The Virginia Beach Journal

Thomas Wilkins, conductor
Demarre McGill, flute

Missy Mazzoli: Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres)
C.P.E. Bach: Concerto for Flute in D minor
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter”

Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins returns to lead Mozart’s final symphony. Considered the crowning achievement of his symphonic compositions, it was nicknamed for the king of the Roman gods. Demarre McGill is a dynamic and acclaimed flutist who will captivate you with his spirited presentation of C.P.E. Bach’s most famous flute concerto. 

Thomas Wilkins is an internationally renowned conductor and Norfolk native who was named the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s first-ever Principal Guest Conductor in 2021. He is Principal Conductor of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra; the Boston Symphony’s Artistic Advisor, Education and Community Engagement; and holds Indiana University’s Henry A. Upper Chair of Orchestral Conducting.

Demarre McGill is Principal Flute of the Seattle Symphony, and has gained international recognition as a soloist, recitalist, chamber and orchestral musician. Winner of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Sphinx Medal of Excellence, he has appeared as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Seattle, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Grant Park, San Diego, and Baltimore symphony orchestras and, at age 15, the Chicago Symphony.

Missy Mazzoli was named Musical America’s 2022 Composer of the Year. Her music has been performed all over the world by the Kronos Quartet, eighth blackbird, Dublin’s Crash Ensemble, pianist Emanuel Ax, Opera Philadelphia, the Detroit Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, and many more. In 2018 she became one of the two first women (along with composer Jeanine Tesori) to be commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera.