Maestro Falletta has served as Music Director of the Virginia Symphony since 1991. Under her direction, the VSO annually performs more than 140 Classical, Pops, Family, Education and Outreach concerts in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News and Williamsburg, reaching more than 200,000 concert goers every year. As the cornerstone of the performing arts in Southeastern Virginia, the Virginia Symphony provides the professional musicians and orchestral support for the Virginia Opera, the Virginia Arts Festival, the Virginia Stage Company, the Ballet and Todd Rosenlieb Dance.
 
Under Falletta’s direction the VSO has risen to celebrated artistic heights. Last season, JoAnn released two discs for the Naxos label with the Virginia Arts Festival; Intimate Mahler and music of Stravinsky, Suite from The Soldier’s Tale, Les Noces and Octet. The VSO, which made critically acclaimed debuts at the Kennedy Center and New York’s Carnegie Hall under Falletta and entered into their first multinational recording agreement with Naxos, won an ASCAP award for adventurous programming in recognition of its performance of new works and world premieres by contemporary composers.
 
JoAnn has a star on Norfolk’s Legends of Music Walk of Fame in recognition of her effect on the appreciation of classical music in Hampton Roads and Virginia and was named Norfolk’s Downtowner of the Year. Her contributions to the arts in the State were previously recognized with the National Education Association Award and the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award.