Local musicians from the region perform in the Main Lobby on Friday afternoons from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. Genres range from jazz to classic rock, R & B and everything in between. Whether traveling or greeting family and friends, ORF’s Live From the Lobby series will start your weekend on the right note!
Featured Artists
Artist: Steve Ambrose
Instrument: Saxophone, Flute, Vocals
A versatile musician and conductor, Ambrose has been performing as a musician all of his adult life. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University, a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a doctorate from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.
After completing a career with the Virginia Beach City Public Schools as a band director and fine arts coordinator, Ambrose splits his time between playing with Bill Deal’s Original Rhondels and performing jazz music as a vocalist and on saxophone, flute and clarinet.
Artist: Steve Forss
Instrument: Guitar, Vocals
Originally from Indianapolis, Forss relocated to Virginia Beach in 2004 and continues to pursue his passion as a career musician. Using the power of live recording and looping, he can channel the sound of a full band. Through many years of dedication, networking and hard work, he is living his dream.
Artist: Emily Fraser
Instrument: Guitar, Vocals
Fraser discovered a love for music at a young age studying classical piano. She grew her repertoire by teaching herself to play guitar and sing.
Fraser participated in theater and took a variety of dance, music, and art classes at a young age. She began writing music and taking singing seriously in high school and earned a scholarship singing at Regent University in Virginia Beach. During her freshman year she was awarded “Vocalist of the Year” honors.
Artist: Jennifer Gammill
Instrument: Keyboard, Flute; Vocals
Gammill has performed in Hampton Roads for nearly 20 years. She is a vocalist with the Doorway Singers and the Deloreans 80’s cover band; a flautist with Celtica; and a soloist with Beach Street USA/Live! on Atlantic. She’s also a regular jazz performer at Gershwin’s restaurant in downtown Norfolk.
Trained in the classical tradition, her journey has taken her through contemporary worship music, singer-songwriting and jazz. She claimed the 2019 Veer award in the jazz category for Heart, Soul & Fire, an album combining jazz and singer-songwriter sensibilities. Gammill’s solo program incorporates piano, flute and voice with beatboxing and looping.
Artist: Rina Parrilla Garcia
Instrument: Guitar, Vocals
A veteran performer in Hampton Roads, Parrilla Garcia specializes in acoustic R&B. During the summer, she performs at Virginia Beach’s Live! on Atlantic, a series showcasing the diversity of area’s music scene.
Parrilla Garcia has performed at dozens of venues from local restaurants to concert halls. She combines her vocals with melodic guitar accompaniment to delight her audiences.
Artist: Gary “Ju Ju” Garlic
Instrument: Steel Drums
A native of Washington, D.C., Garlic is a professional musician, composer and author with more than 30 years of teaching experience and numerous awards and accolades as a music educator. Garlic is a staff member for Norfolk State University’s “Gifted and Talented” program and was recognized by the Virginia Symphony in 2014 as one of Hampton Roads’ outstanding music educators. He is also an active member of the National Association for Music Educators.
Artist: Gary Garlic, Jr.
Instrument: Keyboard, Steel Pans
Known simply as “G”, Garlic, Jr. is a multi-talented and accomplished musician. He is a 2024 graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory of Music, earning a master’s degree in music composition and piano. He grew up watching his dad play many instruments and was fascinated by the steel drums. His father encouraged him to learn and soon Garlic, Jr. had landed his first gig while still in high school.
Artist: Skip Hancock
Instrument: Keyboard
Hancock has played piano and piano/vocals in the Hampton Roads region for decades. He is well versed in all styles of piano but specializes in jazz.
His group, Skylark, plays regularly in various forms, from duos to up to nine pieces. Hancock has been music director for several artists including the late Tom Netherton of “The Lawrence Welk Show” fame. For 12 years, Hancock taught solo piano, keyboards, and jazz theory to U.S. Navy and Marine keyboardists at the Navy School of Music in Virginia Beach.
Artist: Harbor String Quartet
Instrument: Strings
The talented players of the Harbor String Quartet each live in Hampton Roads. From Bach to Taylor Swift or the music of John Williams, the group performs an extensive catalogue. The quartet has been featured with performers including Josh Groban, Johnny Mathis, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Disturbed, Idina Menzel and Mannheim Steamroller. The woman-owned, woman-run ensemble is the only string quartet registered and funded by the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
Artist: Joel Joyner
Instrument: Trumpet, Vocals
A native of Newport News, Joyner holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education and performance, as well as adult education and distance learning. He has performed as a vocalist, instrumentalist and conductor and has taught all over the globe. Joyner served as the sergeant major for Army Bands in the United States military, giving more than 30 years of service to his country.
Throughout his lengthy career in professional music, Joyner has performed with major recording artists and bands including The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Dizzy Gillespie and Victor Wooten.
Artist: Chad McGill
Instrument: Trumpet
As a seasoned trumpet player and retired Army musician, McGill brings a lifetime of musical expertise to every performance and teaching opportunity. He is a member of the Tidewater Winds Concert Band, comprised of 65 talented woodwinds, brass and percussion musicians from across the Hampton Roads region.
Artist: Eldon Sully
Instrument: Guitar
A seasoned professional guitarist, Sully performs with symphony and theater orchestras both locally and nationally. The New Jersey native’s repertoire ranges from classical to pop, traditional and contemporary jazz to country, rhythm and blues and gospel. He imparts energy and passion into each performance with the goal of producing the highest quality musical product.
Artist: Matt Thomas
Instrument: Guitar
Thomas is a talented and versatile fingerstyle guitarist. His musical journey combines technical mastery with a rich, narrative-driven performance style, blending a love of science and storytelling into each show. He brings a unique approach to his craft to stand out in the competitive world of fingerstyle guitar.
Thomas has won top honors at major competitions including the International Fingerstyle Collective and Walnut Valley International Fingerstyle Competition. His ability to collaborate with esteemed musicians, as well as his involvement in the Harp Guitar Gathering and deep influence from guitar legends, speaks to his passion and commitment to his art.
Artist: Zen Mojo
Instrument: Guitar, Percussion
Zen Mojo is a highly esteemed musical ensemble known for its expertly crafted remixes and renditions of popular music across a diverse range of genres. With unparalleled talent and an extensive repertoire, Zen Mojo consistently delivers exceptional performances that captivate audiences.