Conductor

Just as Looney Tunes introduced a generation to loving classical music, “When Instruments Roamed the Earth!®” takes a new generation on a hilarious journey to love the people, the sound & the experience of the symphony orchestra. Enjoy an all-original music with narration in a compelling multimedia presentation.

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PB&J: When Instruments Roamed the Earth!®

Ferguson Center for the Arts

Sandler Center for the Performing Arts

Join us for this FREE family-friendly concert at Neptune’s Park!

Symphony By The Sea

Neptune's Park

Join the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for a magical evening at the "PBJ: Sleepover at the Museum" concert on April 6, 2025, at 3:00 pm. This unique multimedia adventure, conducted by Helen Martell, invites you to celebrate Mason's birthday in an extraordinary way. Dive into a musical and scientific expedition alongside Mason and his friends as they embark on a scavenger hunt through the captivating exhibits of a natural history museum. This concert promises to be a special experience for audiences of all ages, blending the beauty of music with the wonders of science and history. The event will take place at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, offering a perfect setting for an unforgettable journey. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the museum after dark, where music and imagination come to life. Add this event to your calendar and be part of a night where every note tells a story and every exhibit holds a mystery waiting to be discovered.

PBJ: Sleepover at the Museum

Town Center of Virginia Beach

Put on your dancing shoes and revel in this lively retelling of the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” Featuring a cast of dancers, this program will have the audience dancing in the aisles along to the melodious sounds of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

PBJ: Dancing Princesses

Celebrate the holiday season with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra at the PBJ: Jingle Bell Jam! This festive event is set to take place on December 15, 2024, at 3:00 pm, under the baton of conductor Helen Martell. Join us at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts for an afternoon filled with the magic of holiday music, featuring the best talent from Hampton Roads. This family favorite event is sure to sell out, so be sure to get your tickets early and experience the joy and enchantment of the season with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Santa Claus himself will be stopping by to add to the festivities, making it an unforgettable experience for all. Don't miss out on this cherished holiday tradition!

PBJ: Jingle Bell Jam

Join the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for a thrilling and enchanting afternoon at the "PBJ Halloween Spooktacular" on October 27, 2024, at 3:00 pm. This family-friendly concert, under the baton of Helen Martell, invites kids and grown-ups alike to don their favorite Halloween costumes and immerse themselves in the spooky spirit with some of the most chilling pieces of music ever composed. The performance, featuring the VSO alongside the Governor’s School for the Arts Symphony Orchestra, promises a delightful mix of fright and fun, ensuring it's more of a treat than a trick for attendees of all ages.

The "PBJ Halloween Spooktacular" will take place at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, offering an ideal setting for an afternoon filled with monstrous fun and musical enchantment. This event is a perfect opportunity for families to experience the magic of live symphonic music while celebrating the Halloween season in a unique and memorable way. Don't miss out on this ghoulishly delightful concert that's sure to captivate and entertain both the young and the young at heart. Add it to your calendar now and prepare for an afternoon where music and Halloween merriment intertwine beautifully.

PBJ Halloween Spooktacular

With a visit from Santa Claus, the beloved Jingle Bell Jam rings in the magic of the season with the holiday tunes you know and love! Celebrate the holidays with the VSO and the best of Hampton Roads for an afternoon that will have you “gliding along with a song of a wintry fairy land” and so much MORE!

PB&J: Jingle Bell Jam

Discover the amazing story behind one of America’s most famous symphonies—written by a Czech composer! Antonín Dvořák was inspired by African American spirituals, Native American music, and Longfellow’s poem The Song of Hiawatha. Find out how he combined these influences with the musical traditions of his homeland to create this beloved masterpiece.

Conductor

Helen Martell

Events

Upcoming events

Dec 14, 2025

PB&J: Jingle Bell Jam · Virginia Symphony Orchestra

14 - 15 Mar, 2026

PBJ: Finding America in Dvořák’s New World · Virginia Symphony Orchestra

Past events

20 - 21 Sep, 2025

PB&J: When Instruments Roamed the Earth!® · Virginia Symphony Orchestra

14 - 28 Aug, 2025

Symphony By The Sea · Virginia Symphony Orchestra

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in Symphony No. 9 (From the New World) by Dvořák

Virginia Symphony Orchestra

About

Helen Martell hasn't added a bio