David Stewart Wiley, Conductor and Musical Director with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra (RSO), was presented with the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award in the Arts by the Roanoke Chapter of the NAACP last week. The ceremony was held at the Hotel Roanoke, and guest speaker was the well-known TV actor, director and producer, Tim Reid, who starred in the TV sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” from 1978-1982. Awards were handed out in a number of other categories as well.
Through the Friends of the RSO, the prominent African-American support group for the symphony, Wiley has spent many hours coaching and accompanying many young musicians. “We are excited that Maestro Wiley is being recognized for his compelling contributions to the African-American community,” said Herbert Chappelle, Friends of the RSO president. Wiley in turn said he was “deeply honored by this recognition and [I] am grateful for the unwavering support of the African-American community.”
Arts: Mr. David Stewart Wiley, Conductor, Roanoke Symphony Orchestra; Business: Mr. Yoedie “Cleveland” Swain, owner of Diva’s House of Hair; Corporate: SunTrust Bank; Education: Ms. Kay Hale, executive director West End Youth Center Education Youth – Leah Taylor, Roanoke City Public School Scholar (GPA over 4.0) and 2008 Debutante Queen; Humanitarian: Mrs. Carla Lewis, Immediate Past Director, The Historic Gainsboro Library; Media: Mr. Chris Miles, WDBJ-7, CBS affiliate; and Mr. Scott Lehman, WSLS-10, NBC affiliate; Medicine: Small Smiles, Children’s Dentistry; Religion: Rev. FR. Rene´ Castillo, Saint Gerard Catholic Church; Lifetime Achievement: Rev. Dr. E.T. Burton, 50 year Pastor of Sweet Union Baptist Church and community leader; The Rev. R.R. Wilkinson Memorial Award in Social Justice: Mr. Daniel M. Hale, Jr., Immediate Past President, Roanoke Branch NAACP Ms. Brenda Walker, Immediate Past Secretary and Housing chair, Roanoke Branch NAACP; and Bishop Edward Mitchell, President, Roanoke Chapter SCLC.