MAKING THIS Happen — The people helping to make Symphony on Ice possible are, from left, Brian Joseph and Julie Joseph of Touchstone Laboratories; Sonja Thoms, executive director of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra; Lynne Exley; WSO Music Director and Conductor John Devlin; Nina Rosenthal; Rich Lucas, president of Main Street Bank; and Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron. –Derek Redd

WHEELING — Maestro John Devlin, music director and conductor of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, receives phone calls from friends across the country who all ask the same question: How does the symphony do Symphony on Ice every year?

“’Draw me a picture here,’ they all say. “I am ambitious. We’re going to try this here in my town,” he said.

“No one else has ever been able to copy it.”

Symphony on Ice – a show that combines the WSO, singers from across the Ohio Valley and skaters from local and regional skating clubs on the national and international levels – will return to the WesBanco Arena Ice Rink at 7 p.m. on December 5.

One of the most beautiful aspects of the performance, Devlin said, is that it combines many artistic efforts and shows how hundreds of people from across the Ohio Valley can come together to present one of the jewels of the valley and a vacation must-see.

“We do a lot of things very uniquely in Wheeling,” » said Devlin. “And, for the start of the holiday season, I think it’s a marker for our community.” We love having that here and we love the involvement of so many different people in the community as participants.

“And then we have over 2,000 spectators.” he continued. “It’s a beautiful thing.”

In addition to the popular sounds of the WSO, Symphony on Ice will feature guest artists on the ice and on stage. This year, figure skater Ryan Dunk, the 2019 U.S. junior national gold medalist, and former Team USA member and seven-time national medalist Stephanie Roth will perform with the Wheeling and Pittsburgh figure skating clubs.

The symphony will welcome guest vocalist Amanda McGovern, a Wheeling native and West Virginia University theater major. The evening will feature the Festival Choir, a choir made up of nearly 250 middle and high school students from throughout the Ohio Valley. The Festival Choir will perform several numbers that evening, including Handel’s “Hallelujah Choir.”

Symphony On Ice is presented by Main Street Bank and the EQT Foundation. Main Street Bank President Rich Lucas said his bank is excited to lead the way in bringing such an iconic Ohio Valley event to the public again this year.

“Symphony On Ice had been going dark for a few years, and I really think it was overwhelming to see how much the Ohio Valley had missed it” » said Lucas. “It’s the start of the holiday season and a big family event.

“We launched as a major sponsor and it’s been a wonderful 11 ​​years. » » added Lucas. “I love that it’s a marquee event for the Ohio Valley.”

Additional support comes from the City of Wheeling, Paul T. Tucker, Belmont Savings Bank, the Exley Family Foundation, the Rosenthal Family, Touchstone Laboratories and the Spadafore Family.

Devlin said the show is the culmination of months of work between many different groups to deliver a presentation enjoyed by thousands of people each year.

“It’s really a year-round effort by all these stakeholders coming together for a day to make this happen,” he said.

Tickets start at $16.50 and student tickets are available for $10.50 and can be purchased online at wheelingsymphony.com, by phone at (304) 232-6191, by email at [email protected] or in person at the symphony box office at 1025 Main. St., Suite 811 in Wheeling.