Benjamin Rous, Music Director
Meet the Music Director I Benjamin Rous
Admired for his dynamism on the podium, Benjamin Rous was named Music Director of the Charlottesville Symphony in the spring of 2017, and simultaneously joined the University of Virginia faculty as Associate Professor of Music. In 2018, he concluded an eightyear tenure as Resident Conductor of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra where he conducted a broad range of Classics, Pops and ballet performances, and created the new multimedia VSO@Roper series.
Notable guest appearances include debuts with
Photo: Michael Bailey the National Symphony Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Long Beach Symphony and the Charleston Symphony. In the summers, he serves as faculty conductor at Greenwood Music Camp in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts.
An accomplished instrumentalist, Rous has concertized extensively on violin, viola and keyboard instruments. He has served as guest Principal 2nd violin with Mahler Chamber Orchestra, with whom he performed under the batons of Claudio Abbado and Daniel Harding, including European tours and a teaching residency with El Sistema students in Caracas. He was a regular member of the Boston-area Arcturus Chamber Ensemble for a decade, and has led the Virginia Symphony Orchestra from the harpsichord in baroque repertoire.
Benjamin Rous studied music at Harvard with an emphasis on composition, graduating with highest honors. His works have been performed by diverse ensembles including the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, the Greenwood Orchestra and the Fromm Players. During his college years, he served as Music Director of Harvard Bach Society Orchestra and Lowell House Opera, studied performance practice with Robert Levin and performed on baroque violin with the Harvard Baroque Chamber Orchestra as section leader and soloist. He went on to earn the Doctor of Musical Arts in orchestral conducting with Kenneth Kiesler at the University of Michigan, where he also studied harpsichord and pursued his interest in dance. He received further guidance in festivals and masterclasses from David Zinman, Kurt Masur, Gustav Meier, Marin Alsop and Lorin Maazel.
Accessibility Services
n Wheelchair seating is available at Old Cabell Hall and the MLK PAC. Arrangements for accessible seating may be made through the University of Virginia Arts Box Office when purchasing tickets.
n Large print programs are available. Please ask an usher.
n If you know someone who loves music and would benefit from these services, please share this information.
Cameras and Recording Devices
are distracting for both musicians and audience members. Audio and video recording and photography are strictly prohibited during the concert. Patrons are welcome to take photos before the concert, during intermission and after the concert.
Children The recommended age for admission to concerts is six or older. Babies in arms will not be admitted. All children must be seated with an adult.
Educators interested in the orchestra’s programs for school students may obtain more information by contacting Director of Youth Education Elizabeth Roberts at education@cvillesymphony.org
Emergencies Medical or other emergencies should be brought to the attention of any staff member or usher.
Food and Beverages are not permitted in the auditorium.
Fragrances The orchestra promotes a fragrance-free environment.
Latecomers All those arriving after the start of the concert will be seated during the first convenient pause in the program.
Lost and Found Items—Please call Old Cabell Hall at 434.924.3052 or MLK PAC at Charlottesville High School 434.245.2410
PLEASE TURN OFF all pagers, watch alarms, cell phones and other electronic devices before the start of the concert.
Photographing & Sound Recording of any performance without the written permission of orchestra management is prohibited.
Program designed by Linda Berry of Designer’s Ink, and printed by PrintSource.
Smoking Old Cabell Hall and the MLK PAC at Charlottesville High School are smoke-free facilities.
Tickets for upcoming concerts may be purchased at the University of Virginia Arts Box Office located in the lobby of the Drama Building at 109 Culbreth Road, across the street from the Culbreth parking garage. Hours are Tuesday–Friday from 12:00–5:00 p.m. Call 434.924.3376 or visit— www.artsboxoffice.virginia.edu.
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