Wheeling Symphony to perform Saturday in Weirton

WEIRTON -- The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra is returning to Weirton this weekend as part of its 2023 Celebrate America! tour.

Kicking off this year's tour, the symphony will perform at the Weirton Event Center Saturday evening, with a collection of classical, patriotic and Broadway music. Gates to the Event Center open at 6 p.m., with the Wheeling Symphony taking the stage at 8 p.m., under the direction of conductor John Devlin.

Fireworks, provided by the City of Weirton, will follow the concert.

This year's series features guest singer Erica Gabriel.

Gabriel, hailed "Stunning Soprano" by The Buffalo News, received her bachelor's degree in vocal performance and pedagogy from Oakwood University and holds a master's in voice performance from the University of Michigan.

Currently, she is pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Kentucky. She has performed with orchestras across the country including the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and more.

She was cast in the newly concertized version of "Ragtime" as Sarah Friend, which premiered at Music Hall with Maestro John Morris Russell, the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and directed by Broadway legend Alton Fitzgerald White. She was also cast in Ravinia's production of "Bernstein's Mass" with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Marin Alsop, which Aired on the PBS Television Network as a part of their Great Performances series. She has toured with the renowned American Spiritual Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Everett McCorvey. Her competition credits include second place in the 2020 Alltech Scholarship competition, and the 2018 Gold Medal winner of the American Traditions Vocal Competition.

In addition to Weirton, the symphony is scheduled to perform at Canaan Valley Resort on Sunday, the Clarksburg Amphitheater on Monday and in Wheeling at Heritage Port on Tuesday.