Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park

Symphony Under the Stars returns to Wytheville

September 16, 2026 Zach Cooley No Comments

The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra provided a stellar concert at Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park in Wytheville on Saturday, September 13, with a beautiful backdrop of a made-to-order sunny evening. Continuing the celebration of the 250th birthday of our nation, which was honored earlier in the year during a concert at the Millwald Theatre, the Millwald hosted an outdoor concert at one of our town’s most beautiful parks. RSO’s “Symphony Under the Stars” was just as big a success as it was last year, opening with the national anthem. The classical piece “The Light Cavalry Overture” by Franz von Suppé, featuring RSO’s new principal clarinetist Amy Hur, was followed by one of two John Williams pieces offered during the first half of the show. Music from one of my late father’s favorite films, Jurassic Park, was accompanied by assistant concertmaster Dr. John Hugo, dressed in an inflatable dinosaur costume. He mingled with some audience members, danced along, and even received his own baton from conductor David Stewart Wiley to help direct the piece. Handel’s “Let the Bright Seraphim” from the opera Samson was next, featuring tenor vocalist Brian Thorsett. Having performed worldwide in live performances and recordings, the Blacksburg-based singer teaches in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, according to Wiley’s introduction. Thorsett also sang the most emotional piece of the evening, “Bring Him Home” from Les Misérables. When Wiley introduced the song in the context of a tribute to the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, many audience members wept throughout the number. Remaining in celebration of our nation’s milestone birthday, John Williams was given another nod with a medley from another of his iconic film scores. The Revolutionary War film starring Mel Gibson, The Patriot, featured Williams’ Oscar-nominated score, rendered in full glory by the RSO and capturing the true American spirit. During the “Armed Forces Salute,” Thorsett, along with the Roanoke Symphony Chorus, sang the songs representing all branches of the United States military. As I did for their Flag Day concert, I proudly elevated my chair to “stand” in honor of my late father, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1962 to 1966. I noticed I was the only one who did so for the Coast Guard, and I was not about to let my father or his branch of service be forgotten. The memorable Suite No. 1 from Carmen opened the second of two 40-minute acts, followed by a medley from Gone with the Wind by legendary film composer Max Steiner. “This piece is written specifically for place,” Wiley said. “It encapsulates Scarlett O’Hara’s devotion to Terra and her determination to restore her home.” Next came a medley from Howard Shore’s magnificent score from The Lord of the Rings films. Shore won Oscars for his work on two of the films. This medley featured battle music from the films, with heavy, anvil-like percussion in one particularly rugged section of the often-requested medley as performed by the RSO. A segment of “In Dreams,” featuring the RSO Chorus, was also included. A riveting medley from Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story delighted a group from the newly rebranded Red Stag Dinner Theatre in Wytheville, who performed the choreography in perfect synchronicity with the music. From the Latin rhythms of “Tonight” to “One Hand, One Heart,” featuring Concertmaster Akemi Takayama on lead violin, who had her very own fan club in the audience, the medley included a swing-jazz version of “Cool,” culminating with “America.” The RSO once again restored my American pride with the patriotic numbers “America the Beautiful,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and “America the Beautiful,” before launching into the encore of John Williams’ Star Wars medley. Complete with his own lightsaber baton, Wiley did his best Yoda impersonation and ended the perfect evening on an incredibly high note. You’ll have one more chance to hear the RSO ensemble, chorus, and featured vocalist Brian Thorsett as they present their holiday concert, “Handel’s Messiah,” on Saturday, December 19, at 7:00 p.m. at the Millwald Theatre. Tickets are available at https://ci.ovationtix.com/36798/production/1273229?performanceId=11799695 or by calling the Millwald box office at 276-284-2958.

Strictly Observing

Perfect night for symphony

September 30, 2025 Zach Cooley No Comments

Sunday, September 14th was an evening made to order. The weather cooperated perfectly—warm, around 80—setting a stage that felt cinematic before a single note was played. The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, in full force, took the stage at Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park in Wytheville for a one-of-a-kind concert facilitated by the Millwald Theatre. Several hundred people gathered; my wife and I were among them, enjoying a rare date night. After a satisfying meal at Burger Express on Main Street, we strolled along the beautifully bricked Heritage Walk toward the park. By the time we arrived, twilight had settled in, and the mood was just right. The concert, in two acts lasting about 67 minutes in total, opened with the stirring strains of The Star-Spangled Banner, featuring the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Maestro David Stewart Wiley, who leads the Roanoke Symphony, greeted the audience with warmth. “We are honored to be your orchestra,” he said. “We are an ensemble whose geographic reach is among the largest in Virginia.” What followed was a program that wove together patriotic fare, popular film scores, and adventurous percussion—all delivered under a spacious, open sky. One of the evening’s most inventive features was the group Plastic Music, who served up drums made of plastic and sticks fashioned from drain-pipe, along with boomwhackers—tubular percussion instruments pitched to different notes. Their work in In the Hall of the Mountain King shone: those unusual instruments added texture and surprise, carrying through later numbers as a recurring highlight. Next came a five-minute medley from Titanic (1997), composed by James Horner. The Roanoke Symphony tackled both the sweeping oceanic beginning and the impending danger of the iceberg, building toward the iconic My Heart Will Go On. Principal oboist William P. Parrish Jr. was featured beautifully in that latter part; his clarion tone added poignancy to the melody. Patriotic tunes held center stage next: a spirited pairing of Yankee Doodle and You’re a Grand Old Flag, presented under the banner of Star-Spangled Spectacular by George M. Cohan. Later, they performed God Bless America and an Armed Forces salute. These numbers were colored by the rich voice of Mayar Moneir, who also delivered stirring renditions of You’ll Never Walk Alone, Feeling Good, and even Dolly Parton’s Jolene—a nod to country classicism amid the evening’s eclectic mix. The first act wound down around the 45-minute mark; the second, shorter roughly 20 minutes, opened in striking fashion with Gioachino Rossini’s William Tell Overture, once again featuring Plastic Music’s boomwhackers. One of the evening’s climaxes came with a rendition of Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir, featuring a blistering electric guitar solo by Mike Havens. Maestro Wiley had high praise. “Mike is a wonderful educator, a great guitar player, and an all-around wonderful human being,” he said. Another highlight was The Raiders March from Raiders of the Lost Ark, John Williams’s adventurous and instantly recognizable theme from the 1981 film. It opens with a bold brass fanfare, has sweeping strings, woodwinds, and the sort of rhythmic drive that captures both daring and grandeur. It’s classic Williams—heroic, cinematic, and full of energy. Toward the end of the program, the audience was treated to Alexander Borodin’s Finale from Polovsian Dances, a suite from the 19th century opera, Prince Igor. A Russian composer by night, Borodin serves as a chemist at his day job. Maestro Wiley also took time to reflect on the community and connections. He spoke of Wytheville’s history of collaboration with the Roanoke Symphony, citing Wytheville as the hometown of Ashley Hall, who got her start in the Youth Symphony and later joined Canadian Brass. He also praised Dolly Parton—not simply for her songs, but for her generosity, particularly her Imagination Library, which has given widely to her home region. In summary, Emily and I enjoyed a very special evening. We are deeply grateful to the Millwald Theatre, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park—not just for the beautiful atmosphere but for the unforgettable artistry. It was a night we will always treasure. I also want to thank friends at the Millwald—Mastin Paisley, Donnie Bales—for making sure I was part of this event. Supporting what they bring to our community is one of the highlights of my life and career.

Strictly Observing