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.
We’re introducing a new feature on our social media platforms—the Student Spotlight! Our first Student Spotlight features Andrew, RSYO double bassist. 🎶
Andrew recently performed in the All-Virginia Jazz Ensemble, which is Virginia’s most prestigious program for high school jazz musicians. Following an incredibly competitive audition against students from across the state, Andrew was selected as the first chair bassist for this season’s Jazz Ensemble, and he performed alongside them at the Virginia Music Educators Association’s annual conference in November 2025.
Andrew is a senior at Thomas Dale High School, where he participates in both orchestra and jazz band. Though we’ve only had Andrew in our Youth Orchestra Program for one year, we’ll greatly miss him when he graduates this spring, and are grateful he’s sharing his talents with us during his senior year. Congratulations, Andrew! 🎶🎉
@andrew_grogan_bass @virginiamusiceducators @tdhsorchestra @rvasymphony #VMEA #JazzBass #JazzEnsemble #MusicEducation #MusicEd
Thank you to all who joined us for last night’s Side-by-Side featuring the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Richmond Symphony! With 118 musicians featured and a stage packed to the brim, this was our first full Side-by-Side with the @rvasymphony since February 2020 🎼❤️
Whether you performed on stage, supported our students at our weekly rehearsals, or braved the weather to watch from the audience, thank you for your support of our young musicians and of our program! Stay tuned for more information about our last concerts of the year, coming up this spring.
Photos by Christian Thesken of True North Productions (@truenorthprods).
@rvasymphony @rso_musicians @hae.conductor @rsyop.percussion #RVA #ClassicalMusic #MusicEd #YouthOrchestra #Orchestra
The person who sent you this REALLYYY wants you to come to Tuesday’s Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra and Richmond Symphony Side-by-Side!!! Swipe to the end or read below for more information, and see you there!
RSYO and Richmond Symphony Side-by-Side 🎻
Conducted by Hae Lee
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 7:00pm
Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center
Admission is free; no ticket is required
@rvasymphony #YouthOrchestra #MusicEd #ClassicalMusic #Symphony #ClassicalMusicMemes
“Teaching genuinely boils down to the people you are working with, not exactly what you are teaching. At the end of the day, it’s [all about] the human beings we are working with, and that’s what makes this career and this vocation and this calling so impactful.”
This month’s Spotlight Series features Emily Mullen, senior music education student at Shenandoah Conservatory and previous participant in our annual Future Music Educators Symposium. Now in her final semester of undergraduate study, Mullen is a student teacher at schools in Frederick and Fauquier County. 🎻
To read this month’s Spotlight Series, visit our website or head to the link in our bio. Our monthly Spotlight Series is written by Anna Mitchell, Education & Social Media Coordinator.
@rvasymphony @shenandoahconservatory #RVASymphony #MusicEd #NAfME #VMEA #MusicEducation
You’re invited! ✉️🎶 The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Richmond Symphony come together in Carpenter Theatre for their first side-by-side performance since February 2020, weaving youth orchestra students together with professional musicians in each section of the orchestra.
The program will include works by Bizet, Márquez, Mascagni, Smetana, and Tchaikovsky and will be conducted by Hae Lee, RSYO conductor and Jack and Mary Ann Frable Associate Conductor Chair.
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RSYO and Richmond Symphony Side-by-Side
Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 7:00pm
Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center
Admission is free; no ticket is required
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@rvasymphony #YouthOrchestra #MusicEd #ClassicalMusic #Symphony #RVA
The first four measures of W.A. Mozart’s Eine kleine Nachtmusik are among the most recognizable openings in all of classical music! Pick an instrument—violin, viola, cello, or double bass—and follow along with RSYO in their recent performance of this iconic work. 🎻
Fun fact: Today, January 27, is Mozart’s birthday! Also celebrating his birthday today is our very own Hae Lee, conductor of RSYO! Happy birthday, Hae, and thank you for all you do to support our young musicians! 🎉
🎶: W.A. Mozart: Eine kleine Nachtmusik, mvt. I: Allegro
Performed by the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra and conductor Hae Lee (November 2025)
@rvasymphony @dominionenergycenter #Mozart #EineKleineNachtmusik #RSYO #YouthOrchestra
On Friday, January 16, we welcomed music students from three Virginia colleges—Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, and Virginia Commonwealth University—for our first Open Rehearsal of 2026! 🎶
Before the rehearsal, students participated in a talk and Q&A with Richmond Symphony Composer-in-Residence Damien Geter. After, students were welcomed to the Carpenter Theatre to observe a full rehearsal of An African American Requiem, featuring four guest vocalists and guest conductor Kazem Abdullah alongside the Richmond Symphony.
Missed out on our fourth Symphony Series but want to learn more about An African American Requiem? Our Companion Course, taught by Dr. Julie Bemis, Vice President of Education & Community Engagement can be viewed for free at the link in our bio. 🎶
@rvasymphony @nsucc @vsumd_ @vsucc @vcuartsmusic @vcuchoirs #RichmondSymphony #DamienGeter #RVAmusic #ClassicalMusic #MusicEd
Today’s the day! This evening, members of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO) will be competing in our annual Concerto Competition. Tonight’s winner will perform their concerto movement with RSYO in their final concert of the year.
The scores pictured here represent just a fraction of the students competing this evening. Good luck to all participants and stay tuned for the winner of this year’s competition! 🎶✨
@rvasymphony #YouthOrchestra #ConcertoCompetition #Concerto #Orchestra
2026 ins and outs, YOP version! We hope all of our students had a restful holiday break and a wonderful first week back in rehearsal ✨🎶
Photos from the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons by Demetrius Holloway and Dave Pearson.
@rvasymphony #MusicEd #YouthOrchestra #ClassicalMusicMemes
“I was very fortunate to play a lot of the standard orchestral pieces as a young musician. We played a lot of serious repertoire during my time in [YOP],” Erin said. One of her favorites? Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8—one of the pieces she played during her very first concert with YOP, which she recently revisited during the Richmond Symphony’s 2024–25 season. “I have played Dvořák 8 many times in my career. It is still one of my favorite pieces and there was something special about discovering it for the first time as a young musician.”
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Our December Spotlight Series features Erin Lano, an alum of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program who now serves as Associate Principal Horn of the Richmond Symphony. To read Erin’s Spotlight, head to the link in our bio or visit our website. 🎶📯
Our monthly Spotlight Series is written by Anna Mitchell, Education & Social Media Coordinator.
@rvasymphony #RichmondSymphony #FrenchHorn #Horn #YouthOrchestra
Happy International Cello Day from the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program! 🎻🌟🎶🫶
Our November 2025 concert (pictured) featured 34 amazing young cellists across four different ensembles. If you’re interested in joining that number, save the date: Auditions for the next season of YOP will take place on Saturday, June 6, 2026!
Photos by Dave Pearson (@pearsonphoto2000).
#Cello #InternationalCelloDay #YouthOrchestra #ClassicalMusic #Orchestra
Join the Valentine for some holiday cheer on their picturesque block of East Clay Street! Take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage, enjoy a performance and partake in refreshments and family crafts. Students from the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Honors Chamber Ensembles will perform works by Beethoven, Dvořák, and Schubert as part of this event.
Winter Wander 2025 ❄️ Hosted by the Valentine
Sunday, December 14 | 12:00 to 4:00pm
1015 East Clay Street, Richmond, VA 23219
12:45 to 1:30pm: Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Honors Chamber Ensembles perform
For more information, visit @thevalentinerva.
Photos by Dave Pearson Photography (@pearsonphoto2000).
#YouthOrchestra #ChamberMusic #RVAThingsToDo #StringQuartet #Violin
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.