Center for the Arts Gala Celebration with guest star Natalie Cole

Center patrons, friends, and fans from near and far are invited to celebrate the first season in the Moss Arts Center with this very special black tie event! The Virginia Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Benjamin Rous, anchors the evening's concert with classical selections featuring teen violin prodigy Brendan Elliott, a native of Hampton Roads, Va. Renowned R&B and jazz vocalist, recording artist, and songwriter Natalie Cole takes the stage with the VSO on the second half of the program to make this a truly "unforgettable" celebration. Cole rocketed to stardom in 1975 with her debut album, Inseparable, earning her a # 1 single, "This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)," and her first two Grammy awards. She has received countless other awards, including seven other Grammys, the George and Ira Gershwin Lifetime Musical Achievement Award, Songwriters Hall of Fame Hitmaker Award, three American Music Awards, and three NAACP Image Awards.