||:NEVER STOP:||
When: Saturday, December 7th, 7:30pm
Location: Concert Hall, Music Building
Concert Program:
– Williams, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
– Williams, Jurassic Park
– Powell, How to Train Your Dragon
– Bizet, Carmen Suite No. 1 & 2
Featured Soloist
n/a
W&M Ensembles
The Symphony
Information regarding the Spring 2025 audition process for our Symphony can be found here. Please do not hesitate to reach out to dfgrandis@wm.edu to arrange an audition!
Concert
Halloween
Fall
Winter
Spring
Repertoire
Delibes, Lakmé*
Massenet, Werther*
Verdi, Falstaff*
Berlioz, Damnation de Faust*
Rosaz, The forest speaks to me*
Roussel, Poème de la forêt
Ciurlionis, In the Forest
(Vincent Karche, tenor)*
Williams, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Williams, Jurassic Park
Powell, How to Train Your Dragon
Bizet, Carmen Suite No. 1 & 2
TBD
(Chosen by the winner(s) of the Concerto Competition)
Ravel, Menuet Antique
Ravel, Don Quichotte*
Dvorák, Symphony No. 9
(Branch Fields, bass)*
Details
October 26
7:30 PM
Concert Hall
December 7
7:30 PM
Concert Hall
March 6
7:30 PM
Concert Hall
May 3
7:30 PM
Concert Hall
Formed in 1932, the William & Mary Symphony Orchestra is comprised of undergraduate, graduate and community musicians of the College of William & Mary. Its mission is to grow through performances of great orchestral literature and to contribute to the artistic community of the College and beyond.
In recent years, WMSO has performed major works by Beethoven, Berlioz, Brahms, Dvorak, Mahler, Bartok, Ravel and Tchaikovsky, and offers additional opportunities such as guest artist collaborations, premieres, and tours. In 2002, WMSO took its first international tour to Italy and Sicily. In 2017, the orchestra traveled to Paris, France, performing at renowned venues including the Église de la Madeleine. In 2023, WMSO visited Prague and Vienna, performing in Prague’s Klementium Mirror Chapel. Domestically, WMSO has toured along the east coast, including Pittsburg and Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center. Awards received by the WMSO include the third prize in 2017 in the college division of The American Prize, and also the American Prize “special judges’ citation for exceptional orchestra of Non-Music Majors” in 2018.
WMSO rehearses on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6pm and performs 4 programs annually, in addition to appearing at special events such as the Family Weekend Concert. WMSO holds social events both within the organization and with other music ensembles, supports its members at various events, and always strives to foster a supportive and welcoming community at William and Mary.
WMSO is always open to new members, and we’d love to have you as a part of our community! For the most recent audition information, click here.
Welcome to our FAQ! Feel free to continue reading and learn more about the WMSO…
Q: What did we do in the 2023-2024 season?
A: Our director, Dr. Grandis, answers this question and more in video form!
Q: What about the rest of the questions?
—–
The WMSO is a full symphony orchestra with up to 95 members consisting of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.
The WMSO rehearses every Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 to 6:00pm throughout the semester and performs five concerts per year. If accepted into the ensemble, you will be able to register for a one-credit class (MUSC E06) in the Music Department that also fulfills COLL requirements (6ESO, ACTV, HIPP, IN).
The Symphony maintains a collegiate but professional atmosphere during rehearsals, starting and ending them on time. Our conductor, Dr. Grandis, emails a detailed rehearsal schedule for the upcoming week specifying the order and length of rehearsed pieces. You may also opt to join WMSO on its annual spring tour.
Rehearsals are held in the Rehearsal Room at the Music Building, home to W&M’s Music Department. The Symphony performs at the Concert Hall, also in the Music Building.
There are five annual concerts for the ensemble:
I. Family Weekend Concert: A prism-style concert shared with choirs and other music ensembles around mid-October.
II. Halloween Concert: The Symphony’s interactive pops concert in late October.
III. Fall Concert: Standard repertoire, held early December.
IV. Winter Concert: Features the concerto competition winner(s) and a student composition, held mid-March.
V. Spring Concert: A large symphonic work, held early May.
Yes! In 2001, WMSO embarked on its first international tour to Italy and Sicily. The Symphony has continued travelling abroad to destinations like Paris, Vienna, and Prague. Domestically, the WMSO has toured in cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
Music from past seasons can be found here. Our repertoire tend to be in the flavour of 19th & 20th century Western style, but we also reach out to the present with more contemporary works.
The Symphony has collaborated with guest artists including violinist Charles Castleman (Carmen Fantasy), violinist Pavel Ilyashov (Glazunov), cellist Neal Cary (Elgar), and saxophonist Gary Louie (April 2015).
Lastly, the Symphony hosts an annual concerto competition open to any undergraduate studying with a member of the Applied Music Faculty. The winner(s) perform their piece alongside the WMSO during the Winter Concert.
All present and past members must audition to join the Symphony, though returning members often remain in the ensemble. Selection for winds and percussion can be highly competitive; the number of openings varies depending on the repertoire chosen year. Spend time preparing your music over the summer, and remember to bring your best self to the audition!
Additional musicians may be needed to fill a vacancy left by regular members studying abroad or to augment a section for a large orchestral work. Typically, alternate players are accepted as regular members the following season, so mid-year auditions are a great way to be heard and added to the list of potential candidates for your section!
Seating choices are made at the discretion of our conductor, Dr. Grandis. If needed, he may decide to rotate part assignments between winds, adjust the seating order of strings, or appoint co-principals.
Auditions are held in late August in the Rehearsal Room/Concert Hall of the Music Building, a few days before the fall semester begins. You can find the dates and specified requirements for auditions here; time slots are determined on a first-come, first-served basis.
Yes! While WMSO is headed by our conductor, Dr. Grandis, much of the Symphony’s logistics and events are managed by the all-student Orchestra Board. Members of the ensemble find opportunities to attend social events outside of rehearsal, bond over meals, and even play intramural sports together. The Symphony brings together students of all academic years, majors, and backgrounds, and the experience itself has played a part in many budding friendships.
Was there something not answered in the FAQ you’d like to ask us?
Feel free to reach out to byou@wm.edu or even to get in touch with our conductor, Dr. Grandis, at dfgrandis@wm.edu!