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| Virginia Arts Festival: 10th Anniversary Season Tenth anniversary season of Virginia Arts Festival brought a record number of attendees to 57 diverse public performances. World-class artists representing dance, theatre, music, film, vocal and family entertainment brought the arts to life in 27 venues from Virginia's Eastern Shore (Cape Charles) to The Historic Triangle (Williamsburg). Artistically many of the world's greatest artists graced the Festival's stages. Festival director Robert W. Cross said, "We welcomed back many by popular demand, among them the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Van Cliburn." Newcomers to the Festival's artist roster were among the season's sold-out performances: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, and the Big Band Weekend with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. "We are proud of our second John Duffy Composers Institute, a resounding success on all fronts, " Cross continued. Groups came from 18 states and Washington, D.C., from as far away as Texas and Minnesota and as close to home as Norfolk. Most arrived by motor coach. Ninety-eight WorldClass Education programs reached nearly 30, 000 young people, 10% more than last year. The Festival made the radio. Media partner WHRO and National Public Radio hit the airwaves with Festival news. Eleven Chamber Music Series concerts were recorded for later broadcast on "Performance Today, " aired on 130 NPR stations. Thirty-two more radio and television interviews with Festival artists and representatives appeared on regional network, cable and municipal outlets. It made the press with features appearing in the Washington Post, the Toronto Star, US Airways and Symphony magazines. Four arts/travel writers hailing from Finland, Canada, Colorado and New York visited, making Hampton Roads and the Festival further known as a cultural tourism destination. It made the recording studio. The Musical Heritage Society, in collaboration with the Festival, NPR, WHRO and Old Dominion University, recorded a Mozart Celebration, featuring Andre-Michel Schub, the Miami String Quartet and Debra Wendells Cross, featured in the Society's April 2006 magazine. It made it in the black. "The world of not-for-profit arts management is always a delicate balancing act. As artists, we are committed to presenting the very best that's out there for our patrons. As managers, we are equally committed to fiscal responsibility as we are stewards of the invaluable contributed income we receive, " Cross said. The 11th annual Virginia Arts Festival is slated for April 17-June 3, 2007. The artist lineup will be announced in September. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |