Our 48th season kicks off with the 12th annual Symphony by the Lake in partnership with The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Symphony of the Mountains, under the direction of Cornelia Laemmli Orth, presents "When the Stars Come Out" at sunset on Saturday, July 20th, featuring tenor soloist and Big Stone Gap native Roy Cornelius Smith. Bring your family and friends and enjoy a fabulous evening of music at UVA Wise. The concert will commence at 8:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

 

The program offers a blend of classical and popular music, beginning with a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and moving into lively and celebratory pieces by composers such as Franz von Suppé and Johann Strauss II. The audience will enjoy selections that range from John Williams' stirring compositions to beloved Broadway hits from "Les Misérables." The evening gives way to a series of patriotic and Americana favorites, featuring a trumpet solo by Jimmy Stokes and a medley honoring the armed forces.

 

Soloist Roy Cornelius Smith has established himself among the ranks of the finest tenors of his generation with a voice of exceptional color and beauty. Smith has performed leading tenor roles at opera houses and festivals around the world including the Salzburg Festival, Metropolitan Opera, Vienna Volksoper, New York City Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. He has also performed as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and with the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. 

 

Atlanta-based composer and fellow Big Stone Gap native Kevin Robison will premiere his newest work for voice and orchestra, “Fantasia on Appalachian Folk Songs,” during the program. The piece evokes the spirit and majesty of the Appalachian region through contemporary settings of five popular folk songs: ‘The Sunny South,’ ‘Barbara Allen,’ ‘The True Lover's Farewell,’ ‘The Farmer's Curst Wife,’ and ‘Pretty Saro.’

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​Symphony of the Mountains’ commitment to service encompasses the entire region, without regard for state or county boundaries. The orchestra consists of more than 70 professional musicians conducted by Cornelia Laemmli Orth. For more information about the symphony and to see a list of upcoming performances, please visit symphonyofthemountains.org.

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We welcome everyone to join us for a delightful evening as we kick off our 48th season in service of Southwest Virginia! If you’d like to receive show announcements, please subscribe to our email or mailing list, or call the office at (276) 376-4520. You can find us on social media at @proartva.

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Pro-Art partners with a variety of venues, therefore individuals with accessibility needs or general questions are encouraged to call (276) 376-4520 or email the Pro-Art office at pro-art@uvawise.edu. For evolving conditions related to weather cancellations, or similar unforeseen circumstances, patrons are encouraged to check proartva.org for up-to-date information. 

 

This performance is made possible in part by the Marvin and Marcia Gilliam Foundation. Pro-Art is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the C. Bascom Slemp Foundation, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Mountain Empire Community College, the Columbus Phipps Foundation, and the Lee County Community Foundation.

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