Annual Virginia Symphony MLK Tribute

City of Norfolk Observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day At Attucks

NORFOLK, Va.
The City of Norfolk will host its annual ceremony and march honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Jan. 19 beginning at 9 a.m. at the Attucks Theatre. At that time, a historical marker commemorating the legacy and history of the Attucks Theater will be unveiled to the public.

The ceremony, “A Celebration of Unity and Freedom In Song” will follow inside the theater, featuring Minister Peggy Britt, Minister Earl Bynum and the Norfolk Street Choir Project.

Following the ceremony, participants are invited to march in unity to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument located at 701 Church St.

This tribute is free to the public.

Annual Virginia Symphony MLK  Tribute In  Virginia Beach and Portsmouth
Chesapeake High School Student To Perform

HAMPTON ROADS
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, partnered with the City of Virginia Beach, the Virginia Beach Arts & Humanities Commission, and City of Portsmouth will present two free concerts celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a beacon of hope and justice.

Conducted by VSO Music Director Eric Jacobsen, The Macon and Joan Brock Chair, the concert will feature Earl Bynum & The Mount Unity Choir.

“The MLK concerts are always deeply meaningful to conduct,” Says Jacobsen. “They reflect not only the transformational power of Dr. King’s message, but also the joy we feel working with the extraordinarily talented young musicians in our region. This program gives us the opportunity to spotlight an exciting emerging artist in our concerto winner, Elise Hill, while also coming together with our community partners in a true celebration of connection and shared purpose. Moments like these remind us how deeply rooted the Symphony is in Hampton Roads.”

Each year, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra also hosts a concerto competition to showcase a talented, local, young Black instrumentalist. This year’s winner Elise Hill is a senior at Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, Virginia and is also a student at The Governor’s School for the Arts, where she studies cello performance under Leslie Frittelli. Elise’s dedication to music earned her the title of the 2025 Governor’s School for the Arts Concerto Competition Winner, as well as the 2025 NAACP ACT-SO “Instrumental Classical” Regional Gold Medalist, which gave her the opportunity to compete at the national level. Hill will perform Max Bruch’s’ Kol Nidrei, Op. 47 as the soloist with the orchestra.

“When I received the news that I had won this concerto competition, it almost felt surreal,” says Hill. “Having the opportunity to perform alongside many of the individuals who have taught me, as well as the many other incredibly talented musicians of the VSO, whom I have grown up watching, is an honor that words cannot express.”

Two Hampton Road citizens will be awarded the annual Dreamer Award during the concerts. This award is given to community leaders who amplify Dr. King’s dream through service, advocacy, justice, leadership, philanthropy, and excellence. Previous recipients include New Journal & Guide President and Publisher Brenda Andrews, Portsmouth community advocate Tyrone T. Hines, Dr. Darlene Sparks Washinton, Captain Janet Days, Victor Wooten, and more.

A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  in Virginia Beach will be held on January 18th, 2026, at 7PM at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Market St UNIT 204, Virginia Beach, VA 23462.

A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  in Portsmouth will be held on January 20th, 2026, at 7PM at I.C. Norcom High School, 1801 London Blvd, Portsmouth, VA 23704. Registration is encouraged. https://virginiasymphony.org/event/mlkjr-tribute-porstmouth/

2026 Andrew Shannon Gospel Music Celebration To Honor King In Newport News

NEWPORT NEWS
The “Andrew Shannon  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. PARADE; FEEDING 5000 ™ and Gospel Music Celebration Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” will present a free celebration for the City, Region and State, at New Beech Grove Baptist Church, 361 Beechmont Drive in Newport News, Virginia on Sunday, January 18^th, 2026, The celebration begins with the parade at 1:30 p.m. The ceremony follows at 4 p.m. at the church.

All of the Commemorative Events are designed to honor slain civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These special events, hosted by For The People MOS Inc., bring federal, state and local elected officials together, along with community leaders, clergy, civic and social organizations and members of the community to celebrate and provide service to humanity.

For decades this celebration has taken place in the City of Newport News with a Parade, March and Commemorating Events.

Dr. Willard G. Maxwell Jr., Pastor of New Beech Grove Baptist Church and Keynote Speaker is a International Humanitarian known for his humanitarian efforts in Africa, Newport News, throughout Virginia; Hurricane Helene Disaster Relief efforts in North Carolina and Georgia; the water crisis in Flint, Michigan; and fire disaster relief in California, just to name a few.

  The public is invited to attend and participate.