History
Former National Symphony Orchestra principal bassist H. Stevens Brewster founded Mount Vernon Orchestra (“MVO”) and Mount Vernon Youth Orchestra (“MVYO”) in 1971 and 1973, respectively. After Mr. Brewster’s tragic death in an automobile accident in 1984, Ulysses S. James became the Director of both orchestras.
The first two years of Mr. James' tenure were spent rebuilding the groups. Concerts were performed mainly at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in Mount Vernon, Virginia. The groups raised funds through modest concert donations and membership dues. In 1987, the orchestras became part of Mount Vernon Orchestra Association (“MVOA”), a not for profit 501(c)(3)
In 1991 the Association began offering a free Summer Chamber Music Series with performances each Sunday in Old Town Alexandria at The Lyceum during the months of July and August. In 1996, the summer concert season was expanded to two and a half months from June through September.
In August 2004, MVOA changed its name to Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association. Similarly, Mount Vernon Orchestra became Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, and Mount Vernon Youth Orchestra became Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra.
Under the leadership of Mr. James, WMPA has continued to grow and has earned a reputation for bringing high quality, adventurous, and interesting musical programs to the community. The association places consistent emphasis on the performance of new and exciting musical compositions and the support of local and emerging artists, while working to make high quality musical performance accessible to all members of the community.
