The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra is providing free concert tickets to federal employees affected by the ongoing government shutdown.
The promotion extends to the orchestra’s “Mozart & Mendelssohn” concert at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday, as well as a seasonal “Holiday with a Twist” concert next month. The orchestra is offering the freebies at a time “when many may need the arts most,” Executive Director George Hanson said in a release.
The music of Amadeus Mozart, Scott Joplin, and Felix Mendelssohn is coming to Alexandria next month.
On Nov. 8 and 9, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra (ASO) will play its second concert of the season with special guest Michael Rusinek, principal clarinetist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, who will play Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto. The concert includes Joplin’s Overture to Treemonisha and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 “Italian.”
The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce announced finalists Wednesday for its 2025 Best in Business Awards, describing the Oct. 23 ceremony as “our very own version of the Oscars.”
The awards will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Westin Alexandria Old Town, 400 Courthouse Square, with Burke & Herbert Bank presenting the event. The ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by a reception at 7:30 p.m.
It’s been a busy week in Alexandria! Here’s our recap of the most-read stories.
This week’s top story is on an Inova Alexandria Hospital employee getting fired after allegedly stealing a patient’s credit cards from a room at the hospital and using them at a nearby store.
The guest conductor of Alexandria’s upcoming birthday celebration on the waterfront has been announced.
John Devlin, music director of the Lancaster Festival Orchestra in Ohio, will take the baton and lead the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra through its program on Saturday night, July 12. The concert includes Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture during the dazzling fireworks, as well as live cannons from the U.S. Army Presidential Salute Battery.
The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia is giving $110,000 to five Alexandria organizations through its 2025 Community Investment Funds. These grants, ranging from $15,000 to $30,000 each, support programs in the arts, child and youth development, and education.
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra gets $20,000 for its artistic programs and community outreach. Community Lodgings and Wilderness Kids Alexandria each receive $15,000 for their work with children and youth.
For all intents and purposes, Alexandria Symphony Orchestra Music Director and Conductor James Ross isn’t going anywhere.
Actually, this fall Ross is starting work as the director of orchestral studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He also just renewed his contract in Alexandria another three years. Ross says that his new contract in Philadelphia stipulates that he will be allowed to return to Alexandria the week before a symphonic performance in order to get the orchestra ready.
