As students gear up for the new school year, WHRO 90.3 invites you to revisit the classroom with a unique musical journey that highlights the educational and regional connections of classical music. This Wednesday at 9:00 p.m., tune in for A Local Touch – Music with A Virginia Connection, hosted by Professor Jones, where the evening’s program will spotlight performances with ties to our local communities in Hampton Roads and beyond.
This special Back to School Night edition begins with Richard Moriarty’s charming “A Day in the Life of a Fifth Grader,” featuring the Old Dominion University Diehn Chorale conducted by Nancy Klein. Moriarty has a strong connection with our region, as he walked the halls of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital as chief pathologist for many years, before studying music at ODU with Adolphus Hailstork.
The lesson plan continues with a medley of delightful selections by The Tuneful Teachers of Gloucester, Mathews, and Middlesex Counties. This group of working and retired teachers from the Middle Peninsula wrote and performed a collection of original songs that serve as a tribute to excellent teachers everywhere.
The program also includes Howard Hanson’s “Romantic Symphony” as performed by the Washington & Lee Shenandoah Symphony Orchestra, followed by a suite from Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake” performed by the 2011 All-Virginia School Orchestra. Eric Whitacre’s imaginative choral work, “Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine,” is presented by the William & Mary Choir, celebrating creativity and innovation through sound.
The musical journey ends with the University of Virginia Glee Club embarking on a whimsical “Tour de France,” wrapping up an evening of music that connects our community’s rich educational heritage with classical repertoire.
So, sharpen your pencils, polish that apple, and join us this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. for A Local Touch and Back to School Night on WHRO 90.3 and online.
