The Music Arts of Lynchburg, VA...
What Wonderful Sounds!

The music arts in Lynchburg, VA range from formal instrumental productions, to heavenly voices singing in perfect harmony, to real down home blues, jazz, rock and country. Here's a quick rundown on the more well known venues.

In addition to the "big three" shown, Lynchburg's music arts are rich in local talent and visiting musicians. They can be found performing at many of our restaurants, clubs, galleries, book stores, colleges and universities, public libraries or outdoor venues; just about anywhere there is an electrical outlet and people.

The quickest and easiest way to find out what's going on at any given time is to grab a copy of The Burg or visit them online. In doing so, you can't help but become a fan of the "go-to" lady in town for what is happening on the music scene; our own Casey Gillis, editor of The Burg and entertainment writer for the News and Advance.

For almost 30 years, the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra has been the pinnacle of the music arts in Lynchburg, enriching the lives of residents throughout Central Virginia. Since 1983, the orchestra, affectionately known as LSO, has been playing wherever there is an appreciative audience.

For example, the 2010 concert schedule has LSO playing at The Academy of Fine Arts on March 26th, the E.C. Glass auditorium on March 6th and May 2nd, the James River Conference Center on March 13th, and even the Boonesboro Country Club on February 13th for a Valentine's Day Gala.

Needless to say, the LSO does not rest on its laurels.

The range of offerings from the symphony is a varied as the locales at which they perform.

Christmas programs, pops, motown, dancing with stings, pure orchestral gems and classical music are all part of the LSO repetoire.

The nine events offered in the 2010 music arts season included the return of "Cherish the Ladies", a popular Irish group; also the return of "Get Down Tonight - The Best of Motown"; and an encore presentation of an Oktoberfest event complete with lederhosen-clad performers, German refreshments and the "Oom-pah" band. Of course the traditional Pops concert and Christmas Candlelight fundraiser were on the performance schedule.

The 2011-2012 calendar will kickoff on Sunday, September 25th with a Civil War 150 Sesquicentennial program at E.C. Glass at 3:00 pm; then the Oktoberfest on October 15th at the Academy of Fine Arts; a Space Spectacular on Sunday, November 20th at E. C. Glass and Movie Memories on April 22nd, 2012 at E. C. Glass.

Lynchburg's music arts expanded considerably in 2001 with the creation of the Lynchburg Symphony Youth Orchestra and Junior Strings Ensemble. Sixty seven students from 18 different schools in Central Virginia originally auditioned and today the group numbers over ninety young people.

The LSYO is a full orchestra comprised of high school students and even a few talented middle school students. The Junior Strings Ensemble is an incubator of the music arts for elementary through middle school string students who need to further develop their talent. The objective is to eventually land a seat in the LSYO.

Typically two youth concerts are scheduled during the year and information is available on their website at: http://www.lynchburgyouthorchestra.com/.

Please visit the LSO website for current performance schedules, locations and directions and other gems of information.

What could compare to a night at the symphony? Well, maybe a performance of the Jefferson choral Society. Let's go!

When it comes to the music arts, attending a performance of the Jefferson Choral Society is a wonderous thing. Imagine over 100 people from fifteen different communities around Central Virginia coming together to blend their voices into perfectly executed renditions of the world's greatest classical music.

For 27 years the Jefferson choral Society (JCS) was known as the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center Chorus. 1990 was a landmark year for the JCS in that it was chartered as a separate, nonprofit entity, taking it's name from Lynchburg's proximity to Thomas Jefferson’s summer home, Poplar Forest, and his love of the music arts, especially classical music.

The Society is no small town choral group. They are a traveling group and have graced the halls of such distinguished places as the Washington National Cathedral, New York's Carnegie Hall, and Williamsburg's Bruton Parish Church.

Internationally they have swelled the hearts of audiences in France at the American Cemetery in Normandy, the Abbey at Mont St. Michel and Rueil-Malmaison (Lynchburg's sister city). Other performances took them to the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Italy. Undoubtly, there will be many more memorable trips in their future.

The 2009 Christmas season featured the Jefferson Choral Society performing at the Heritage United Methodist Church on Leesville Road in Lynchburg on December 5th and 6th.

For complete information on the Society's schedule, history, personnel and more, visit their website and while there, be sure to look at all the links to related choral sites.

After the formal performances of the symphony and choral society, perhaps it's time to let our hair down and get down with some down home entertainment; a different aspect of the music arts in this wonderful city. That would be the Ellington Fellowship Playhouse. Ready for some adventure?

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The Ellington Fellowship Playhouse is a bit hard to describe; it is truly unique to the music arts in Lynchburg. It's one of those places you just have to experience to understand.

As you might guess, the name honors the great Duke Ellington and the "Playhouse" part harkens back to the days when it started out as a dinner theater playhouse; and "Fellowship" is what they do through the music.

Now, it's more music arts than playhouse and the music that comes from the Ellington's stage is anything but dull or routine. One night you might hear great jazz, the next week could be rock or blues, zydeco has been on the marquee, folk singers are known to appear at the Ellington; and all of them top notch performers.

Since their opening in 1984, such names as Taj Mahal, Junior Walker, Leon Redbone, Charlie Byrd, Delbert McClinton, The Persuasions, Roy Buchanan, Ellis Marsalis, Jimmy Thackery, Duke Robillard, John Hammond, Terrance Simien and many, many more have graced the stage.

If you are a little skittish about sharing a table with strangers, then it's probably best to go somewhere else. If you do, you lose. The intimate setting and seating is designed to bring strangers together at the table, but rest assured, before the show is over, strangers will become friends.

One of the stated goals of the Ellington is "to bring people together through music" and they seem to be doing a great job of it.

The Ellington's second goal is to "identify, cultivate and expose artistic talent" in the local community. They do this through their "Ellington Fridays" and an outreach program known as "MusicBridge". The objective is to let the locals wind down from a hectic workweek with some of this area's best bands.

Their setting at 421 Rivermont Avenue in historic downtown Lynchburg is unique to say the least. A stranger's first reaction might be to wonder if it's safe to get out of the car. Well, yes it is and once you've tried it, you will look forward to the next visit.

Parking can be a bit dicey since it is mostly on either side of Rivermont Avenue or behind Reggie Phelps garage about 50 yards down the hill or on D Street.

If you have to park on D Street, be prepared to walk a bit. Security does patrol the parking areas after dark but still, please don't leave your valuables in plain sight in the car.

No surprise, but the Ellington Fellowship Playhouse has it's own website that is worth the surf. EFP used to be one of Lynchburg's best kept secrets but we think the secret is out now. You will have to judge for yourself.