David Grandis, Music Director, VCO and Director of Orchestras, College of William & Mary

8 pm Saturday, March 26, 2022
Capital One Hall
7750 Capital One Tower Road
Tysons, Virginia

David Grandis, Music Director

8 pm Saturday, April 23, 2022
Capital One Hall
7750 Capital One Tower Road
Tysons, Virginia

Brian Ganz and David Grandis join celebration at post-concert reception.
Photo credit: Marc Apter

The Virginia Chamber Orchestra’s return to the live performance stage on October 23^rd at the new Capitol One Hall in Tysons was enthusiastically received. They are the only classical orchestra currently making that impressive venue their new home.  The orchestra’s 50^th Anniversary was also celebrated at a festive pre-concert Gala dinner in The Gallery at the Capital One Hall.

The concert marked the first appearance of Music Director David Grandis since receiving an International conducting prize. In addition to the Virginia Chamber Orchestra, Dr. Grandis is Director of Orchestras at the College of William and Mary. Previous prize winners at the Annual International Conductors Workshop and Competition (ICWC) in Atlanta, Georgia have taken positions with the Detroit, St Louis, and Cincinnati Symphony, among others.

Renowned pianist Brian Ganz returned as guest soloist in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, K 488.  He is widely known for annual Chopin recitals, performed to a full house at the Strathmore Music Center for ten years.

For the orchestra’s first live concert following the shutdown Grandis chose selections “particularly soothing and uplifting” including “Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony, “a joyful recollection of Mendelssohn's travel in a sunny place and in better times” Honorary Board member Lola Reinsch, winner of a VCO Gala auction opportunity to guest conduct, led Mozart’s Allegro from Divertimento No. 1 in D major, K. 136.

The Gala celebrated two arts organizations, the Virginia Chamber Orchestra and the Tysons McLean Orchestra, coming together to celebrate 50 years of top-notch music making. They have encouraged each other to reach out into our community in different ways to serve, to educate, and to promote excellence in music. For 50 years! That’s to be celebrated! Going forward, since the TMO didn’t survive the pandemic, their love of music and their energy to promote it will coalesce with the VCO’s and create an even more vibrant arts scene in our area.

Joan Braitsch
Gala Chair, Past President

The VCO has decided to honor the Tysons McLean Orchestra's survival for 50 years, right along with their own group, the Virginia Chamber Orchestra. We are honored to be included in their 50 year celebration. Many of our supporters have also supported the VCO and will continue to do so now.

Ann Page
Past TMO President, Past Executive Director  

VCO Music Director David Grandis, also Director of Orchestras at the College of William and Mary, was one of only three prize winners in the twenty-eighth International Conductors Workshop and Competition (ICWC) held recently in Atlanta, Georgia.

Conductors from China, Colombia, France, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, and eleven of the United States conducted the professional ICWC orchestra in works by Barber, Bartok, Copland, Debussy, Mahler and Wagner. Winners were selected based on voting by the faculty and the professional orchestra musicians.