A teacher for more than 30 years and an accomplished pianist, Mary Neal found a way to share her passion for both children and music by joining The Friends of the Roanoke Symphony.

She became acquainted with “The Friends,” as she calls them, when she began taking her godchild, Harriett McCadden, to the symphony’s Junior Strings practices. McCadden’s first public performance, sponsored by The Friends, ignited Neal’s interest in the group. She joined it in 1989.

After eight years, Neal became the president and continues in that role today. She is also the only African American currently on the symphony’s board.

The Friends group serves as a volunteer force for the symphony helping with whatever is needed from office work to fundraising. The main goal, however, is to get the Roanoke Valley African American community more involved with the symphony.

The Friends got started under the leadership of former symphony director and conductor Victoria Bond, Neal said.

Bond noted the lack of involvement by the African American community and worked with then board member, B. Harrison Hale Jr. to remedy the problem. The result of their collaboration was the formation of The Friends of the Roanoke Symphony in 1987.

The organization encourages involvement with children in the African American community by sponsoring student musicians. Members arrange music lessons and even provide transportation to the students if needed. They lend students musical instruments, and those members of the group with musical knowledge, such as
Neal, work with the students
individually.

A piano player since the fourth grade, Neal is a music graduate of Virginia State University and has done additional studies at West Virginia University and University of Virginia. She was certified to teach grades K-12 and began teaching in 1961 at the Central Academy Middle School in Botetourt County. In 1967, she transferred to Roanoke County where she remained until retirement in 1992.

The students helped by The Friends also receive coaching from symphony members as well as conductor David Wiley. The Friends offers college scholarships to those students who are serious about furthering their musical talents, which are showcased in a recital every spring at an area church.

Several sponsored students have attended the Shenandoah Conservatory and one went to Virginia Commonwealth University. Two June graduates will be attending Norfolk State and VCU, Neal said.

To thank the students for all of their hard work leading up to the annual recital, Neal holds a cookout at her house afterwards and sends each student a thank-you note with a group picture enclosed.

Because of The Friends’ success in helping student musicians there is a waiting list of students seeking the opportunity to work with the Friends and the Symphony.

Neal said the group further encourages African American involvement with the symphony by commissioning the works of black composers along with scheduling black artists for performances. The group is currently negotiating with The New England Spiritual Singers for a winter concert.

The Friends organization has raised and maintained the level of involvement by the African American community, but Neal wants it to go higher.

She would especially like to see young African Americans become involved with the Friends and infuse it with their energy and ideas. Currently, the group has 19 members.

“Most of the members are older and slowing down, and we are looking for new, younger members,” Neal said.

New River Valley residents have access to the New River Valley Friends of the Roanoke Symphony, which carries out a youth program in that area. Information on the New River Friends can be obtained by writing NRV Friends, P.O. Box 242, Blacksburg, Va. 24063.