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.
The final featured student in this year’s YOP Summer Spotlight is RSYO violinist Katelyn, who participated in the highly selective Virginia Summer Residential Governor’s School for Visual and Performing in Arts! 🎻☀️
This summer at Radford University, “I made new friends from around Virginia while exploring different genres of music and playing chamber music for the first time,” says Katelyn. “I had an amazing time playing with other students in a quintet, string orchestra, and a full symphony orchestra.”
Way to represent, Katelyn! We are so proud of you and can’t wait for an another amazing year with you in RSYO! 🎉
@rvasymphony @rucvpa #SummerResidentialGovernorsSchool #Orchestra #Violin #MusicEducation #YouthOrchestra
No Youth Orchestra rehearsals will be held this evening (Monday, 9/1/25) in observation of Labor Day. We look forward to seeing Sinfonietta and Camerata for the first time next week, and to seeing YCO return for their second rehearsal as well. RSYO will still rehearse tomorrow as planned. Happy music-making, everyone! 🎶
It’s the start of a new season—and YCO and RSYO are jumping right in with repertoire by Bach, Mozart, and more! 🎶
This week we held our first rehearsals of the year for two of our Youth Orchestra ensembles: YCO and RSYO. Our three remaining ensembles, Sinfonietta, Camerata, and Percussion Ensemble, will begin rehearsals in the coming weeks.
Mark your calendar now—all five YOP ensembles will perform in concert on Sunday, November 9 at 6:30 pm in the Carpenter Theatre! 🎻🎺🥁
@rvasymphony #YouthOrchestra #MusicEducation #RVAFamilies #PerformingArts #ClassicalMusic
Welcome back for the Richmond Symphony School of Music’s 2025–26 season! 🎻🎺🥁
We kicked the season off today with Youth Concert Orchestra’s first rehearsals of the season. The coming months will bring the start of our remaining Youth Orchestra ensembles, two sets of Hopkins-Eggleston Discovery Concerts, another year of the Future Music Educators Symposium, and more. Here’s to another season of making, exploring, and celebrating music together in our very own Richmond, Virginia! 🎉🎶
@rvasymphony #RVA #YouthOrchestraProgram #ClassicalMusic #MusicEducation #PerformingArts #RVAFamilies
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@rvasymphony #HardLaunch #YouthOrchestra #OrchestraMemes #ClassicalMusic #MusicEducation
Next up in this year’s YOP Summer Spotlight is RSYO violinist Samantha, who was selected to perform with NYO2, a free and highly competitive orchestra program comprised of some of the top American musicians ages 14 through 16! 🎻🌟
This year, NYO2 performed at Carnegie Hall and as a resident orchestra at Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland. Selected works included Prokoviev’s Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major and Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, featuring world-renowned cellist Alisa Weilerstein. In the cover photo, Samantha is pictured with NYO2 2025 conductor Rafael Payare, Music Director of the @sandiegosymphony. Congratulations, Samantha—we are so proud to have you represent YOP and Richmond on an international level! 🏴🎶🛩️
YOP students, are you interested in being featured on our social media? Visit the link in our bio and tell us all about how you’ve been making music this summer! This opportunity is open to both current YOP students and 2025 graduates.
@rvasymphony @nyo.usa @carnegiehall #YouthOrchestraProgram #NYO2 #NationalYouthOrchestra #Prokofiev #Shostakovich
Plan ahead now for the most exciting field trip of the school year 🎶🔬🦢 We’re pleased to announce that registration for this year’s Hopkins-Eggleston Discovery Concerts is now open!
Held during the school day, Hopkins-Eggleston Discovery Concerts engage young minds through exciting full orchestra performances that correlate with Virginia Standards of Learning. Hopkins-Eggleston Discovery Concerts are open to public, private, and homeschool groups. This year’s performances will be The Science of Sound (October 29 and 30, grades 3–8) and Carnival of the Animals (February 18 and 19, grades pre-K–3).
To learn more and register your school group, visit the link in our bio.
@rvasymphony @hae.conductor #Symphony #ClassicalMusic #MusicEducation #RVAFamilies #RVAThingsToDo #Homeschool #HomeschoolRVA #RVASchools #FieldTrip
Calling all violins, violas, cellos, and double basses! Registration for String Sinfonietta is now open! 📣🎻🎉
Sinfonietta is the entry-level ensemble in the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program, and membership is open to any young violinist, violist, cellist, or double bassist ages 8 and up who has been playing their instrument for at least one year. Seats are currently available in all sections; we especially encourage young violists to apply.
In Sinfonietta, students learn the basics of playing in an orchestra while developing skills already learned on their instrument. Sinfonietta is conducted by Matt Wilson, music educator in Chesterfield County Public Schools.
To register, visit the link in our bio and fill out the Sinfonietta interest form. A Richmond Symphony staff member will be in touch with registration information shortly. Registration is open until all sections are filled, so we encourage interested students to complete the interest form as soon as possible. No auditions are required to join Sinfonietta.
Photos from the 2024–25 season by James H Loving Photography (@jamesloving).
@rvasymphony #RichmondSymphony #StringSinfonietta #Violin #Viola #Cello #DoubleBass #Orchestra #MusicEd #MusicEducation #RVAFamilies #ClassicalMusic
It may be summer break for the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program—but our students have fun making music all year long! Swipe to hear about RSYO harp and 2025 graduate Sylvie’s summer adventures with @greenspringmusic. ☀️🎶
“I attended the Maryland Summer Harp Institute, which included young harpists from across the country,” says Sylvie. “For one week, we took masterclasses, collaborated on new pieces, and performed concerts in Frederick County, Maryland. I got to study with the former royal harpist for the Prince of Wales’s Court and the current principal harpist for the US Marine Band (America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization!).”
YOP students, are you interested in being featured on our social media? Visit the link in our bio and tell us all about how you’ve been making music this summer! This opportunity is open to both current YOP students and 2025 graduates.
@rvasymphony #RichmondSymphony #RichmondSymphonyYouthOrchestraProgram #YouthOrchestraProgram #Harp #Harpist #GreenspringMusic #RVA #RichmondVA
Happy 804 Day from the Richmond Symphony School of Music! Whether we’re presenting a community concert under the Big Tent or performing in elementary schools across central Virginia, we’re grateful to be a part of Richmond’s vibrant and ever-growing arts community! Swipe to see some of our favorite moments across RVA from the past few years 🎶 #804Day
1. Big Tent 2025 at Chimborazo Park @rvagov
2. Discovery Concert 2024 @dominionenergycenter
3. Educational Ensembles 2024 @henricocountyschools
4. YOP concert 2024 @vcuartsmusic
5. Instrument petting zoo at Mile of Music 2025 @maymont_rva
6. Pocahontas State Park 2024 @chesterfieldvaparksrec
7. Big Tent 2025 at Chimborazo Park @rvagov
8. Instrument petting zoo at Red, White, and Lights 2025 @henricorecparks
9. Future Music Educators Symposium 2024 @vcuartsmusic
10. YOP concert at Carpenter Theatre @dominionenergycenter
11. Tabling at All-Virginia Band, Chorus, and Orchestra 2025 @virginiamusiceducators
12. Discovery Concert 2024 @dominionenergycenter
13. VMEA 2024 @virginiamusiceducators
14. Big Tent 2025 at Chimborazo Park @rvagov
15. Big Tent 2024 at Crump Park @henricorecparks
@rvasymphony #RichmondSymphony #RVA #804 #RichmondVA #Virginia #RVAFamilies #RVAThingsToDo
Registration for String Sinfonietta is now open! 📣🎻 Sinfonietta is the entry-level ensemble in the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program, and membership is open to any young violinist, violist, cellist, or double bassist ages 8 and up who has been playing their instrument for at least one year. Seats are currently available in all sections; we especially encourage young violists to apply.
In Sinfonietta, students learn the basics of playing in an orchestra while developing skills already learned on their instrument. Sinfonietta is conducted by Matt Wilson, music educator in Chesterfield County Public Schools.
To register, visit the link in our bio and fill out the Sinfonietta interest form. A Richmond Symphony staff member will be in touch with registration information shortly. Registration is open until all sections are filled, so we encourage interested students to complete the interest form as soon as possible. No auditions are required to join Sinfonietta.
Photos by Demetrius Holloway Photography (@whoisholloway).
@rvasymphony #RichmondSymphony #StringSinfonietta #Violin #Viola #Cello #DoubleBass #Orchestra #MusicEd #RVAFamilies #ClassicalMusic
Photos from our recent end-of-year concerts on stage at the Carpenter Theatre ❤️🎻🎺🥁
If you’re as excited for next season as we are, save the date: Our next Youth Orchestra Program performance will take place this fall on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at the Carpenter Theatre! All five ensembles will perform in this concert, featuring approximately 200 students ages 8–18.
Photos by Demetrius Holloway Photography (@whoisholloway).
@rvasymphony #RichmondSymphony #RichmondSymphonyYouthOrchestraProgram #YouthOrchestraProgram #YOP #RSYO #Flute #Oboe #Clarinet #Bassoon #Horn #Trumpet #Trombone #Tuba #Harp #Violin #Viola #Cello #DoubleBass #ClassicalMusic #MusicEducation #Richmond #RVA
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.