Aretha: A Tribute

This high-energy, dazzling tribute to the Queen of Soul features Drama Desk Award nominee  Capathia Jenkins and three-time GRAMMY-nominated artist  Ryan Shaw performing iconic favorites including “Respect,” “Think,” “A Natural Woman,” “Chain of Fools,” “Amazing Grace,” and more. 

Program

Various arr. Tompkins
Aretha Overture

Covey arr. Shoup
Chain of Fools

Bacharach / David arr. Waldin
I Say a Little Prayer

DeSylva / Brown / Henderson arr. Rhodes; Orch Stevens
Birth of the Blues

Wonder arr. Mossman
Sir Duke

Sager / Hamlisch arr. Raine
Nobody Does It Better

Traditional arr. Podd
What a Friend We Have in Jesus / Climbing Higher Mountains

Webb arr. Holcombe
MacArthur Park

Bates / Ward arr. Shoup
America the Beautiful

Redding arr. Holmes
Respect

– Intermission –

Various arr. Norris
Salute to Ray Charles

Brown arr. Waldin
I Got You (I Feel Good)

Gordon arr. Holcombe
Unforgettable

Goffin / King / Wexler arr. Bachalis
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

Cooke
A Change is Gonna Come

Wonder arr. Holman
Isn’t She Lovely

Warren arr. Hampton
At Last

Woods / Campbell / Connelly arr. Shoup
Try a Little Tenderness

Traditional arr. Podd
Amazing Grace

Franklin / White arr. Shoup
Think (from The Blues Brothers)

Naima Burrs, Guest Conductor

Naima Burrs, D.M.A, a violinist and conductor from Richmond, VA, has performed as a section violinist with many ensembles including the Richmond Symphony Orchestra,  the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra, and the Waterloo Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra as well as serving as principal second violin with Opera on the James and as concertmaster of Summer Garden Opera. Burrs was selected as a participant in the Conducting Academy of the Domaine Forget International Music Festival (Québec, Canada), where she studied with Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin, music director of the Metropolitan Opera House and Philadelphia Orchestra. In January of 2022, Burrs was appointed Music Director of the Petersburg Symphony Orchestra and concluded her tenure after two exciting seasons, in 2024.

Burrs has collaborated with prominent solo artists both locally and internationally, including pianist Joanne Kong, clarinetist LeTriel White, violinist Anyango Yarbo-Davenport, and cellist Christoph Wagner. In August 2022, she became a member of the University of Richmond’s faculty, where she also currently leads the University of Richmond Symphony Orchestra. In 2023, Burrs made her guest conducting debut with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and in the same year, was appointed as the Youth Concert conductor with the National Philharmonic Orchestra, leading eight performances for their educational series at the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, MD. Most recently, Burrs made her conducting debut with the Richmond Ballet, leading the Richmond Symphony in 6 performances for the annual presentation of The Nutcracker. During the 2024-2025 season, Naima will lead the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and the National Philharmonic in mainstage performances.

Naima Burrs serves as the Director of Orchestral Activities at Virginia State University (Petersburg, VA) and has previously contributed to the faculties of Longwood University (Farmville, VA) and Hampden-Sydney College (Hampden Sydney, VA). Burrs holds degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University (B.A. in music), the University of Northern Iowa (M.M. in violin performance), and the Catholic University of America (D.M.A. in instrumental conducting).