/ West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Earl Ray Tomblin, Governor Frank Jezioro, Director
News Release: June 28, 2013
Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer, 304-957-9365;
Contact: Canaan Valley State Park, 304-866-4121
Canaan Valley hosts Wheeling Symphony July 6
Davis, W.Va –The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra will perform at the 23rd Annual Celebration of the Arts on Saturday July 6, at Canaan Valley Resort State Park.
Featuring Music Director Andre Raphel, the Symphony will begin this free concert at 3 p.m. with Chris Tedesco as special guest artist. The afternoon song list features well-known favorites including Smith’s “Star Spangled Banner,” Sousa’s “The Thunderer” and “Stars and Stripes Forever,” Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” and Ward’s “America the Beautiful,” to name a few.
The concert will take place at a natural outdoor amphitheater at the resort’s ski area. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and protection from the sun. The natural, gently sloping outdoor venue is surrounded by forest and temperatures can be 10 to 12 degrees cooler than the surrounding region.
For additional information, contact the Tucker County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 304-259-5315 or visit
About Music Director Andrea Raphel Smith
Born André Raphel Smith in Durham, N.C., he began formal music lessons at age 11. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami and pursued further study at Yale University, where he earned his master’s degree. While at Yale, he began conducting studies with Otto-Werner Mueller. He continued studies with Mueller at The Curtis Institute of Music, earning a diploma in conducting and at The Juilliard School, where he was awarded the Bruno Walter Memorial Scholarship and received an advanced certificate in orchestral conducting.
Raphel is the recipient of numerous honors and awards that attest to his artistry. In 2010, The Philadelphia Orchestra issued a special commemorative CD featuring William Grant Still’s Symphony No.1 with Raphel conducting. In 2006, he received the Distinguished Service Award from Yale University. In 2004, he was the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from West Liberty University. Raphel has received honorary commendations from the cities of Philadelphia and Saint Louis. In 2001, he was awarded the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine” by the North Carolina Senate. The award, presented annually, is the state’s highest honor for a civilian.
About Chris Tedesco
Special Guest Artist Chris Tedesco has distinguished himself as a one of the top call trumpet players on the music scene in Los Angeles since 1987. Equally at home performing jazz or classical trumpet, chamber music or orchestral pieces, Chris’ sound has been heard on numerous recordings for movies, TV shows, TV commercials, CD recordings and live dates with some of the biggest names in the industry. Some recent credits on Los Angeles studio scene include the Christina Aguilera movie “Burlesque,” The “Green Lantern”cartoon series, 10 songs for TV’s “The Playboy Club,” Disneyland’s Main Street Music with Dean Mora, American Idol iTunes download sessions, and many more recordings.
Chris is the leader of the Angel City Horns, which have recorded the hit tunes "Don’t Cha Wish” for the Pussy Cat Dolls, and Christina Aguilera’s “Candyman” and “Nasty Naughty Boy.”
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