Symphony on Ice
Thursday, December 5, 2024
The WSO proudly returns to the WesBanco Arena for Symphony on Ice, the Ohio Valley’s favorite holiday tradition. A true community celebration, this musical extravaganza features hundreds of middle and high school choir students from around the Ohio Valley alongside Wheeling and Pittsburgh figure skating clubs. In addition, several professional figure skaters will take the ice, and this year we are pleased to welcome local singer and rising star Mandy McGovern as a soloist.
Tickets for Symphony on Ice go on sale September 1 at 10 am. If you are interested in purchasing a table for Symphony on Ice, contact the WSO box office at 304-232-6191 or email boxoffice@wheelingsymphony.com
Featuring
Amanda McGovern, vocalist
Amanda McGovern is a vocalist and actor born and raised in Wheeling, WV. Amanda is a senior BFA Acting Major at West Virginia University. She was last seen on stage in West Virginia Public Theatre’s production of Steel Magnolias. At WVU, Amanda has been in the productions of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Ride the Cyclone, Bright Star, and Carrie: The Musical. Amanda is elated and extremely grateful for the opportunity to perform with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra at Music Under the Stars and Symphony On Ice in their 2024-25 season!
John Devlin, conductor
Conductor John Gennaro Devlin, is an ardent champion of American music, an innovator of concert design, and a thought leader in the field of classical music. In his fifth season as Music Director of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Devlin is only the ninth conductor in its 90-year history to hold that title. He was recently named a recipient of the 2023 Georg Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award. Devlin’s artistry and versatility make him a frequent guest conductor with major orchestras across the nation. His engagements include performances with the National Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and the American Repertory Ballet. Of his debut with the National Symphony Orchestra and violin soloist Joshua Bell, Anne Midgette of The Washington Post wrote that Devlin “led the evening with flair … and was visibly in his element.” A strong advocate for American music, Devlin has made it a programmatic focus and has premiered over 40 new American works. Committed to serving the wider arts community beyond the podium, Devlin is part of the six-member Conductor Constituency Leadership Team of the League of American Orchestras, advocating for conductors nationally. Previously, he served on the Conductors Guild’s Board of Directors and was a featured speaker at the organization’s annual conference, discussing the future of orchestras with the Executive Directors of the National and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras. He also delivered the keynote TED talk on “Innovation in Crowded Marketplaces” at a TEDx symposium. Devlin completed his master’s and doctoral degrees in orchestral conducting under the tutelage of James Ross at the University of Maryland. His undergraduate degree is from Emory University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a double major in Clarinet Performance and Latin.
