Each week, "A Local Touch: Music with a Virginia Connection” brings together world-class classical music with a regional twist. This Wednesday, June 4, at 9:00 p.m., host Raymond Jones presents another compelling lineup of works that shine a light on the vibrant musical talent connected to the Commonwealth—from historic churches in Richmond to the halls of William & Mary and beyond.
We begin in the heart of Richmond with selections from a Choral Evensong service led by Dr. Elizabeth Winger and the Choir of Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Their radiant performance includes Stanford’s “Magnificat” and “Nunc Dimittis,” as well as Vaughan Williams’ uplifting anthem “Let All the World in Every Corner Sing.”
Next, we hear Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 featuring pianist Derek Kim and Philharmonia, conducted by Paul Freeman—an acclaimed conductor originally from Richmond whose legacy continues to resonate in American classical music.
From Fort Eustis, Major Randall Bartel and the U.S. Army’s TRADOC Band take the stage with Verdi’s stirring overture to “The Force of Destiny,” followed by a performance of Jean Françaix’s charming “Nine Characteristic Pieces” by the TRADOC Winds.
World-renowned cellist Nina Kotova is performing this week across Hampton Roads as part of the Virginia Arts Festival, joined by pianist Olga Kern and violinist Lana Trotovšek. Their tour includes Coffee Concerts in Virginia Beach and Williamsburg – hosted by Jana Lee Ross and Raymond Jones, respectively – and a final performance Friday evening in Norfolk. On air, listeners can also enjoy Kotova’s own Cello Concerto, recorded with the Russian Philharmonic under Constantine Orbelian.
We also turn to Williamsburg, where the William & Mary Symphony, led by Professor David Grandis, performs the “Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra” by Max d’Ollone, along with pianist Daniel Inamorato.
Finally, we round out the program with “Celtic Airs,” a suite performed by Williamsburg-based hammered dulcimer player Timothy Seaman and friends—bringing a touch of Virginia’s folk tradition into this evening’s classical soundscape.
Listen live this Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. on WHRO-FM 90.3 or stream online, and discover how Virginia’s musical voices—past and present—continue to inspire.
