Virginia Symphony Orchestra

The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is an American regional orchestra in the Hampton Roads metro area. The orchestra performs at several venues in Virginia, including Chrysler Hall in Norfolk and the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News.
The orchestra was founded in 1920 as the Norfolk Symphony, and was for a time the only American orchestra between Baltimore and Atlanta. During the US economic crisis and recession of the 1970s, the Virginia Symphony assumed its present form in 1979 with the merger of the Norfolk Symphony, Peninsula Symphony Orchestra, and the Virginia Beach Pops Symphony. 
Past music directors of the orchestra have included Henry Cowles Whitehead, Edgar Schenckman and Russell Stanger. In May 1991, JoAnn Falletta was appointed the orchestra’s eleventh music director.
==Music directors (partial list)==
* Walter Edward Howe
* Henry Cowles Whitehead
* Edgar Schenkman (1948-1966)
* Russell Stanger (1966-1980)
* Richard Williams (1980-1986)
* Winston Dan Vogel (1986-1990)
* JoAnn Falletta (1991-present)
==References==
==External links==
* Virginia Symphony Orchestra
* Old Dominion University page on Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Category:Musical groups established in 1920
Category:American orchestras
Category:Virginia culture
he:התזמורת הסימפונית של וירג'יניה