In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of Hector Berlioz’s death, the Orchestra will perform Symphonie fantastique, a wild love story gone wrong that takes audiences from the ballroom to the meadows, ending with a vivid execution and witch’s dance. The program also features Rebecca Clarke’s Viola Sonata in a masterful orchestration by Ruth Lomon, featuring faculty violist Diane Phoenix-Neal.

The JMU Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Foster Beyers, is the premier symphonic ensemble for the School of Music at James Madison University. The Symphony presents a number of concerts on- and off-campus each year, and has performed regularly as the invited college ensemble for the Virginia Music Educators Association. The ensemble presents a series of Youth Concerts for students from Harrisonburg/Rockingham and surrounding counties.