Welcome!
“On behalf of the Waynesboro Symphony — the American Prize-winning community orchestra in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, and the 2024 recipient of the Circle of Excellence in the Arts Award — I’m proud to welcome you to our website and introduce you to our upcoming 2025-26 concert season.
We have a rich and varied lineup of music this, our 30th Anniversary season. Queen City Magic & Mischief attendees will be thrilled to know we’re back for a second year to perform our pre-season concert for this amazing annual festival that attracts thousands to Staunton. Our first October Masterworks concert features world-class Iceland-based violinist, Ertan Torgul, and honors Maurice Ravel’s 150th anniversary. We return to Charlottesville’s Paramount theater for our Symphonic Masquerade on the very night of Halloween with “An All Hallows Eve” theme. You’ll enjoy our hugely popular (and always sold out) Holiday Pops Concert for two performances in early December. February presents a symphonic evolution of the iconic love story of Romeo & Juliet, and we cap off the season in April 2026 with our 30th Anniversary concert “Celebrating America: The New World” that features the world-class talents of former White House pianist, AnnaMaira Mottola. It’s a season not to be missed!
Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you in the audience.”
–PETER WILSON, Music Director
2024 CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS AWARD
JUNE 20, 2024 :: “After a few months of being sworn to secrecy prior to the event, I am finally able to reveal how extremely honored I am to have received the 2024 Circle of Excellence in the Arts Award this evening on behalf of the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra, presented by the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, the Arts Council of the Valley, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts at James Madison University. The award is presented annually in recognition of “outstanding accomplishments and sustained contributions in the arts, improving the cultural vitality of the Shenandoah Valley.”
It has been a distinct privilege to serve as music director of the WSO for 17 years, and I’m grateful to all the musicians, staff, and Board of Directors for helping to create such a wonderful family in all these years along with our amazing patrons as well as nurturing and supporting one of the finest community orchestras anywhere in the United States.”
PETER WILSON, Music Director
2025-2026
A PEEK AT THE COMING SEASON!
For the second year in a row, we’re performing an afternoon concert of iconic movie music as part of the Queen City Mischief and Magic Festival!
“REVELING IN RAVEL” — (Celebrating Maurice Ravel’s 150th Birthday)
Join us for the premiere Masterworks Concert of our 30th WSO Season!
- Mother Goose Suite
- Pavane pour une infant défunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess)
- Tzigane, rapsodie de concert, for Violin and Orchestra with Ertan Torgul, violin
- Valses Nobles et Sentimentales
- Boléro
“SYMPHONIC MASQUERADE” — An All Hallow’s Eve!
Join us for our annual fundraiser concert at Charlottesville’s historic Paramount Theater. Tickets go on sale in early fall 2025 through the Paramount’s box office.
- MUSSORGSKY: “Night on Bald Mountain”
- SAINT-SAËNS: Danse Macabre : Peter Wilson, violin
- GRIEG: Peer Gynt: Suite No. 1, Op. 46 — IV. In the Hall of the Mountain King
- BERLIOZ: From Symphonie fantastique – V. “Sabbath Night’s Dream”
- WILLIAMS: Suite from Jaws
- CONSTANT: Theme from The Twilight Zone
- HERRMANN: Suite from Psycho
- SCHWARTZ: Highlights from Wicked
- DESPLAT (arr. Brubaker): Suite from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- WILLIAMS: “The Flying Theme” from E.T.
Join us for our WSO November concert of Chamber Music performed by Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra musicians.
You’ll help ring in the holiday spirit with our 5th annual program of festive holiday favorites! This ticketed event helps ensure that everyone who comes has a seat. Tickets typically go on sale in October. Watch for email and social media posts for more information.
- GOUNOD: Roméo et Juilette, Ouverture – Prologue (1867)
- PROKOFIEV: Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2 for Orchestra, Op. 64 1. The Montagues and Capulets
- BERLIOZ: Roméo et Juliette, Symphonie Dramatique, Op. 17, H. 79 (1839) Part 2: Romeo Alone – Great festivities in Capulet’s Palace
- ROTA (arr. Townend): Romeo & Juilet – Love Theme (1968)
- ARMSTRONG: Romeo + Juilet, “Balcony Scene” (1996)
- TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet, Overture-Fantasy (1880)
- KABALEVSKY: Romeo and Juliet, Suite from Incidental Music To Shakespeare’s Tragedy, Op. 56 (1956)
- BERNSTEIN (arr. Mason): West Side Story Selections (1957)
Join us for our WSO Spring concert of Chamber Music featuring works performed by Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra musicians.
- COPLAND: Fanfare for the Common Man
- NOWLIN: “Let Freedom Ring”
- COPLAND: Lincoln Portrait :: Charles Salembier, speaker
- GERSHWIN: “Rhapsody In Blue” :: AnnaMaria Mottola, former solo pianist of The White House
- DVOŘÁK: Symphony No. 9 in E minor “From the New World,” Op. 95
ENJOY A TASTE OF THE WSO
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