We bring Appalachians together through incredible concerts
that create lasting memories and lifelong friendships. 
As one of the major cultural centers of the state, we believe that North Central West Virginia deserves a musical ensemble that celebrates its Appalachian heritage while taking its listeners on a journey across the globe.  Consequently, we have decided to embark upon a quest to create a modern professional orchestra that excites your sense of adventure and inspires your imagination with great music and even better friends.
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We hope you'll join us.
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Check out our Concerts or Society pages for more details.

Meet the Team

Robert Heath
Music Director

mark wallace
​Director of Winds
Originally from Chester (the most northern town in West Virginia and home of the world’s largest teapot), I have traveled the world and West Virginia during my time with the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet Band (based out of Yokosuka, Japan) and the West Virginia Army National Guard's 249th Army Band* (based out of Morgantown).  I have seen music inspire patriotism in West Virginia and build bridges across cultural gaps in Southeast Asia and Australia. Upon returning from the Navy, I completed a master’s degree from the University of California in San Diego. Life has shown me that music and the arts have a substantial role to play in making the world a better place.  I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share great music from around the world with my fellow West Virginians!

​Email: robert@blackdiamondphil.com

Dr. Alyssa Schwartz
​Development Coordinator

​Dr. Alyssa Schwartz comes from Jamestown, New York and is the Director of Bands and Professor of Flute at Fairmont State University Bands and Director of the Morgantown Community Orchestra  She debuted at New York City's Carnegie Hall in November 2017 and returned for a second performance the same month as a result of winning 1st prize in the 2017 Golden Classical Music International Competition and 2nd Prize in the 2017 Concert Artists International Music Competition. Alyssa is a competitive performer, winning 1st Prize in the 2020 International Music Competition Bonn for which she gave her debut at Beethoven Haus-Bonn in August 2021 and 1st Prize in the 2017 International Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition Senior Division for which she gave her debut performance at the Wiener Saal Mozarteum in July 2017. In November 2020, Alyssa partnered with Cambridge-based physicist and composer Domenico Vicinanza and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration to utilize the first audio recording of a Marsquake as the structural foundation for a new piece, “Sonification for NASA,” which was premiered at NASA's SC20 Virtual Conference. 

Email: alyssa@blackdiamondphil.com 
Originally a native of Dayton, Ohio, saxophonist and conductor Mark Wallace is no stranger to West Virginia and Appalachia, as his maternal family hails from the Northern Panhandle. Mark has earned degrees from The Ohio State University and Youngstown State University, and is currently a graduate student at West Virginia University, where he continues his studies in saxophone and conducting. As a member of the West Virginia National Guard's 249th Army Band, Mark has played throughout the state of West Virginia and has had the opportunity to see how music has positively affected people first hand. When not studying or performing music, Mark enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling. 

 Email: marklwallacemusic@gmail.com​

Dr. Gabrielle Padilla
Communications Coordinator

Tulsa, Oklahoma native Dr. Gabrielle Padilla is a violist dedicated to teaching, performance, and chamber music. She recently served as interim viola faculty at Virginia Tech and the Interim Director of the Virginia Tech String Project. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance and her Master’s degree from Ball State University with Dr. Katrin Meidell. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at West Virginia University and proudly served as the Graduate Teaching Assistant of Andrea Priester Houde. Gabrielle teaches and performs as a Viola Teaching Fellow at the Interlochen Arts Camp during the summers. She currently serves on the Board of the American Viola Society. 

Email: ​gabrielle@blackdiamondphil.com
We perform only the best music from around the world, including music by composers from Appalachia.