WV Symphony Orchestra-Pburg

By Betsy Curry
Blennerhassett School is proud to present the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra-Parkersburg in a concert titled Rphsody in Blue. Sponsors of the event include St. Joseph’s Hospital, West Virginia Commission on the Arts and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.

The Orchestra has been newly renamed the WVSO-P. It was first established in March 1988 as the “Mid-Ohio Valley Symphony Society.” The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra is completely certified. Most if not all of the members hold an advanced degree in music. It is not uncommon for the Orchestra to perform regularly with the Cincinnati Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Dayton Philharmonic, and Cleveland Orchestra.


Grant Cooper is the Artistic Director & Conductor. Cooper was granted the position in March 2001. It wasn’t until July 1, 2001 when he officially became the ninth conductor in WVSO’s history.

The Blennerhassett performance includes a piano soloist by Andrew Russo. Also included in the concert is artists; Alexander Borodin with Polovtsian Dances, George Gershwin and Rhapsody in Blue and Antonin Dvorak in Symphony No. 9 in E minor.

Rhapsody in Blue will be in performance Sunday, February 12 at 3 p.m. Adult tickets are priced at $15 while students are $8. The concert is at the Blennerhassett School Auditorium. For more information regarded tickets or directions call 485-4200, or visit their website at www.wvsop.org.