Music Director Janna Hymes Announces Departure From Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra At End Of 2018-19 Season

Music Director Janna Hymes has announced that she is stepping down from the music directorship of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra at the end of next season. The conductor, who has led the 57-member orchestra for almost half of its existence, will mark her 15th anniversary at the helm of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra this 2018-19 season, the organization's 35th season.

"It is with bittersweet feelings that I announce my departure from the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra at the end of the coming 2018-19 season. Since 2004, Williamsburg has been a home to me, and it has been an honor to be welcomed into the community by all of you and this wonderful orchestra surrounding me. Making music with these musicians, and in this community, is a joy. It has been my pleasure to contribute to the growth and quality of music-making of this organization, to help raise the bar, to attract guest artists of international repute, and to introduce the orchestra to an international audience as well," stated Hymes.

"I am proud of the artistic quality of the orchestra, the varied repertoire we have performed and this musical community we have nurtured. When I arrived almost 15 years ago, I had a list of goals I wanted to accomplish, from expanding the concert season, diversifying the program repertoire, and increasing awareness of the orchestra. I have achieved these goals. There is a deep sadness in me for leaving, but having been at the helm of this organization for almost half of its history, this seems an appropriate and natural transition point. I look forward to celebrating our milestone 35th anniversary season starting this fall.

"Thank you for making me part of your family, part of your community, and part of your music."

Hymes's 15-year tenure is distinguished by innovation and dedication that has built the organization from a 10-concert season to a 23-concert season with successful education and community outreach programs.

Under her leadership,the artistic level of the orchestra rose and the list of international guest stars grew to include such names as violinists Stefan Jackiw, Anne Akiko Meyers, and Jennifer Koh, cellist Zuill Bailey, clarinetist David Shifrin, soprano Julia Bullock, and pianist Alessio Bax, among others.

The Virginia Gazette praised Hymes's skills as an orchestra builder when it wrote about the Orchestra's international debut at the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts in 2016 (for which Hymes personally was responsible, being directly invited to bring her orchestra for a week-long tour, and also being invited back again), stating the tour was "A distinct feather in the Symphonia's cap, and yet another indication of the extraordinary growth this fine orchestra has achieved under the baton of Janna Hymes..."

Hymes introduced new initiatives, such as Cabaret and Cocktails, Family concerts (which for years was a sold-out hall), the annual masterclass series with guest artists, and The Nutcracker with the Virginia Regional Ballet. She also doubled the Holiday Pops series. Equally active in the education scene, Hymes launched the "Peter and the Wolf" program in the schools, and in 2013, the symphony's Side-by-Side concerts series, which affords students opportunities to perform and rehearse alongside professional musicians. The latest concert paired WSO musicians with members of the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra. The orchestra's education arm also introduced "Meet the Musician" classroom programs, and Instruments For Kids providing needed instruments to underserved children. Other initiatives include special one-time concerts, including the Jamestown 400th Anniversary, Yorktown 225th Anniversary, and the Williamsburg Regional Library Series.

Praised by The Virgina Gazette as "an exceptionally skilled conductor whose artistic and refined style gets to the heart of the music...," Ms. Hymes's work on the podium has been distinguished by interpretations of works by Mozart, Stravinsky, Bach, and Beethoven, including this season's acclaimed Beethoven Symphony No. 9 with a 230-member chorus, and American masters including Nielson and Bernstein. She also expanded the orchestra's profile by presenting new works by contemporary composers. Under her baton, the symphony presented orchestra premieres of works by Thomas Ades, Mason Bates, John Corigliano, Michael Daugherty, Jennifer Higdon, Michael T. Little, Colin McPhee, Jeff Midkiff, Eddie Mora, Sophia Serghi, Adam Shoenberg, DJ Sparr, Jim Stephenson, Christopher Theofonidis, Michael Thurber, Michael Torke, Gwyneth Walker, and Chen-Yi.

During Janna Hymes's 15 seasons with Williamsburg, the organization saw a significant increase in season ticket patrons and dramatic growth in the number of individual donors and corporate underwriting. The organization's endowment, which began in 2004, realized a 75% growth during her tenure. Increased financial support was also provided from establishing endowed principal musician chairs and significant growth in the orchestra's legacy endowment. Hymes was also instrumental in the name change of the orchestra from Williamsburg Symphonia to Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra in April 2016.

A native New Yorker, Hymes began her music directorship with the WSO in 2004. Currently also serving as music director of the Carmel Symphony Orchestra in Indiana, Ms. Hymes's previous posts include Music Director of the Maine Grand Opera, Associate Conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony, Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony and Music Director of the Columbus Women's Orchestra, the Cincinnati Composers' Guild and the I Solisti Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. She also served as Assistant Conductor of the Canton Symphony Orchestra (OH) and the Teatro Massimo Opera House in Palermo, Italy, and founded Maine Pro Musica Orchestra, a professional orchestra in Midcoast Maine. Janna Hymes is a Fulbright scholar, recipient of a 1999 Geraldine C. and Emory M. Ford Foundation Grant, and a prizewinner of the 1998 International Conducting Competition in Besancon, France.