Venetian vespires inspire Virginia Chorale program

Scott Williamson returns to Hampton Roads as the new face of the Virginia Chorale. The Chesapeake native and graduate of Western Branch High School was hired in June as the chorale's music director as the vocal ensemble celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Among the eight concerts scheduled for its 2008-09 season is the two-part Glorious Baroque program, a heavenly surround-sound experience more than 400 years in the making.

"We're modeling the concert on a Venetian vespers program because Venice in the 17th century was the center of the musical universe," said Williamson, who has been based in New York City for the last six years as a tenor-for-hire. "It had probably the greatest economy to support choral music, so there emerged this wonderful style called the Venetian Poly-Choral style. It involves a bunch of different instrumental and choral quartets."

The chorale will divide its 20-plus vocalists into quartets and place them in designated areas within the worship space of Trinity Episcopal Church (Oct. 18) and Williamsburg Presbyterian Church (Oct. 19).

Virginia Chorale is the only professional choral ensemble in the commonwealth.

Radio bye-bye

After 10 years as general manager of Saga Communications' local radio cluster, which includes WNOR FM99 and WAFX 106.9 The Fox, Dave Paulus is departing for a yet-to-be-revealed Midwest radio group.

"I just felt like it was time for me to find the next challenge in my career," Paulus said. "You have one life to live and I wanted to make a change."

Both FM99 and The Fox are rock-formatted stations and have experienced personnel changes in recent weeks as a result of cost-cutting initiatives. Paulus' final day is Sept. 19.

Home for a night

Soulful R&B artist Lisa Marshall returns to her hometown of Virginia Beach on Thursday for a solo acoustic gig at The Jewish Mother.

Marshall attended Green Run High School but didn't become a musician until age 19, when she scored a job as singer on the Spirit of Norfolk.

"I ended up in the band, and then they opened one out in California," she said, "and that's how I ended up on the West Coast."

Now based in Seattle, Marshall is touring in support of her debut album, "Simple," featuring her Janis Joplin-meets-Aretha Franklin vocals.

The show starts at 8 p.m. at 31st and Pacific in Virginia Beach. (757) 422-5430.

Top exec

Brian Ahern, a 29-year-old graduate of Norfolk Academy and U.Va., was recently named as one of the top music executive's in Billboard's fourth annual "30 Under 30" list. Ahern is a booking agent at William Morris Agency, where his roster of artists includes the Hives, Warrant and Spoon.

Additional dates

The Friday after-work summer concert season at Towne Place at Greenbrier has gone so well its organizers are extending it through Oct. 4. Ken McNeill performs tonight (Friday, September 12) at 5:30. Admission is free.

Jeff Maisey, (757) 222-3934, jmaisey@pilotonline.com