Des Moines Symphony's Fourth Annual Fred & Charlotte Hubbell Visiting Artist In Residence Program

Our fourth annual Fred & Charlotte Hubbell Visiting Artist In Residence Program, an initiative designed to offer unique opportunities for the organization to engage with the community in a meaningful way, takes place from March 10-15. The program was established through a $1 million gift from the Hubbells through the Symphony’s Sound of the City campaign.

Stella Chen joins the Symphony as the fourth annual Fred & Charlotte Hubbell Visiting Artist In Residence. She will spend nearly a week working with students in area schools, including Roosevelt High School, Hoover High School, East High School, Lincoln High School, North High School, Valley High School, Valley Southwoods, and at the Des Moines Symphony Academy. And on March 14 and 15, she'll perform Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra. 

For many students, these visits are transformative. Meeting and learning from an internationally recognized artist provides a tangible example of where hard work and passion can lead. It also reinforces the value of music education at a pivotal age, inspiring students to continue developing their skills and curiosity.

The in-school residency activities reflect the Symphony’s belief that access to live music matters. Through the Hubbell Visiting Artist In Residence Program, students don’t just hear great music: they engage with it, ask questions and see themselves reflected in the art form.

CONCERT PERFORMANCE

On March 14 & 15, the Orchestra performs Reflection – Smetana & Beethoven. The concert takes audiences on a journey through Europe, opening with Mozart’s “Prague” Symphony. The sweeping melodies of Smetana’s The Moldau from Má vlast meanders along the Vltava River from Prague to the Czech countryside. The concert closes with Beethoven’s lyrical Violin Concerto, featuring Stella Chen in her Des Moines Symphony debut.