City of Williamsburg, York Community Present Free Symphony Concerts

By Amber Lester Kennedy Tuesday, August 09, 2011

The Virginia Symphony Orchestra will perform at Lake Matoaka Amphitheatre (shown above), and at the Victory Monument.

On Sept. 1, the Symphony will perform at 7:30 p.m. at William and Mary’s Lake Matoaka Amphitheatre. The performance is open to the public and co-sponsored by the City of Williamsburg and the College of William & Mary.

On Sept. 3, the Symphony will perform at 7:30 p.m. at the Yorktown Victory Monument. That event is sponsored by the Celebrate Yorktown Committee, with help from some local merchants.

For the second year, businesses are contributing to a raffle that will benefit the Celebrate Yorktown Committee’s efforts to produce the 15th Annual Virginia Symphony Free Concert Under the Stars on Sept. 3. In the present economy, it’s hard to come up with enough grant funding to cover the roughly $26,000 it takes to present the concert at the Yorktown Victory Monument; last year, merchants decided to hold a raffle and decided to repeat the effort in 2011.

The money pays for every expense, including paying the Symphony, renting a tent, renting port-a-potties and setting up road blocks.

This year, raffle entrants will have a chance to go home with jewelry, gift certificates, river cruise rides, hotel room stays and more. Viccellio Goldsmith has donated a sterling silver and 14-karat gold bracelet; Ben and Jerry’s offered $500 worth of gift certificates; the Hornsby House Inn is donating a two-night stay; Black Dog Gallery is giving away a custom mirror; Nancy Thomas Gallery will offer artwork; the Schooner Alliance will gift cruises; Patriot Tours is offering Segway tours; the Riverwalk Restaurant will provide dinner for two; Village Events will give two tickets to the Yorktown Wine Festival; the Watermen’s Museum will give away a one-year family membership; and one lucky winner will receive a weeklong stay at an Outer Banks resort. In addition, gift certificates will be given for The Gallery at York Hall, the Yorktown Shoppe, Studio Foray and River Fruit Tropical Wines.

Raffle tickets can be purchased until Sept. 3 for $5 each or $5 for $20 at The Gallery at York Hall or The Yorktown Shoppe on Main Street; Black Dog Gallery on Ballard Street; or at Viccellio Goldsmith at Riverwalk Landing. Winners will be selected and notified after the concert.

Guests attending the concert are advised to bring chairs and/or blankets. In the event of inclement weather, the Williamsburg performance will be held at Phi Beta Kappa Hall. For more information about the Symphony, click here.