Youth Orchestra Program

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Richmond Symphony Announces Joe Jaxson as Next Composer-in-Residence

The Richmond Symphony is pleased to announce composer Joe Jaxson as its next Composer-in-Residence starting in the 2026–27 season. As part of his work with the Richmond Symphony, Jaxson will work with the Richmond Symphony School of Music’s educational initiatives, including the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program, Young Composers Seminar, and more. We are beyond […]

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RSYO Honors Chamber Groups Perform at Library of Virginia Event About Educational Reform

Two of our Honors chamber groups recently performed at Pathways to Purpose and Prosperity in Virginia Schools, an event hosted at the Library of Virginia that featured prominent policy makers, employers, and education innovators discussing the importance of career-based learning. A number of Virginia state officials were in attendance, including Governor of Virginia Abigail Spanberger.

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Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Makes Its Podcast Debut

The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra recently made its podcast debut! At our November 2025 All YOP Ensembles Showcase, the string musicians of RSYO performed the world premiere of Pastoral, which was composed by Claudia Andrade Ayala and was inspired by a poem by Hannah Bonner. RSYO’s performance of Pastoral was included at the end of the Blackbird Literary

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February Recap: Youth Orchestra Performances, Courses for Prospective Music Teachers, and Concerts for Students and Families

This February was full of fun for the Richmond Symphony School of Music! A couple of weeks after the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Side-by-Side with the Richmond Symphony at the start of the month, nearly forty different school groups filled the Carpenter Theatre for our Hopkins-Eggleston Discovery Concerts: Carnival of the Animals. Students from all over

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Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Presents First Richmond Symphony Side-by-Side Since February 2020

The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra’s next concert is just around the corner—and it’s one you won’t want to miss! RSYO will come together with the Richmond Symphony on Tuesday, February 3 for their first side-by-side concert since February 2020, weaving youth orchestra students together with professional musicians in each section of the orchestra. Repertoire will

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Complete YOP Alumni Survey for Your Chance to Be Featured Online!

This season, we’re branching out our social media platforms and the RSSoM newsletter to include stories from our YOP community, both past and present. Whether you played in our program for one year or ten and whether you work in the performing arts or another industry, we’d love to highlight you and your experiences in

Complete YOP Alumni Survey for Your Chance to Be Featured Online! Read More »

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Save the Date: Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra and Richmond Symphony Side-by-Side

The Richmond Symphony and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, our pre-professional youth ensemble, come together in a special side-by-side performance, weaving youth orchestra students with Richmond Symphony musicians in each section of the orchestra. Repertoire will include Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No. 2, and more. Mark the date now for

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Spotlight Series: YOP Alum Erin Lano Returns to Play Horn with Hometown Orchestra

Erin Lano, Associate Principal Horn of the Richmond Symphony, has had a long and varied career. Performances have taken her across the country to perform with ensembles such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and other nationally acclaimed orchestras. But for Erin, no performance experience is more memorable than

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Upcoming Youth Orchestra Concert Will Feature Nearly 200 Student Performers

All five Youth Orchestra ensembles will come together in concert in the Carpenter Theatre this November, from our youngest violinists in String Sinfonietta to our pre-professional young musicians in the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra. Nearly 200 students will take the stage as we celebrate the start of our 2025–26 Youth Orchestra season, performing works by

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Spotlight Series: YOP Graduate Emma Cary Wins Cello Position at North Carolina Symphony

Cellist Emma Cary, a Glen Allen native and daughter of two Richmond Symphony musicians, recently won a position with the North Carolina Symphony’s cello section. Her career has taken her across the country, earning degrees in Michigan and Texas, placing in chamber music competitions, and performing at summer festivals in California and North Carolina—but before

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 Join the 2026-27 Youth Orchestra Program! Virtual and In-Person Auditions Available   Learn More >