Arts & Culture

Arts groups hold a fundraiser on Saturday — for the environment

WHRO | By Denise Watson

Published November 13, 2025 at 11:54 AM EST

Musicians of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Arts Festival will be holding a benefit concert Sat., Nov. 15 to raise money for the environmental nonprofit, Lynnhaven River NOW.

The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, like other arts groups, relies on the public to survive. Who says musicians, though, can't raise money for the community?

Tom Reel and musicians in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra helped each other with emotional and financial support during the pandemic, when their shows were canceled.

That aid was nurturing in so many ways, Reel thought later. Why not keep it going for other organizations that could use the help?

Reel helped form TORCH—Thanking Our Resident Community Heroes — and the Virginia Arts Festival and musicians from the VSO are holding a benefit concert on Saturday, Nov. 15 for the environmental group, Lynnhaven River Now.

The show will be held at the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk.

The Lynnhaven River Now nonprofit was founded in 2002 to improve water quality for shellfish harvesting in the Lynnhaven watershed. The organization made significant strides in restoring parts of the river in its first five years.

It expanded and developed citywide programs to protect natural resources, educate the public and advocate for improving local waterways.

The concert will feature water-inspired music, including James Hosay's "Rivers of the Chesapeake: The Elizabeth," music that was played on barges floating on England's River Thames in the 1700s, as well as spirituals about the Jordan River.

TORCH held a similar concert in 2023 to support ForKids, a Chesapeake-based organization that works with families facing housing insecurity. It's already planning a benefit next year for the Muse Writers Center in Norfolk.

All ticket sales go to the nonprofit.

The start of the mussel-based living shoreline at a property on the Lynnhaven River in Virginia Beach. Lynnhaven River Now started building it in 2024.

The show isn't part of the VSO's regular calendar; musicians sign on to play.

Reel said it's tricky finding a day when the musicians are available, especially this time of the year when arts groups are putting on holiday concerts and productions.

For example, most of the VSO musicians will be playing at a concert in Richmond on Friday, return for the benefit on Saturday and head to Richmond again on Sunday for an afternoon performance.

But this work is important to them, said Reel, who retired from the symphony in 2022.

"The musicians want to give to the community, instead of asking something from the community," he said.

The Lynnhaven River Now benefit concert starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15. General admission tickets start at $45, with discounts for people 25 and younger. The musicians will also mingle with the audience after the show. Visit vafest.org for tickets and more information.