Dancers perform with the Symphony of Northern Virginia in the Masonic Temple in Alexandria in December 2024. The orchestra plays everything from Mozart to movie theme songs. Photo courtesy of Sonova

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When Cynthia Liccese-Torres first picked up a viola in third grade, it was a true Goldilocks moment. Her elementary school had held a musical open house where she could see and hear various string instruments.

“The cello was too big, the violin was too high and screechy, and the viola seemed just right,” Liccese-Torres said.

She began playing in earnest, continuing through high school and college. But, as it often happens, life began to interfere.

“Once I finished college, got married, and had kids, I just never had the time to play, nor did I have a group to play with,” said Liccese-Torres, who serves as programs manager for Race & Equity for Arlington County. “I realized I needed a hobby. I needed something to do that’s just for me, that’s separate from being a mom.”

So, in 2011, Liccese-Torres dusted off her viola and joined the Symphony Orchestra of Northern Virginia, or SONOVA, a then-brand-new performing arts organization based in Alexandria.

The vision of founding director Jeffrey Dokken was to create a large, professional-quality orchestra that appealed to people of all ages, both musicians and audience members alike. This meant that the repertoire was as likely to include Mozart and Bach as it was to include the movie scores of John Williams or even themes from video games.

Today, SONOVA is in its 15th season, performing primarily in its home theater at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria. Under the current leadership of Artistic Director Ethan Lolley, SONOVA’s mission is to provide entertaining music that stretches the boundaries of what an orchestra concert can be.

“I love to entertain, and part of my artistic vision is to place myself in the audience — but myself as a child,” Lolley said. “Our big focus is on making orchestra accessible to everyone. We just believe in giving children and families opportunities to experience orchestral music when they may not feel like it’s for them.”

An artistic outlet

For its more than 60 musicians, SONOVA provides a high-caliber musical experience with a lower bar for entry and an easier practice schedule than, say, the National Symphony Orchestra or other major groups. Participants range from public-school music teachers and other professionals to retirees.

The orchestra holds two blind auditions per year. Musicians must perform a short excerpt from a piece of their choosing, designed to demonstrate their skill level and musicality, and an orchestra excerpt provided to them in advance.

Liccese-Torres made the cut. Now one of the orchestra’s longest-serving members, she sits on the SONOVA board. Her first rehearsal, however, was fairly discouraging, she recalled.

“I think I missed way more notes than I played,” she said. “I went home thinking, ‘I can’t do this. I’m going to quit.’ But then the mama bear in me was like, ‘If you quit now, what are your kids going to think?’ So I went back again, and it got better. It became an outlet; it was how I relieved my stress.”

Sarah Taylor’s trajectory was similar. A lifelong violinist, Taylor started playing the instrument at age 2 (it helped that her mother was a violin teacher) but took a break to raise her children.

“When my son went off to college, I picked up my violin again and was practicing my scales and arpeggios,” Taylor said. “But I had no real vision for what I was going to do with it. I just knew I wanted to prepare to audition somewhere.”

After a chance meeting with a musician who told her about SONOVA, she joined the orchestra. When she retired from federal service, she had more time to devote to the organization, so she also joined the board, first as treasurer and now as president.

For performers over 50, playing music is good for both mind and body, Taylor added.

“You’re always learning new things,” she said. “You’re taking a skill and getting better at it. And I think those things are really appealing when you get to the retirement chapter of life.”

Upcoming season

For its 2026-27 season, SONOVA has planned another surprising concert series. Performances will include “Best in Show,” a celebration of animals, wild and domesticated; a winter-themed holiday show called “Expedition North Pole”; “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” a tribute to PBS; a French cabaret show; and, finally, a concert of mountain music, ranging from Aaron Copland’s classic “Appalachian Spring” to the bluegrass ballad “Old Joe Clark.”

Artistic Director Lolley said he’s planning some interesting extra events, including a pet adoption opportunity with the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria for the animal show, a holiday winter market, and later a French cabaret setting with cocktail tables and can-can dancers.

During the holiday show, audience members can become part of the performance as they find clues leading to the exact coordinates of Santa’s workshop in the North Pole.

“I pull a lot of my inspiration from the five senses to try to really immerse you,” Lolley said, “so it’s not just a musical concert but an actual experience.”

For more information, see sonovamusic.org, find the orchestra on Facebook or email orchestramanager@sonovamusic.org.