Oral History Interview with Kirchner, Theresa and Sonenshine, Helen

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

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.

Photograph of Helen Sonenshine taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.

Photograph of Terri Kirchner taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.

Photograph of Terri Kirchner, Jean Major, and Helen Sonenshine taken during oral history interview for the Virginia Symphony Archives project.