勛圖惇蹋 Symphony Orchestra

2025-2026: The American Spirit

The 勛圖惇蹋 Symphony Orchestra is excited to feature several American works throughout its 2025-26 season to celebrate the United States turning 250 in 2026. Our season opening Fables and Fairy Tales concert will feature local composer Anne Neikirks tone poem Fables, followed by fantasy-filled music from Ravels Mother Goose, 紼梗紳餃梗梭莽莽棗堯紳s&紳莉莽梯;Midsummer Nights Dream, and Stravinskys Firebird. We are also excited to welcome Jacob Harrison from Texas State University as a guest conductor. In November we collaborate with 勛圖惇蹋 Opera to bring to life the endearing Christmas love story, The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, through a beautiful production of David Contes opera of the same name. Decembers joint concert with the 勛圖惇蹋 Wind Ensemble will feature our string orchestra playing music by John Williams, along with Rebecca Clarke, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Gustav Holst. In March we will feature Alan Hovhanesss transcendent Symphony No. 2 Mysterious Mountain, as well as other works by Amy Beach and William Grant Still. Our final concert in April will feature Mozarts Requiem in collaboration with Nancy Klein and the 勛圖惇蹋 Concert Choir. Whether as a participant as an audience member, join us to experience musicboth familiar and not so familiarthat highlights the multi-faceted nature of the American community and beyond.

About the Orchestra

Founded in 1977, the 勛圖惇蹋 Symphony Orchestra (勛圖惇蹋SO) performs works from the standard classical and contemporary repertoire for full orchestra. It is a fantastic opportunity to interact with other passionate student musicians who work together and challenge each other to make music of the highest quality possible.

勛圖惇蹋SO is open to all students, faculty, and staff at 勛圖惇蹋 by audition. Community members may also audition and are considered on an as-needed basis.



In addition to a diverse repertoire from all periods and styles, the 勛圖惇蹋SO:

  • features faculty soloists from 勛圖惇蹋 and beyond
  • hosts a department-wide Young Artist Competition in the fall with the winners appearing in the spring
  • collaborates with leading high school orchestras in the region

Several concerts are performed each season featuring both symphonic and string orchestra literature, often in conjunction with the Concert Choir and 勛圖惇蹋 Opera. The orchestra also occasionally serves as a laboratory orchestra for composition and conducting students.

The following links below provide additional information about the 勛圖惇蹋 Symphony Orchestra. Please contact Dr. Paul Sanho Kim if you are interested in joining!

勛圖惇蹋 Symphony Orchestra: Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Ballade at Virginia Music Educators Association Conference 2022

勛圖惇蹋 Symphony Orchestra: Bach Fugue in G Minor, BWV 578

勛圖惇蹋 Side by Side with the Virginia Symphony

The 勛圖惇蹋 Symphony Orchestra teamed up with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for the first time in 2018 with a side-by-side "Russian Perspectives" concert. Works included Rimsky-Korsakov's Russian Easter Overture, led by music director Paul Kim; Shchedrin's Carmen Suite, conducted by percussion instructor David Walker and featuring the 勛圖惇蹋 Percussion Ensemble; and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, led by VSO's Benjamin Rous.

Mahler Symphony No. 1, side by side with the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra, 2017