Shara Nova

WHEELING – The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra will combine new masterworks with the old for their upcoming concert Her Voice.

Taking place today, Friday, March 20, the concert will feature Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings” and “The Blue Hour,” a collaborative composition between five living composers and featuring guest artist and composer Shara Nova.

The WSO Capitol Series is sponsored by WesBanco. Her Voice is presented by The Wheeling Symphony Auxiliary, with additional support provided by Daniel Young – Edward Jones and Emily Freeman Waters, Chris Freeman, and Steven Waters of Riverbridge Wealth Management.

“I have been looking forward to this performance for a very long time,” WSO Music Director John Devlin said. “Not only is the orchestra performing Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings,” a stunningly beautiful piece of classical repertoire, but we are bringing in an artist who I believe is on the cutting edge of contemporary classical music. Shara Nova is an incredible, unique vocalist who I think will mesmerize our audience.”

Shara Nova, a three-time Grammy nominee, is a multi-genre artist whose songwriting and vocal performances have spanned indie rock to choral to baroque. She has released six chamber-pop albums under the moniker My Brightest Diamond, often touring with popular indie bands like Sufjan Stevens and The Decemberists. She was an original member of the Broadway show “Illinoise” directed by Tony Award Winner (’24) Justin Peck and co-written by Jackie Sibblies Drury.

As a composer, she has written works for choirs such as The Crossing, Conspirare, Roomful of Teeth, Detroit Women’s Chorus, as well as The Detroit Opera’s educational touring company, Oregon Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, American Composers Orchestra and the BBC Concert orchestra, among others.

Shara Nova’s week with the WSO started on Tuesday with a special bonus concert held at Towngate Theatre. There she performed Sarah Kirkland Snider’s “Penelope,” a songcycle based on Homer’s “The Odyssey.” Featuring a small 10-piece ensemble made up of classical instruments, drum kit and electric guitar, “Penelope” combined elements of classical, folk and pop music.

For tonight’s Her Voice concert at the Capitol, the first half of the program will consist of Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings;” the second half will again feature Shara Nova performing “The Blue Hour.” Released in the fall of 2022, “The Blue Hour” is a collaboration between Shara Nova and composers Rachel Grimes, Angelica Negron, Caroline Shaw and Sarah Kirkland Snider. Named after the time between twilight and nightfall, “The Blue Hour” features the poetry of Carolyn Forche and tells the story of a life as it inches towards its final moments. The piece was listed in NPR’s top 10 albums of 2022.

“This is going to be a wonderful week for the WSO,” WSO Executive Director Marc Zyla said. “We cannot wait to see how it all unfolds.”

Tickets for Her Voice start at $22; college students can attend for free. Tickets can be purchased online at wheelingsymphony.com, over the phone at 304-232-6191, or in person at the WSO box office, located at 1025 Main St., Suite 811, Wheeling.