Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to Be Performed in Berryville for First Time

For the first time in the region, Beethoven’s groundbreaking Ninth Symphony will be performed live by a full orchestra and chorus in Berryville on Saturday, April 26. Nearly 100 professional musicians and singers from across Virginia will come together for this major musical event.

Mainstreet Chamber Orchestra conductor Jon Goldstein and members of the Orchestra rehearse for the April 26 presentation of Beethoven’s iconic Ninth Symphony for the first time in the area. There will be about 100 performers on stage in Berryville including the orchestra, four soloists, and the Piedmont Singers and the Winchester Musica Vivia. Photo Credit: Mainstreet Chamber Orchestra

The Main Street Chamber Orchestra, a Berryville-based professional ensemble, will perform alongside singers from the Piedmont Singers and Winchester Musica Viva. The concert takes place at 4:00 p.m. at Johnson-Williams Middle School, located at 200 Swan Avenue.

Known as one of the most powerful and difficult works in classical music, Beethoven’s Ninth—also called the Choral Symphony—includes the famous final movement “Ode to Joy.” This section features full vocal solos and choral harmonies, delivering a message of peace, unity, and hope that has inspired generations. The European Union adopted “Ode to Joy” as its official anthem in 1985, a testament to the work’s lasting impact.

The performance will be led by Jon Goldberg, founder and music director of the Main Street Chamber Orchestra. Goldberg created the group in 2020 to bring professional classical music to communities throughout the region. He also teaches music at Northern Virginia Community College and has earned praise for his conducting from New York to Tanglewood.

Singers under the direction of Wendy Oesterling will include members of the Piedmont Singers and Winchester Musica Viva. Four professional soloists will also take the stage for the final movement, making this a rare and unforgettable experience for local audiences.

The Ninth Symphony was Beethoven’s last completed work and the first symphony by a major composer to include singers. The music was written while Beethoven was completely deaf. At its first performance in Vienna in 1824, Beethoven could not hear the thunderous applause that followed. An audience member had to turn him around to see the standing ovation he had received.

Tickets are $35 for adults and free for youth 18 and under. They can be purchased online at www.mainstreetchamberorchestra.org or by calling 202-255-3294. Seating is expected to fill quickly.

The performance takes place during a busy weekend for the area, with Winchester’s Apple Blossom Festival and Virginia’s Garden Week also drawing visitors to Clarke County. However, organizers say the Beethoven concert offers a special kind of celebration—one of human spirit, musical beauty, and shared community.

The Main Street Chamber Orchestra performs three to four times per year, including a free family concert designed to introduce young people to classical music. Past performances have included works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Handel.

Goldberg says the goal of the orchestra is to make classical music accessible, meaningful, and alive for local audiences. This upcoming concert, with nearly 100 performers joining forces, promises to be the most ambitious and inspiring event yet.

About the Main Street Chamber Orchestra
Goldberg founded the Main Street Chamber Orchestra in Berryville in 2020, and its performances have regularly won standing ovations. A fully professional orchestra, the MSCO is a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization. It offers three or four performances a year, including a free family concert to encourage young people to learn about classical music. Past performances include Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony, Handel’s Messiah Part I, Mozart’s Violin Concerto #5, and Mozart’s Piano Concerto #20,  featuring concert pianist Brian Ganz.

Jon Goldberg is an Adjunct Professor of Music at Northern Virginia Community College, where he has conducted the NOVA Chamber Orchestra. He teaches music theory, music history, and composition. From 2018 to 2020, he served as Director of Classical Music and Conductor of the Rose Hill Chamber Orchestra at the Barns of Rose Hill in Berryville. He founded and conducted the Endymion Ensemble in New York City, winning critical acclaim from the NY Times. He was also a conducting fellow at the Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox MA. under the direction of world famous conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein.

To learn more about the MSCO, visit www.mainstreetchamberorchestra.org, or contact Jon Goldberg at jongoldberg@mainstreetchamberorchestra.org.