or for more information, call 229-9857 or visit the Symphonia’s website.