“The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra is rightly classified as non-essential” in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, writes John Devlin, the orchestra’s music director, in Sunday’s (5/17) News-Register/Intelligencer (Wheeling, W.V.). “That is about to change…. This month, May 2020, marks the 90th-anniversary celebration of our great orchestra. And, for the first time in 90 years, we are going to need to adjust fully to new reality and do something that we have never done before: present a virtual concert. A virtual celebration. Our musicians will deliver a variety of performances…. Two of our community’s outstanding, prize-winning young musicians will also share their talents. You’ll hear from community leaders about the impact that the orchestra has had on our city over the last nine decades…. I’m even going to make a guest appearance as a clarinetist…. Ninety years means your orchestra has made it through the Great Depression, the Second World War, the Great Recession, and yes, 9/11. We will also make it through COVID-19…. The words that we have chosen to be ours: The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, ‘Your Community, in Concert.’ ” The concert will be streamed on the WSO’s Facebook and YouTube pages on May 28 at 8 p.m. ET.
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