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Russell Stanger served as musical director of the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra from 1966 to 1980. In 1982, he began serving as the music director of the New York State Summer School of the Arts at Saratoga. Maestro Stanger has been the artistic advisor of the Miyazaki (Japan) Symphony Orchestra and has conducted the Kyushu (Japan) Orchestra in the performance of two of his own works. He also served as a guest conductor with a number of renowned orchestras including: the Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Bilbao (Spain) Symphony, and the London Philharmonic. Stanger was born in Arlington, Massachusetts on May 8, 1924 and died in Norfolk on January 6, 2015. Part 1 of a 2-part oral history interview conducted with Russell Stanger in the Diehn Composers Room at Old Dominion University for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. In part one of the interview, Russell Stanger, discusses his tenure as musical director of the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra including programing, performing artists, the integration of the orchestra, labor relations, the board of directors, and the Tidewater Choral Association.

James Babcock was a member of the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors beginning in 1977, when he moved to the Hampton Roads area to become president of First Virginia Bank. Babcock served as president of the board from 1984-86. Among his achievements during that period was instituting the first long range planning process for the orchestra. At the time of the interview, Babcock also serves as a director of the Virginia Symphony Foundation. Babcock was born in Caldwell, New Jersey on June 16, 1933. Oral history interview conducted with James Babcock in his Virginia Beach home for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses Babcock's time as a member and president of the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors. Important highlights include the merger of the Peninsula, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach orchestras; fundraising campaigns; and the Virginia Symphony strike. 0:52:00

James Babcock was a member of the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors beginning in 1977, when he moved to the Hampton Roads area to become president of First Virginia Bank. Babcock served as president of the board from 1984-86. Among his achievements during that period was instituting the first long range planning process for the orchestra. At the time of the interview, Babcock also serves as a director of the Virginia Symphony Foundation. Babcock was born in Caldwell, New Jersey on June 16, 1933. Oral history interview conducted with James Babcock in his Virginia Beach home for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses Babcock's time as a member and president of the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors. Important highlights include the merger of the Peninsula, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach orchestras; fundraising campaigns; and the Virginia Symphony strike.

Photograph of James Babcock taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.

Photograph of James Babcock and Jean Major taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.

Carroll Bailey is a long-time member of the orchestra. He began his 50-year career with the Virginia Symphony during World War II and retired as a bass player in 1996. During that time, he also served as a school music teacher at Norview High School. Bailey was born in Algona, Iowa on July 6, 1922. Oral history interview conducted with Carroll Bailey in his Virginia Beach home for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses Bailey's career in the Virginia Symphony as a trumpet and bass player and his experiences with the various conductors of the symphony.

Photograph of Carroll Bailey taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.

Photograph of Jean Major and Carroll Bailey taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.

Winnie Maddock Baldwin served the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for more than 50 years. She was the first woman to serve on the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors. She was secretary on the board for 17 years. She also served on the Trustees Council, was President of the Women’s Auxiliary to the Norfolk Symphony and Choral Association, and was featured in a biographical piece in the 2006 symphony program. Baldwin was born in Norfolk, Virginia on December 1, 1906 and died in Twin Falls, Idaho on November 10, 2008. The interview was conducted with Winnie Maddock Baldwin in her Norfolk home for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses Baldwin's time as a member of the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors. Important highlights include her experiences with the Women's Auxiliary and Youth Orchestra, fundraising, as well as experiences with local musicians and the symphony conductors. 0:48:00

Winnie Maddock Baldwin served the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for more than 50 years. She was the first woman to serve on the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors. She was secretary on the board for 17 years. She also served on the Trustees Council, was President of the Women’s Auxiliary to the Norfolk Symphony and Choral Association, and was featured in a biographical piece in the 2006 symphony program. Baldwin was born in Norfolk, Virginia on December 1, 1906 and died in Twin Falls, Idaho on November 10, 2008. The interview was conducted with Winnie Maddock Baldwin in her Norfolk home for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses Baldwin's time as a member of the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors. Important highlights include her experiences with the Women's Auxiliary and Youth Orchestra, fundraising, as well as experiences with local musicians and the symphony conductors.

Photograph of Winnie Maddock Baldwin taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.

Clay Barr was a board member of the Virginia Symphony and its historical antecedents from the 1960s until 2007. She served as president of the Board from 1981-1983, during the merger of the three Hampton Roads orchestras. Following her service on the Board of Directors, Barr was a member of the Trustee Council. She chaired the search committee that recruited JoAnn Falletta as Music Director and worked hard to support the orchestra's appearance at Carnegie Hall in 1997. Barr was born in Norfolk, Virginia on May 3, 1941. The interview was conducted with Clay Barr in her Norfolk office for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses Barr's time as a member of the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors. Important highlights include the merger of the Peninsula, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach orchestras; the Virginia Symphony strike; and experiences with the symphony conductors. 0:57:00

Clay Barr was a board member of the Virginia Symphony and its historical antecedents from the 1960s until 2007. She served as president of the Board from 1981-1983, during the merger of the three Hampton Roads orchestras. Following her service on the Board of Directors, Barr was a member of the Trustee Council. She chaired the search committee that recruited JoAnn Falletta as Music Director and worked hard to support the orchestra's appearance at Carnegie Hall in 1997. Barr was born in Norfolk, Virginia on May 3, 1941. The interview was conducted with Clay Barr in her Norfolk office for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses Barr's time as a member of the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors. Important highlights include the merger of the Peninsula, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach orchestras; the Virginia Symphony strike; and experiences with the symphony conductors.

Photograph of Clay Barr taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.

Photograph of Clay Barr and Jean Major taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.

An orchestra member since 1988, Barbara Chapman holds the position of Principal Harp for the Virginia Symphony, the Virginia Opera, and the Virginia Chamber Players. She served as one of several musician representatives on the Board of Directors for several years. Chapman was bron in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 16, 1956. The interview was conducted with Barbara Chapman in the Digital Services Center of the ODU Perry Library for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.The interview discusses Chapman's career in the Virginia Symphony as principal harp and her experiences with conductors Vogel and Falletta, and the orchestra's move from "per-service" to salaried players.

Photograph of Barbara Chapman taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.

Photograph of Jean Major and Barbara Chapman taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.

Minette Cooper was a major contributor to the formation of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra from the merger of the area's three existing orchestras, the Norfolk Symphony, the Peninsula Orchestra, and the Virginia Beach Pops. She served both on the Symphony Board and as an officer in the Symphony league during that period. Her service on the orchestra's board predated the merger period and continues to the present time. She served as president of the Board of Directors from 1986-1988. Cooper was born in New York, New York on December 23, 1937. The interview was conducted with Minette Cooper in her Norfolk home for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.The interview discusses Cooper's time as a member of the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors. Important highlights include the merger of the Peninsula, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach orchestras; relations with Norfolk State and Old Dominion Universities; the Virginia Symphony strike; experiences with the symphony conductors; and avocation for arts education. 1:42:30

Minette Cooper was a major contributor to the formation of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra from the merger of the area's three existing orchestras, the Norfolk Symphony, the Peninsula Orchestra, and the Virginia Beach Pops. She served both on the Symphony Board and as an officer in the Symphony league during that period. Her service on the orchestra's board predated the merger period and continues to the present time. She served as president of the Board of Directors from 1986-1988. Cooper was born in New York, New York on December 23, 1937. The interview was conducted with Minette Cooper in her Norfolk home for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.The interview discusses Cooper's time as a member of the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors. Important highlights include the merger of the Peninsula, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach orchestras; relations with Norfolk State and Old Dominion Universities; the Virginia Symphony strike; experiences with the symphony conductors; and avocation for arts education.