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.
Due to inclement weather, the YOP Holiday Play Along for today (Monday, 12/8/25) has been canceled. We hope everyone stays safe in the snow and has a great holiday season! 🥁❄️
Flow state reached during our recent fall concert 🙂↕️🙂↕️🙂↕️
@rvasymphony #OrchestraMemes #MusicEd #Mozart #FlowState #ClassicalMusic
Another year wrapped for the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program, featuring Tchaikovsky, Mozart, and more ✅
Whether you listened to classical music this year or not, drop your Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music Replay highlights in the comments below!
@rvasymphony #ClassicalMusic #ClassicalMusicMemes #MusicEd #SpotifyWrapped #AppleMusicReplay
This October, nearly three thousand 3rd through 8th grade students from across Virginia joined us for our fall 2025 Hopkins-Eggleston Discovery Concerts, The Science of Sound! Together, we discovered how orchestral instruments create sound and the mechanics of sound waves from outer space to the deep sea. 🔭🎶
Missed out on the fun? Registration is now open for our spring 2026 Discovery Concerts! These concerts will take place on February 18th and 19th and are open to public, private, and homeschool groups, targeting students in grades pre-K through 3. For more information and to register your school group, visit the link in our bio.
Spring 2026 Hopkins-Eggleston Discovery Concert: Carnival of the Animals 🦢🦁🐢🐘🐟
Wednesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 10:30am
Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center
Photos by Christian Thesken of True North Productions (@truenorthprods).
Deadline extended due to the recent holiday weekend! Music educators, now is your chance to nominate a student for our 2025–26 Future Music Educators Symposium (FMES), open to high school juniors and seniors located across Virginia. If you teach a student who’s got that spark, visit our website to nominate them on or before the new deadline of Wednesday, December 3, 2025. 🍎🎶✨
Led by Dr. Sandy Goldie, Department Chair and Director of Music Education, VCUarts Music, this 8-week online program is designed to provide a meaningful experience for students who show exceptional promise and passion for a future career in music education. Students are selected through teacher nominations, and accepted students participate in a series of workshops and classes where their own hands-on teaching encounters are supported virtually by invited guest speakers, clinicians, and mentors. This year’s cohort will meet online on Wednesdays from 4:30-6:00pm, January 7 to February 25, 2026.
Each music educator may nominate up to two (2) total students for this course. To be eligible for a nomination, students must currently be a high school junior or senior and must be located in the state of Virginia. The updated deadline to nominate students is Wednesday, December 3, 2025. For more information and to nominate a student, visit our website or the link in our bio.
Photo from the 2022–23 season by James H Loving Photography (@jamesloving).
@rvasymphony @vcuartsmusic @virginiamusiceducators #MusicEducation #VMEA #MusicEd #MusicTeacher #MusicTeachersofInstagram
“If [playing your instrument] is something you truly love, [pursuing a career in performance] is absolutely worth it. It is a challenging path that takes determination and a lot of self-motivation, but I think real progress comes from the consistent effort you put in. … No one can really do the work for you, and that is part of what makes this path so rewarding.”
Our October Spotlight Series featured Youth Orchestra Program alum Emma Cary (‘19), who was recently appointed to the cello section of the North Carolina Symphony. Along the way, she participated in all four YOP string and full orchestra ensembles, earned degrees from @umichsmtd and @shepherd_school, placed in chamber music competitions, and participated in prestigious summer music festivals.
Our monthly Spotlight Series is written by Anna Mitchell, Education & Social Media Coordinator. To read Emma’s Spotlight, head to the link in our bio and visit our website. Don’t forget to subscribe in time for our next newsletter, coming out in mid-December! 🎻
@rvasymphony @ncsymphony #RichmondSymphony #NorthCarolinaSymphony #Cello #Symphony #Orchestra
Nominations are due soon for our 2025–26 Future Music Educators Symposium (FMES), open to high school juniors and seniors located across Virginia! If you teach a student who’s got that spark, head to the link in our bio to nominate them on or before Monday, December 1. 🍎🎶✨
Led by Dr. Sandy Goldie, Department Chair and Director of Music Education, VCUarts Music, this 8-week online program is designed to provide a meaningful experience for students who show exceptional promise and passion for a future career in music education. Students are selected through teacher nominations, and accepted students participate in a series of workshops and classes where their own hands-on teaching encounters are supported virtually by invited guest speakers, clinicians, and mentors. This year’s cohort will meet online on Wednesdays from 4:30-6:00pm, January 7 to February 25, 2026.
Each music educator may nominate up to two (2) total students for this course. To be eligible for a nomination, students must currently be a high school junior or senior and must be located in the state of Virginia. The deadline to nominate students is Monday, December 1, 2025. Space is extremely limited, so we encourage you to submit your nominations early. For more information and to nominate a student, visit the link in our bio.
Students pictured from our 2023–24 cohort.
@rvasymphony @vcuartsmusic @virginiamusiceducators #MusicEducation #VMEA #MusicEd #MusicTeacher #MusicTeachersofInstagram
Every youth orchestra conductor’s lifelong dream: to pass on the baton and play with the viola section 🎻 Fun fact: RSYO’s conductor, Hae Lee, plays viola as his primary instrument!
This post was created by Claire, Emily, and Mabel, RSYO students and members of the YOP social media team. (Bonus conducting credit to RSYO student Will!)
@rvasymphony @hae.conductor #YouthOrchestra #MusicEducation #ClassicalMusic #ClassicalMusicMemes #OrchestraMemes #ThanksYouToo
Posing with instruments (and a baton!) like men pose with fish 🎣🎻🎺🥁🐟
This post was created by Candice, a YCO violinist and member of the YOP social media team. This is the first post from our social media team—keep an eye out for more fun posts soon (and send us your favorite post ideas)! ✨
@rvasymphony #YouthOrchestra #MusicEducation #ClassicalMusic #ClassicalMusicMemes #OrchestraMemes
Slept through October’s Discovery Concerts? Set your alarms now—registration for our spring 2026 Hopkins-Eggleston Discovery Concerts, Carnival of the Animals, is now open!
Our spring 2026 Discovery Concerts will take place in mid-February and are open to public, private, and homeschool groups and target students in grades pre-K through 3. Visit the link in our bio @richmondsymphonysom to learn more and register your students!
Spring 2026 Discovery Concert: Carnival of the Animals
Wednesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 10:30am
Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center
🎻: Haydn’s “Surprise” Symphony
Symphony No. 94 in G major, Hob.I.94, II. Andante
Performed by the Richmond Symphony, Hae Lee, Associate Conductor, and narrator Teddy McPherson
@rvasymphony @hae.conductor @dominionenergycenter #MusicEd #MusicEducation #CarnivalOfTheAnimals #SaintSaens #RVAFamilies #RVA
The first piece on Youth Concert Orchestra’s performance this weekend, Zachary Docter’s rustic Prairie Dance, makes this East Coast-based Youth Orchestra want to move out west! 🏜️🐎🤠
The talented young musicians in YCO will come together with our other YOP ensembles this Sunday for an unforgettable season opener featuring nearly 200 students across five ensembles. We can’t wait to see you there! 🎻🎺🥁
All YOP Ensembles Showcase
Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 6:30pm
Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center
Featuring String Sinfonietta, Camerata Strings, Youth Concert Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra
@rvasymphony #YouthOrchestra #MusicEd #Strings #Woodwinds #Brass #Percussion
String Sinfonietta and Camerata Strings are hard at work preparing for our first concert of the year, coming up in just over one week! 🎻🧡
Nearly 200 students from all five Youth Orchestra Program ensembles will perform in concert on Sunday, November 9 in the Carpenter Theatre at 6:30pm. Admission is free, no ticket is required—we hope to see you there!
All YOP Ensembles Showcase
Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 6:30pm
Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center
Featuring String Sinfonietta, Camerata Strings, Youth Concert Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra
@rvasymphony #YouthOrchestra #MusicEd #Violin #Viola #Cello #DoubleBass
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.