THNOC and the LPO present the 16th Musical Louisiana at the St. Louis Cathedral

Written By Alicia Vial

L’Arrivée is a historic musical journey in the heart of the Vieux Carré

NEW ORLEANS — In partnership with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO), The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC) proudly presents the 16th annual Musical Louisiana: America’s Cultural Heritage – a free educational concert for music lovers in New Orleans and throughout the state. Set against the backdrop of the Vieux Carré, "L’Arrivée - Three Firsts in the Vieux Carré” will take place Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at the iconic St. Louis Cathedral.

Under the guidance of LPO Adelaide Wisdom Benjamin Music Director, Matthew Kraemer, and in collaboration with accomplished chamber ensembles, Variant 6 and Filament, L’Arrivée will revive three significant bodies of work that arrived and were performed in the Vieux Carré before statehood. The repertoire includes rarely performed selections from THNOC’s archives: the Ursuline Music Manuscript (1736), Andre Gretry’s Silvain (1770) and Francois Devienne’s Les Visitandines (1792).

“Created by late director of our Williams Research Center, Alfred Lemmon, we have co-presented Musical Louisiana with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra since 2007,” says Daniel Hammer, THNOC president and CEO. “For its 16th edition, L’Arrivée will immerse listeners in the rich cultural tapestry of the Vieux Carré as Musical Louisiana pays homage to the firsts that shaped its musical legacy with these three musical masterpieces.”

"Our annual partnership with The Historic New Orleans Collection is one of our most treasured collaborations because it creates space to honor Louisiana's heritage through music," says LPO Executive Director Anwar Nasir. "Musical Louisiana draws a through line from our history to today and its relevance allows audiences of all ages to draw individual connections to the music."

The concert is free and open to the public. Doors open at 7 p.m. with a pre-concert lecture by Kraemer to enhance the audience’s understanding of the historic significance of the compositions. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For those unable to attend in person, tune in to the live broadcast on 89.9 WWNO-FM, Classical 104.9 FM, or 90.5 KTLN-FM in the Houma-Thibodaux area. Livestreaming will be facilitated by WLAE.

To learn more about Musical Louisiana, visit hnoc.org.

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About The Historic New Orleans Collection
Founded in 1966, The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research center and publisher dedicated to the stewardship of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South. For more information, visit www.hnoc.org, call (504) 523-4662.

About the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Steeped in history yet focused on innovation, the Grammy-nominated Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is the only full-time collaboratively governed and operated orchestra in the United States.  Under the leadership of Music Director, Matthew Kraemer, the LPO is rooted in a culturally diverse community with a two-hundred-year orchestral music tradition, the LPO sets the standard for orchestral programming and performance in Louisiana.  For our sixty-seven musicians, achieving the highest level of artistry is integrally linked with a personal investment in our organization and our community. 

Visit lpomusic.com to learn more.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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