Welcome to The Richmond Symphony School of Music

 

Founded in the summer of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Richmond Symphony School of Music (RSSoM) launched as a virtual platform to bring music learning and community connection to students across Central Virginia and beyond. Today, RSSoM has grown into the central hub for all educational and community programming under the Richmond Symphony.

Although not a traditional brick-and-mortar institution, RSSoM represents the Symphony’s commitment to providing accessible, inclusive, and meaningful music education. Its wide-ranging programs span performance, learning, and exposure for all ages and income levels—from our flagship Youth Orchestra Program and in-school Educational Ensembles, to adult enrichment opportunities and free community events. The School of Music also maintains one fully virtual offering, the Companion Course, designed to foster deep listening and engagement through guided online exploration.

Each year, RSSoM reaches thousands of students through school-based performances, Hopkins-Eggleston Discovery concerts, and after-school programs, while also supporting emerging musicians through chamber music, masterclasses, and mentorship. From second graders picking up an instrument for the first time to high schoolers preparing for conservatory auditions, RSSoM reflects our vision for a vibrant, music-connected region.

Led by a dedicated team of musicians, educators, administrators, and community partners, RSSoM is helping redefine what a community music school can be: not confined to one building, but embedded in the life of a city—changing lives through the power of music.

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TONIGHT (Sunday, June 1) is your LAST CHANCE to audition for the next season of our Youth Orchestra Program! All virtual audition materials are due by 11:59 PM tonight. If you still haven’t registered for your virtual audition, it’s not too late—upon completing the registration form, you will receive an automated email with the link to submit your virtual audition materials. Visit the link in our bio to register and submit your audition before the evening ends!

Auditions are not required for our entry-level string ensemble, String Sinfonietta. Sinfonietta registration will remain open this summer until all seats are filled. For more information, visit the interest form linked in our bio.

@rvasymphony #RichmondSymphony #RichmondSymphonyYouthOrchestraProgram #YouthOrchestraProgram #Flute #Oboe #Clarinet #Bassoon #Horn #FrenchHorn #Trumpet #Trombone #Tuba #Percussion #Violin #Viola #Cello #DoubleBass #Richmond #RichmondVA #RVA #RVAFamily #RVAFamilyFun #RVAThingsToDo #Orchestra #ClassicalMusic #MusicEducation
For many of our students, Youth Concert Orchestra—one of our two intermediate ensembles—is their very first experience playing in a full orchestra with strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion! Listen to our resident oboists, violinists, and cellists tell you why they love playing in YCO 🎤🎶

If you’re interested in joining the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program, this June is your chance to audition for our intermediate string orchestra, our two full orchestras, and our Percussion Ensemble! In-person audition registration is now closed, but virtual audition registration will remain open until the end of the day on Sunday, June 1, when all submissions are due. Visit the link in our bio to sign up for your audition today! Auditions are not required for our entry-level string ensemble, String Sinfonietta; for more information, visit the interest form linked in our bio.

@rvasymphony #RichmondSymphony #RichmondSymphonyYouthOrchestraProgram #YouthOrchestraProgram #Flute #Oboe #Clarinet #Bassoon #Horn #FrenchHorn #Trumpet #Trombone #Tuba #Violin #Viola #Cello #DoubleBass #Richmond #RichmondVA #RVA #RVAFamily #RVAFamilyFun #RVAThingsToDo #Orchestra #StringOrchestra #ClassicalMusic #MusicEducation
Beautiful repertoire, amazing new friends, and opportunities to learn even more about your instrument—what’s not to love about Camerata Strings?! 🤩🎻✨

If you’re interested in joining the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program, this June is your chance to audition for our intermediate string orchestra, our two full orchestras, and our Percussion Ensemble! In-person audition registration is now closed, but virtual audition registration will remain open until the end of the day on Sunday, June 1, when all submissions are due. Visit the link in our bio to sign up for your audition today! Auditions are not required for our entry-level string ensemble, String Sinfonietta; for more information, visit the interest form linked in our bio.

@rvasymphony #RichmondSymphony #RichmondSymphonyYouthOrchestraProgram #YouthOrchestraProgram #Violin #Viola #Cello #DoubleBass #Richmond #RichmondVA #RVA #RVAFamily #RVAFamilyFun #RVAThingsToDo #Orchestra #StringOrchestra #ClassicalMusic #MusicEducation
In our most recent adventures with our mini mic, listen to ten String Sinfonietta students tell us why they love being a member of YOP, and why they think you should join us next season in the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program! 🎤🌟

Great news: If you’re interested in joining String Sinfonietta, no audition is required—all you have to do is complete the Sinfonietta interest form, found at the link in our bio! 

If you’re interested in joining another one of our five ensembles, this June is your chance to audition for our intermediate string orchestra, our two full orchestras, or our Percussion Ensemble. Any young musician ages 8 to 21 in the central Virginia region is eligible to audition either online or in person on Saturday, June 7. In-person audition sign-ups are due by Sunday, May 25 and virtual auditions are due by Sunday, June 1. Visit the link in our bio to sign up for your audition today!

@rvasymphony #RichmondSymphony #RichmondSymphonyYouthOrchestraProgram #YouthOrchestraProgram #YouthOrchestra #Violin #Viola #Cello #DoubleBass #YouthMusic #ClassicalMusic #MusicEducation #RVAFamily #Richmond #RichmondVA #RVA
This year, we’re honored to welcome violist Joe Legutko as the winner of our 2024–25 RSYO Concerto Competition! 🌟🎻 Joe, a junior at the Collegiate School in Richmond, will perform the first movement of Forsyth’s Viola Concerto in G minor, accompanied by the full Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Sunday, May 18 at 7:00pm | Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center | Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble | Admission is free; no ticket required

Members of RSYO have the opportunity to participate in our yearly Concerto Competition and perform solo on stage at the Carpenter Theatre! Students ages 12 to 21 are eligible to audition for RSYO, and students ages 8 through 18 are eligible to join our other four ensembles. Auditions for the next year of YOP will take place in person or virtually in early June. For more information and your chance to perform on stage with a full orchestra, visit the link in our bio today.

@rvasymphony #RichmondSymphony #RichmondSymphonyYouthOrchestraProgram #YouthOrchestraProgram #Viola #Concerto #CecilForsyth #Orchestra #Symphony #Tchaikovsky #Tchaik5
Question: Do you want to join the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program? No wrong answers allowed here—the only answer is YES! ✨

This June is your chance to audition for our five YOP ensembles—our two string orchestras, our two full orchestras, or our Percussion Ensemble. Any young musician ages 8 to 21 in the central Virginia region is eligible to audition either online or in person on Saturday, June 7. In-person audition sign-ups are due by Sunday, May 25 and virtual auditions are due by Sunday, June 1. Visit the link in our bio to sign up for your audition today! 

@rvasymphony #richmondsymphony #youthorchestraprogram #youthorchestra #youthband #musiceducation #musiced #classicalmusic #strings #woodwinds #brass #percussion #richmond #rva #rvafamily
DEADLINE EXTENDED for our annual Teacher Appreciation event! All free ticket requests are now due by the end of the day on Wednesday, March 12. 

In celebration of Music in Our Schools Month this March, the Richmond Symphony and Richmond Symphony School of Music join together in gratitude for our local music educators! ♥️🎶

Enjoy two (2) complimentary concert tickets to a Richmond Symphony performance on Saturday night, March 22, 2025! Music Director Valentina Peleggi conducts Mahler’s heart-rending Fourth Symphony, and the first of Mozart’s miraculous final set of symphonies, the ebullient “Haffner.” Plus, the world premiere of “Born In the Iron Grip,” commissioned by the Richmond Symphony and composed by Virginia’s own Joe Jaxson, whose bright, joyful sounds will enliven the program. At intermission, music educators will visit the Donor Lounge to mix and mingle with other educators from around the area.

Thank you for all YOU do—“Changing lives through the power of music!” Visit the link in our bio to redeem your tickets for this special event. All RSVPs are due by the end of the day on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.

@rvasymphony #TeacherAppreciation #WeLoveMusicTeachers #MusicTeachers #MusicEducation #RichmondSymphony #ClassicalMusic #RichmondVA #RVA #ExploreRichmond #Mahler4 #Mozart35

richmond-auditorium-students

RICHMOND SYMPHONY VISION STATEMENT:

We change lives through the power of music.

RICHMOND SYMPHONY MISSION STATEMENT:

The Richmond Symphony performs,
teaches, and champions music to inspire and
unite our communities.

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Audition for the 2025-26 Youth Orchestra Program!

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 Audition signups are now open!

Virtual and In-Person Auditions available  

 

 Join the 2025-2026 Youth Orchestra Program! Virtual and In-Person Auditions available   Learn More >