Maestro Grant Cooper’s Message for the 2006-2007
 year to the West Virginia Symphony League

Dear members of the West Virginia Symphony League:

As we begin our fourth season in the Clay Center, I thought it would be interesting to reflect on our “new” home.

The orchestra has settled in very nicely, I think, and is increasingly comfortable playing in the concert hall at the Clay Center - perhaps we should drop the “new” from the description and just call it home.

But, what is “home?”

It is a place where we feel welcomed, a place where we can express ourselves in the full range of life’s experiences, where the good, bad, ugly, and beautiful all co-exist in a complicated interrelationship, but one which is seen as basically human in its awesome complexity.

Indeed, the range of Western Art Music which the WVSO shares with you, our loyal musical family, is shared as family member to family member. We know that life contains experiences of incomparable beauty and we share those with you, gladly. But we also know that humans have endure personal tragedies and that governments oppress their peoples. Music, more than any other Art form, gives expression to these experiences in a way which each one of us can understand.

How else to explain how a Russian speaker, living under the totalitarian regime of Joseph Stalin can “speak” to us through his music in ways which we understand at a very deep level, even though we perhaps do not understand Russian? We may not understand a composer’s native spoken language, but, somehow music transcends that barrier, giving us access not only to the composer’s own meaning, but also inviting us to place the narrative in the context of events which we have ourselves experienced.

Our 2006-07 season is packed full of magnificent pieces of music, each a tribute to the human spirit. Personally, I am looking forward to every single one of them, not only for the incredible soloists who will grace our stage and bring so much to each program, but also for the artistic statement which each composition makes. Each one of these programs qualifies as a “favorite” for me, I think mainly for the fact that each is such an honest statement of one human being’s thoughts being expressed to another.

The WVSO, in performing this music, acts as a medium - a means of communicating in this international language we call music. You, the audience, will hear the uniqueness of each composer’s voice and, if you don’t feel it already, will come to appreciate the truthfulness of what you are hearing. A truthfulness which is so characteristic of an open, family oriented relationship. One which, in its full range of human experience, can only be approached in the home, with people you trust. Your family.

Thank you for choosing to be a part of the WVSO family, and for all that you do to support us.

Yours in music,

Grant Cooper, Artistic Director and Conductor

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Paul Helfrich’s Message for the 2007-2008 year
to the West Virginia Symphony League

It is an honor and privilege to write to the members of the West Virginia Symphony League as we prepare for another season with our wonderful West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. 

We have a wonderful season before us.  Together we will savor great symphonies by Schumann, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky, thrill to the performances of outstanding soloists like William Preucil and Karin Schaupp, and listen in awe to the majesty and power of Verdi’s Requiem.   

This is music that is living and vital, as alive today as when the composer’s ink was still wet on the page.  What a privilege it is to enjoy this music together, played by such an outstanding orchestra!    

As always, the volunteers of the West Virginia Symphony League will play a very important role in our success.  Great orchestras do not just happen; they require careful planning, broad-based community support, and lots of hard work.  The West Virginia Symphony League is a critical part of the community support that has allowed our orchestra to grow into one of the finest regional orchestras in the country.   By functioning in a variety of capacities – purchasing tickets and attending concerts, staffing and organizing concerts for young people, and raising money through fundraising projects that are also eagerly-anticipated community events – the West Virginia Symphony League has become an indispensable part of the West Virginia Symphony family.   

The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra could not exist without the fine and dedicated support of the League.  We could not do it without you.   On behalf of the WVSO staff, board, and musicians, allow me to extend congratulations and thanks to each of you, for all that you do, as we look forward with great anticipation to another year of fine music.  It will be an adventure – we are glad you are coming with us.   

Paul A. Helfrich
Executive Director