Virginia Symphony Orchestra Oral History Collection

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

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. 0:52:00

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. 0:48:00

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. 0:57:00

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. 0:42:30

Principal Percussionist with the Virginia Symphony, Rob Cross joined the orchestra in 1981. Over time he has served in the administration of the orchestra as general manager, interim executive director, artistic administrator, and personnel manager. Now he is the executive director of the Virginia Arts Festival and continues as a principal in the symphony. Cross was bron in Norfolk, Virginia on August 9, 1959. The interview was conducted with Rob Cross in the offices of the Virginia Arts Festival in Norfolk for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses Robert Cross's career with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the VSO musical directors, concert highlights, the various administrative positions he has held with the VSO, and his tenure as executive director of the Virginia Arts Festival. 0:41:30

Lillian Curry became a violinist for the Virginia Symphony Orchestra when she was 15 years old. She continued in that role for 50 years until her retirement in 2018. Curry was born in Virginia around 1953. The interview was conducted with Lillian Curry at her music store, Angelico Violins in Chesapeake, Virginia, for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. In the interview, Curry discusses her long career with the VSO, the VSO musical directors, board, finances, labor relations, and highlights of the orchestra. 0:40:06

A newcomer to arts boards when she joined the symphony's board of directors, Betty Harmon Edwards was an experienced board member for other kinds of organizations, and she brought new skills to the symphony board. During her presidency in 1995-97, she undertook a board development process and initiated a strategic planning process. The highlight of her presidency was leadership to make the orchestra's first concert in Carnegie Hall a possibility and a success. The interview was conducted with Betty Harmon Edwards in her Norfolk home for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses Betty Edwards' service with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra's Board of Directors, her tenure as board president, various board committees, as well as the board and symphony's finances. 0:55:00

JoAnn Falletta has been music director of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra from the 1991-1992 season to the present. During her tenure, the Symphony became a nationally recognized orchestra. The high point of her career with the orchestra was its April 1997 appearance in Carnegie Hall, a performance which was very well received by the New York critics and supported enthusiastically by local symphony supporters. Falletta was born in New York, New York on February 27, 1954. The interview was conducted with JoAnn Falletta in the offices of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra in Norfolk for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses JoAnn Falletta's tenure as musical director of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra including: high points and strengths of the orchestra, the Virginia Symphony Foundation, board of directors, previous musical directors and labor relations. 0:33:30

Leslie Friedman has been a long-time audience member, supporter, and member of the symphony board and its finance committee. Friedman was bron in Norfolk, Virginia on April 26, 1937. The interview was conducted with Leslie Friedman in the Digital Services Center of the ODU Perry Library for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses Mr. Friedman's tenure as a member of the VSO's board of directors, the Virginia Symphony Foundation and the Virginia Symphony League. 0:42:00

Terri Kirchner and Helen Sonenshine are both members and leaders in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra starting in the late 1990s. Both are past presidents of the League who were involved in modernizing the organization. Both also had significant involvement in the Symphony’s Board of Directors by virtue of their tenures as League President. Terri Kirchner was born in San Jose, California on April 10, 1950, and Helen Sonenshine was bron in Baltimore, Maryland on July 12, 1937. The interview was conducted with Terri Kirchner and Helen Sonenshine in the Digital Services Center of the ODU Perry Library for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.The interview discusses Terri Kirchner and Helen Sonenshine's involvement with the Virginia Symphony League and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra including finances, fundraising, musical directors, board of directors, and executive directors. The interview also discusses the Virginia Symphony Chorus and its relationship to the VSO. 0:53:30

Helen Koltun was a Symphony League member who operated the boutique for 20 years beginning in the early 1980s. Koltun was born in Suffolk, Virginia on August 5, 1933. The interview was conducted with Helen Koltun in her Norfolk home for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses the Virginia Symphony League's Contributions to the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, including the orchestra's boutique and other fundraising endeavors. Mrs. Koltun also discusses the recruitment of orchestra musicians and symphony's musical directors. 0:39:00

John Lindberg was a percussionist with the Symphony. He was recruited to join the Symphony in 1966 when he was in the Navy as an instructor at the Armed Forces School of Music. He retired as Principal Timpanist at the end of the 2011-12 season. His long tenure with the orchestra and his extensive knowledge of its development through succeeding leadership periods is revealed in his remarks here. Lindberg was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 17, 1946. Oral history interview conducted with John Lindberg in the Diehn Composers Room at ODU for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. In the interview, Lindberg discusses his career with the VSO, the VSO's musical directors, the board of directors, executive directors, finances, and labor relations. 1:33:30

Eleanor Marshall was on the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra Trustee Council. Marshall was born in Lubbock, Texas on April 27, 1925. The interview was conducted with Eleanor Marshall in the ODU Perry Library for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.The interview discusses Eleanor Marshall's involvement with the VSO Board of Directors and the education committee, as well as the recruitment of musicians, musical directors, and programming. Mrs. Marshall also discusses the importance of the Virginia Symphony League and the Virginia Symphony Foundation and her services as a cellist with the Virginia Beach Orchestra. 0:27:30

Ernestine Middleton was on the Virginia Symphony Board of Directors from approximately 1979 until 1984. She was vice president during the merger period and on the steering committee preliminary to the formation of the Virginia Symphony. She was also chair of the symphony leagues and auxiliaries during the merger process. Middleton was born in Norfolk, Virginia on May 8, 1934. Oral history interview conducted with Ernestine Middleton in her Virginia Beach home for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses Ernestine Middleton's service with the VSO board of director's and the Virginia Symphony League. Mrs. Middleton also discusses the league's and boards fundraising activities, the symphony merger, the VSO's musical directors. 0:57:00

Fran Pedersen is a bass player who first performed with the Symphony as a high school senior under the direction of Edgar Schenkman. She played with the Symphony from 1950 until her retirement from the orchestra at the end of the 1984-1985 season. She is also a member of the Virginia Symphony League and has been editing the League newsletter for ten years. Pederson was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 5, 1932. The interview was conducted with Fran Pederson in the Digital Services Center of the ODU Perry Library for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. In her interview Fran Pederson discusses her tenure as as a bassist with the VSO, musical directors, labor relations, and her time as a volunteer with the Virginia Symphony League. 0:51:00

Tom Reel has been a bassist and active member of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra since 1984. In addition to being an orchestra member, he served on the board, played a major role in the 1988 strike, was a media spokesperson for the symphony, sold program ads, and compiled a booklet for JoAnn Falletta's 20th anniversary with the symphony. Reel was born in New York around 1948. The interview was conducted with Tom Reel at the VSO building in Norfolk, Virginia for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. In the interview, Reel discusses his long career with the VSO, the VSO musical directors, board, finances, labor relations, and highlights of the orchestra. 1:38:59

James Reeves played bass with the Symphony from 1966, when he integrated the orchestra, until his retirement as Principal Bass in 1983. The interview was conducted with James Reeves in the Digital Services Center of the ODU Perry Library for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses James Reeves' musical career with the Norfolk Symphony and the VSO, the VSO's musical directors, the symphony merger, and racial discrimination. Mr. Reeves also discusses his academic career at Norfolk State University. 046:30

Ann Robin has been active in public relations and fundraising as a member. She was president of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra League from 1997-1999. Robin was born in New York, New York on March 26, 1929. The interview was conducted with Ann Robin in her Virginia Beach home for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. The interview discusses the Virginia Symphony League and its promotion and fundraising activities for the VSO. Mrs. Robin also discusses her tenure as League president and the VSO's finances, musical directors, and musicians. Transcripts, audio and photographs are included. 0:37:30

Louis Ryan was a member of the Symphony’s Board of Directors from 1979 to 1989, through the period of the merger of the Norfolk Symphony, the Peninsula Orchestra, and the Virginia Beach Pops which led to the formation of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. He served as president during the 1983-1984 season after several years’ service as executive vice-president. The high point of his presidency was finishing the year in the black, without any debt. Ryan was born in Richmond, Virginia on March 18, 1947. OThe interview was conducted with Louis Ryan in the Digital Services Center of the ODU Perry Library for a project on the history of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Transcripts, audio and photographs are included. 0:53:00