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In addition to leading the Northern Neck Orchestra, Repper is music director of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra and the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. Photo courtesy Northern Neck Orchestra.
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BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet will perform Saturday, December 9, 2023. Photo used courtesy RFA.
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Painting parties, especially birthday parties, usually involve a short tour of the gallery, about an hour of painting instruction and then time for food, gifts and cake. Photo used courtesy RAL Art Center.
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Mums & Bubs' parties keep moms from having to clean their houses before and after their child’s party. Photo used courtesy Mums & Bubs.
Talk about star power! Northern Neck Orchestra conductor Michael Repper is only 32 and has already won a Grammy Award. Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula music lovers can look forward to the Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts’ 30th anniversary season starting soon and featuring a smorgasbord of musical genres. And if you’ve reason to celebrate, check out the art parties that RAL Art Center and Mums and Bubs are offering for littles and adults, too.
Michael Repper Leads the 32nd Season of the Northern Neck Orchestra
Michael Repper, the charismatic conductor of the Northern Neck Orchestra, dates his first musical memories to his grandmother taking him to the Pacific Symphony’s children’s concerts.
Even at four years old, he was so captivated by what was happening onstage that she suggested to his mother that he begin piano lessons. When he was eight years old, he was handed a baton at a concert and allowed to conduct briefly. “There was something so magical in doing that,” he recalls 24 years later. “It was frightening, but it was also that dramatic moment when I knew I had to pursue this.”
Ask him about the role of conductor and he’ll say it’s to connect people and bring them together. “Music is the vehicle, and we use it to instill positive change in the community,” he explains. “The more you conduct, the more you realize this.”
In addition to leading the Northern Neck Orchestra, Repper is music director of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra and the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra. Until May 2023, he was also director of the New York Youth Symphony, a group of 12- to 22-year-old musicians. When their 2020 performance at Carnegie Hall was canceled due to COVID, Repper instead had them record an album. “Works by Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, Valerie Coleman” won the Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Recording in February, the first youth orchestra to ever win a Grammy. The album also reached #1 on the Billboard chart.
As thrilled as he is every time he looks at the statuette, Repper is just as delighted about the position of the Northern Neck Orchestra as it kicks off its 32nd season in October. “We’re poised for growth, bringing more professional musicians in, raising the rate that we pay them and expanding our concert series,” he says with pride.
“I’m excited about the growth of the orchestra, with how we can give back and with how we can collaborate with the community.”
One way is through pre-concert talks where Repper discusses the music to be played. “Ninety percent of concertgoers attend the talks,” he says. “It’s an honor to perform for so many people because it makes for an energetic and exciting performance for us as musicians.”
Northern Neck Orchestra I northernneckorchestra.org
Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts: 30 Years of Inspiring Performances
We’re talking big-name talent. José Feliciano. Judy Collins. The Steep Canyon Rangers. When it comes to bringing major acts to the Northern Neck, the Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts makes it happen.
Both an arts community and an arts advocate, RFA is committed to providing exceptional performing arts experiences in the Northern Neck with their On Stage series, which kicks off in December and continues through May.
The 30th anniversary season promises an array of diverse experiences for local audiences, with performances by Cajun band Beau Soleil, the Latin Ballet of Virginia, a Celtic celebration with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Soul Expressions doing a Motown show and closing with Sam Reider and the Human Hands, a folk music orchestra featuring a rotating cast of some of the brightest names in jazz, bluegrass, classical and world music.
For years, RFA performances were held at Lancaster Elementary School Theater, but the past year of renovations took that venue away. They responded with pop-up shows at places such as RWC and the Lancaster Players Playhouse. “We get the word out about our shows with radio, banners and brochures and posters,” says RFA administrator Donna McGrath. “But our best advertising is word of mouth from people who’ve seen a performance.”
In RFA bringing performances to local schools through their Arts for Youth program, students get to experience quality artistic productions they might not see otherwise. Special emphasis is placed on programming that ties into the school curriculum and introduces students to myriad artistic genres such as musical productions, dramatic presentations, jazz, magic and puppetry.
Even COVID didn’t stop the Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts. Pivoting, performances were streamed live to children at home when schools were closed.
RFA has a limited number of free student tickets available per performance and high school students are selected by their school to help prior tothe show. “Students can come to our On Stage productions for free, helping out with tickets and greeting people,” says board president Rita Grinbergs. “Many have never been to a performance before.”
Going forward, RFA has pledged to provide $450,000 toward an auditorium in the new high school being built. “It will give us a bigger venue and require a capital campaign,” Grinbergs says. “But what better use of our funds for the community?”
2023-2024 SEASON
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet: Saturday, December 9, 2023
Latin Ballet of Virginia: Saturday, February 10, 2024
Celtic Celebration with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra: Saturday, March 16, 2024
Soul Expressions, The Motown Show: Saturday, April 20, 2024
Sam Reider & the Human Hands: Saturday, May 18, 2024
Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts I 235 N. Main Street, Kilmarnock I 804-438-5555 I rappahannockfoundation.org
Life is What You Celebrate. Have a Paint Party!
RAL Art Center offers children’s and adults’ paint parties for any occasion. Paint parties include an experienced instructor while supplies are provided for an additional charge. Children or adults—think girls’ night out or smaller family get-togethers—can be accommodated, with children’s parties usually limited to 14 or fewer children, depending on ages and the chosen paint project.
Painting parties, especially birthday parties, usually involve a short tour of the gallery, about an hour of painting instruction and then time for food, gifts and cake. RAL’s children’s instructors offer various art ideas ranging from superheroes to animals to race cars to rainbows and flowers for children to paint.
Adult receptions are coordinated by staff along with the customer and can be customized. “Our mission is to bring art to the community and community to the arts,” says RAL’s executive director Sharon Stone. “The more we can touch our neighbors’ lives through art experiences and the more accessible and fun we can make those experiences, the more we’re fulfilling our mission.”
RAL Art Center I 19 N. Main Street, Kilmarnock I 804-436-9309 I ralartcenter.com
Mums & Bubs: Party Planning Made Easy for Moms
Blake Slusser started Mums and Bubs with a mission to help make parenting easier.
One way she does that is by offering three party packages that save parents time and work. “Our parties keep moms from having to clean their houses before and after their child’s party,” Slusser says with a laugh. “We can take the ball and run, or let Mom have a larger role in planning.”
With basic and premium packages, moms get a dedicated helper and with premium plus, two helpers. The basic package means moms are responsible for activities and goodie bags; with premium, Mums and Bubs supplies a craft project but goodie bags must be provided; and with premium plus, snacks, drinks and cupcakes are provided for 30 people, along with one premium craft and age-appropriate goodie bags for each child. “Many moms appreciate that they don’t have to bring anything,” Slusser says. “Some love that they can be walking out the door within 15 minutes of the party ending."
Mums and Bubs I 154 Prince Street, Tappahannock I 804-761-8008 I mums-bubs.com
