THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 27, 1994 TAG: 9410250100
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 102 lines
SHE GREW UP in a house filled with music and musicians. Her mother, Grace, was a pianist, and her father, Samuel, a cellist. The two were the lifeblood of the cultural community in Norfolk in the early part of the century.
With their nurturing, the Virginia Symphony, the Little Theater of Norfolk, and the Chrysler Museum took shape. And their daughter, Connie, has been continuing her parents' work and dedication to the arts and the community for the past 20 years.
Connie Ferebee is a member of the boards of the Virginia Symphony League, the Norfolk Society of Arts, Town 'N Gown, and the American Association of University Women. She was chairman of Mobile Meals of Norfolk for 14 of its 20 years.
``Norfolk has an enormous amount of culture,'' Ferebee said. ``But it's also small enough so that you know people.''
The Virginia Symphony was started in 1920, the year she was born. It was the only symphony at that time between Baltimore and Atlanta. The Virginia Symphony League, the fund-raising arm of the symphony, held its first meeting in her family home in 1953. Then it was called the Women's Auxiliary.
Ferebee has been active in the cultural life of the community since she retired from the Army in 1974 after 25 years. In a sense, she took over where her parents left off. For the last 20 years, she has given her time and her talents to the organizations that were of great importance to both her mother and father.
She has held the same position on the Norfolk Society of Arts Board that her mother held for 38 years, that of chairman of music. The Norfolk Society of Arts was originally responsible for building what is now the Chrysler Museum, it started the symphony, and the Little Theater of Norfolk. While the society relinquished control of the museum in the '80s, it still raises funds for the museum, and operates the information desk and gift shop. She's music chairman, recording secretary and assistant treasurer.
She's also continuing documenting the history of the symphony and the symphony league that her mother started. In 1961, her mother wrote a history of the symphony that was published in 1961 by Dietz Press called ``Song in Their Hearts.''
``They were personal stories,'' Ferebee said. ``Things that happened throughout the years.''
For six years, Ferebee was in charge of the box office of the Norfolk Little Theatre. For many years, her father acted and even wrote plays for the theater company. Her mother was also active with the American Association of University Women, of which Ferebee now serves on the board. She's also served on the board of Town 'N Gown, an organization whose goal is to foster understanding between the community and Old Dominion University.
She graduated from the University of Virginia School of Nursing with a bachelor's degree. She earned a master's degree from Trinity in San Antonio, and has met half the requirements for a doctorate from Catholic University in Washington.
During her Army career, she was the head nurse of a hospital in Vietnam during the war, chief of recruitment for the entire Army nursing core, chief nurse at a hospital in Heidelburg, and held a top position at the Institution of Pathology in Washington.
``I had a wonderful career,'' she said. ``I loved every minute of it.''
During her childhood, she spent a lot of time watching her parents on stage. And when they weren't on stage, they were in the audience. Her mother liked to attend all the cultural functions in the city. ``For years, she'd didn't miss a thing. She tried to encourage people in their efforts.''
Her parents' Ghent home was also the scene of many formal and informal gatherings of musicians. ``This house has been full of music my entire life,'' Ferebee said of the home she's occupied since she was 10 years old.
Each Christmas, she holds a tree-trimming party at her home for friends and the music and arts community. ``Many of the old-timers want to know what happened to the Steinway,'' she said.
For years, her mother's Steinway grand piano occupied a place in the first floor living room. It became a record of sorts for all the great performers who came to Norfolk.
One evening, at a party after a symphony performance, the guest register was filled up. So, at her father's request, the French pianist Robert Casadesus, who was making his U.S. debut with the symphony, signed the sound board of the Steinway instead. After this, it became a tradition for guest musicians to sign the soundboard.
The grand piano is now in the home of Ferebee's niece in Texas and will stay in her family.
``I'm not a musician, in spite of my background,'' said Ferebee.
On the eve of the symphony's 75th anniversary, Ferebee said she thinks her mother would be very enthusiastic about its direction today. ``She would be proud to see how far it's come,'' she said. ``And to see that we are a professional organization.''
Ferebee said the symphony's biggest thrust now is its outreach program for the youth, working with young people and bringing musicians into the school.
As for her own role with the symphony league, Ferebee said, ``My mother was a pretty good role model. But I also feel that everybody has a responsibility to contribute to the community. I don't understand people who are satisfied to just play bridge once a week.'' MEMO: If you know someone whom you feel is deserving of a Thumbs Up! feature,
call Vicki Lewis at 446-2286. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
Connie Ferebee plans to update her mother's book about the symphony,
``Song in Their Hearts.''
by CNB