Where will the WSO go next?

Your community, in concert.

It’s not just a motto: it’s a promise.

At the WSO, we are committed to showing up and in our community, whether it’s through our free yoga series, elder music, or our many educational programs. We believe it’s our duty to provide the Ohio Valley with access to outstanding classical music, from age 8 to 80—and beyond!

Music Educator Excellence Award

The Ohio Valley is filled with music teachers who go above and beyond for their students. At the WSO, we want to honor those educators who help create an arts-minded culture in our community from a young age.

Each year, the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra honors an outstanding music educator who exemplifies an unwavering commitment to sharing the love of music with students of all ages. We are currently seeking nominations for the 2027 Music Educator Excellence Award. If you know a music teacher who deserves this honor, we invite you to submit your nomination below!

Current or retired educators with K-12 experience at a parochial, private, public, or collegiate school in the following counties are eligible:

Ohio – Belmont, Guernsey, Harrison Jefferson, Monroe

West Virginia – Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler

Pennsylvania – Washington and Greene

Nominations close on December 11. Nominees will be notified via email. A winner will be selected in late February and will be honored at our March Masterworks concert, Bohemian Spirit, on March 11.

 

Past Honorees 

2026 – Tracey Filben

2025 – Patrick Garrett

2024 – Ben Podolski

 

Nominate an outstanding music educator for the WSO’s annual Music Educator Excellence Award!

Nominator

Details of the person submiting the nomination.

Nominee Information

Details about the person being nominated.
Please ensure that nominee's email is correct, as this is how we will notify them about their nomination.

Arts programming is a critical component of a well-rounded education. The WSO’s commitment to education is demonstrated annually through its Young People’s Concert Tour, Arts in Education programs and the Wheeling Symphony Youth Orchestra. 

Community and Education Programs

Our tuition-free youth orchestra, consisting of the Philharmonic advanced ensemble and the Prelude Strings intermediate ensemble, provides young musicians throughout the Ohio Valley with the opportunity to grow their musical knowledge.

Our annual Young People’s Concerts give hundreds of students throughout Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania with the opportunity to experience the full orchestra through a program that was designed to introduce classical music to elementary-aged students.

Small ensembles from the WSO make visits directly to the classroom in this program, giving students an close-up and in-depth look at various types of classical instruments and the music they play.

Our Elder Music program brings small ensembles to assisted living facilities, providing seniors who may not be able to attend concerts with the opportunity to experience live classical music.

Our free yoga series pairs local yoga instructors with solo WSO musicians for an hour-long stretch that soothes both body and mind.

The Festival of Ideas pairs arts and humanities activities with music. Designed to accompany a specific concert, the Festival often contains panels, lectures, chamber concerts, and more.