About Us
Our Story
In 2013, the Hampton Roads Philharmonic (HRP) was founded by a passionate group of local musicians—professional and amateur, active and retired military, teachers and students, senior citizens and youth, former concertmasters and community members—who shared the dream of creating a new orchestra for the region. That summer, their vision became reality.
The HRP is currently led by founding Music Director Steven Brindle. Under his baton, the orchestra now presents a wide range of programming across the community, from classical to contemporary composers, holiday, and pops. The HRP actively supports the creation of new music, having premiered over a dozen new works by living composers. Each season, the orchestra hosts its Young Artist Competition, which gives talented student musicians the chance to perform as a featured soloist with the HRP through a competitive adjudicated event.
Our venues include the Diamondstein Concert Hall at CNU, the American Theatre in Phoebus, the Ella Fitzgerald Theater in Newport News, and the Ft. Monroe Post Theater in Hampton. The HRP has been featured in the Daily Press, Virginia Gazette, Gloucester Gazette, Diversions, Coastal Virginia Magazine, and the CNU Alumni Magazine.
In addition to full-orchestra concerts, the HRP provides chamber music ensembles for community events and outreach performances across Hampton Roads.
Our Vision
The Hampton Roads Philharmonic is dedicated to building a community where classical music serves as an integral and thriving art form.
Our Mission
Our mission is to strive for artistic excellence, increase community awareness and participation in the performing arts, program a diverse selection of repertoire, and create a variety of educational opportunities and experiences.
Our Leadership Team
Steven Brindle
Music Director
sbrindle@hrphil.orgSteven is a conductor, cellist, and music educator who works with musicians of all ages and backgrounds. Steven studied at Christopher Newport University, earning his degree in Music Education, and has attended conducting workshops at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati and the Peabody Conservatory.
Since 2013, Steven has served as the founding Music Director of the Hampton Roads Philharmonic and as conductor of the Bay Youth Concert Orchestra since 2016. Throughout his career, he has also served as the Music Director for Tidewater Opera Initiative, conductor for Symphonicity’s productions of The Nutcracker, and conductor for Capitol Opera Richmond.
As a proponent of new music, Steven regularly commissions works and collaborates with composers. In 2010, he conducted the world premiere of David and Glass, an opera by Chris Lamb. Since then, he has conducted and performed in the premiere of over a dozen new works, including the 2016 concert premiere of The Snow Maiden of Appalachia by Andrew H. Austin.
Steven lives in Norfolk, Virginia, and teaches with The Academy of Music and Ghent Montessori School. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, Omicron Delta Kappa, Pi Kappa Lambda, Alpha Chi, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Gene Chieffo
Executive Director
gchieffo@hrphil.orgGene Chieffo was named as Executive Director of the Hampton Roads Philharmonic in June 2021. As Executive Director, Gene oversees the day-to-day operations of the orchestra. He also works to implement his vision for the HRP as the premier symphony orchestra of the Lower Peninsula and to establish the ensemble as an integral part of that community’s musical and cultural life.
Gene studied clarinet performance at the Philadelphia University of the Arts and holds master’s degrees in education and the humanities from Arcadia University. After a 20-year career as a clarinetist in Army Bands, including six years at Fort Monroe, Gene served as the Senior Army Instructor for Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs in the Philadelphia area for 15 years. In addition to his teaching, he maintained a busy performing calendar with various Philadelphia-area orchestras and other professional large-ensemble and chamber-music engagements.
Mr. Chieffo and his wife happily returned to Hampton Roads in 2019. Since then, he has become active with several local musical organizations as a clarinetist, teacher, and administrator. Gene is also an adjunct professor of Woodwind techniques, literature, and pedagogy at Christopher Newport University. He and his wife, Michel, live in the Little England neighborhood of Hampton. Together, they have six children, three grandchildren, and a munchkin cat.
Mark Hendrickson
Board ChairMark Hendrickson serves as Board Chair for the Hampton Roads Philharmonic and performs with the orchestra as a trombonist. A lifelong music enthusiast, Mark played throughout high school and college before taking a 27-year hiatus to serve in the United States Navy. After retiring from military service, he returned to the trombone and quickly rediscovered his passion for performing.
In addition to the HRP, Mark plays trombone and euphonium with various community ensembles across Hampton Roads and regularly contributes to his church’s music program. He is also learning to play the cello and harp.
When not making music, Mark enjoys walking his dog and staying active in the local arts community.
Board of Directors
Chair – Mark Hendrickson
Vice-Chair – Dr. Chelsey Hamm
Secretary – Shea Matthews
Treasurer – Stephen Wood
Keri Houser
Lynn Sebacher
David Bason
Christoph Leemann
Steven Brindle – ex officio
Gene Chieffo – ex officio
Staff
Social Media – Emmet Aylor
Student Intern – Abby Russell
Music Director & Conductor – Steven Brindle
Executive Director & Orchestra Manager – Gene Chieffo
Interested in joining our board?
The American Theatre
The American Theatre, a landmark in Hampton Roads, is the only remaining of four theaters in Hampton. Opening in 1908 as a “high-class motion picture and vaudeville house,” the Theatre has enjoyed a colorful and varied history, changing name and ownership several times. After an extensive three-year renovation by the Hampton Arts Foundation, The American Theatre reopened in 2000 under its original name and has been a favorite venue of an ever-increasing and loyal audience throughout the region. It is now one of the most adventurous and innovative venues and one of the most popular performing arts venues—the theatre hosts performing artists from every corner of the globe in an ambitious year-round program.
“Beautiful theatre, incredible performance! It was my first time seeing the HRP, and I’ll definitely be going to their next show.”
—Patron