The 2024–25 season marks the Youth Orchestra Program’s 63rd year of operations! This season will be full of performances featuring all five of our ensembles, with the first featuring the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO) string ensemble on Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00 pm. Join RSYO and Richmond Symphony Associate Conductor Hae Lee as they perform works by Bach, Britten, and more. For more information about November’s performance, click here, and for a list of all performances this season, click here.
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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

Registration for our annual Teacher Appreciation event ends this coming Monday, March 10. Music educators, don’t forget to claim your FREE tickets to the Richmond Symphony’s Mozart & Mahler concert on Saturday, March 22! Read below for more information.
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 Monday, March 10, 2025.
Photo from the 2023–24 season by Anna Mitchell (@annamiitchcreates).
@rvasymphony #TeacherAppreciation #WeLoveMusicTeachers #MusicTeachers #MusicEducation #RichmondSymphony #ClassicalMusic #RichmondVA #RVA #ExploreRichmond #Mahler4 #Mozart35

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 at @richmondsymphonysom to redeem your tickets for this special event. All RSVPs are due by the end of the day on Monday, March 10, 2025.
@rvasymphony #TeacherAppreciation #WeLoveMusicTeachers #MusicTeachers #MusicEducation #RichmondSymphony #ClassicalMusic #RichmondVA #RVA #ExploreRichmond #Mahler4 #Mozart35

A highlight from this past Saturday: Hanging out with Michael Sachs, principal trumpet of The Cleveland Orchestra! After rehearsing Wynton Marsalis’s Trumpet Concerto (a piece that was written for Sachs himself!) with the @rvasymphony, he joined our visiting brass students and Symphony musicians to share insights about his career over a slice of pizza. Thanks for joining us, @michaelsachs_! 🎺🎶
@rvasymphony @michaelsachs_ @cleveorch #RVASymphony #RichmondSymphony #MichaelSachs #TheClevelandOrchestra #Trumpet #Brass #BrassInstruments #Orchestra #Richmond #RichmondVA #RVA

Are you thinking about auditioning for the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program? This Sunday is your chance to hear our most advanced ensemble, the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO), as they perform Haydn’s “Drum Roll” Symphony! Percussion Ensemble will also take the stage, featuring chamber music performed by students in RSYO and YCO.
Do you play oboe, French horn, trumpet, or tenor trombone? Join us as we perform Tchaikovsky’s illustrious Symphony No. 5 this May! Email us at education@richmondsymphony.com if you’re interested in auditioning for RSYO mid-season. All other instruments will be eligible to audition for our ensembles at our June auditions—follow us at @richmondsymphonysom to be the first one to know when audition registration launches.
🎶: Haydn: Symphony No. 103 in E-flat major, “Drum Roll,” mvt. 4: IV. Finale - Allegro con spirito
RSYO and Percussion Ensemble winter concert
Conducted by Hae Lee (@hae.conductor) and Dr. Justin Alexander (@justin.alexander.percussion)
Sunday, February 23 at 7:00 pm
Free and open to the public; no ticket is required
@rvasymphony #RVASymphony #RichmondSymphony #YouthOrchestra #YouthBand #Haydn103 #Haydn #RVATakesTheStage #Orchestra #MusicEducation #Flute #Oboe #Clarinet #Bassoon #FrenchHorn #Trumpet #Trombone #Tuba #Percussion #Violin #Viola #Cello #DoubleBass

Dear music educators, will you be our valentine this year? ♥️🎶 In celebration of Music in Our Schools Month this coming 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 (linktr.ee/rssom) to redeem your tickets for this special event. All RSVPs are due by the end of the day on Monday, March 10, 2025.
@rvasymphony #TeacherAppreciation #WeLoveMusicTeachers #MusicTeachers #MusicEducation #RichmondSymphony #ClassicalMusic #RichmondVA #RVA #ExploreRichmond #Mahler4 #Mozart35 #ValentinesDay

Give your students the gift of live music at our March Hopkins-Eggleston Discovery Concert: Storytime with the Richmond Symphony, featuring The Sneetches™ by Dr. Seuss! 🎻🌟🎉
Held during the school day, Discovery Concerts engage young minds through exciting full-orchestra performances. These morning performances by the Richmond Symphony correlate with Virginia Standards of Learning. Participating schools receive student listening guides, a teacher guide, and concert repertoire in advance of the performance. Concerts serve city, county, private and home-schooled students. Our spring Discovery Concerts are best suited for grades pre-K through 3 and will feature Lorenzo Palomo’s The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss™, Tchaikovsky’s Waltz from The Sleeping Beauty, and excerpts from Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.
Wednesday, March 12 at 10:30 am and Thursday March 13 at 10:30 am | Teachers can register their groups by visiting the link in our bio
Interested in attending our spring Discovery Concerts, but unable to attend with a school group? Join us for our Family Concert on Sunday, March 16! Our Family Concerts are open to the public and welcome students of all ages. Visit the link in our bio for more information.
@rvasymphony #classicalmusic #orchestra #symphony #richmond #tchaikovsky #dukas #storytime #story #drseuss #nationalreadingmonth #thesneetches #alsosprachzarathustra #rva #rvakids

Mark your calendars—our first concert of 2025 is just one month away on Sunday, February 23! 🎶
Woodwinds, brass, and percussion will join the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra for a performance of Haydn’s Symphony No. 103, nicknamed the “Drum Roll” symphony for the thunderous timpani roll at its start. Percussion Ensemble will also take the stage, featuring chamber music performed by percussionists in YCO and RSYO.
RSYO and Percussion Ensemble winter concert 🎻🎺🥁
Conducted by Hae Lee (@hae.conductor) and Dr. Justin Alexander (@justin.alexander.percussion)
Sunday, February 23 at 7:00 pm
Free and open to the public; no ticket is required
Photo of RSYO in March 2024 by Anna Mitchell (@annamiitchcreates).
@rvasymphony #youthorchestra #orchestra #percussion #chambermusic #haydn #haydn103 #musiceducation #classicalmusic #rva #rvamusic

We’re missing all of our students during this unexpected week of snow days, but excited to finally see everyone again at next week’s classes and rehearsals! ✨🎼 Swipe to see some of our favorite memories from the year prior, including youth orchestra performances, holiday concerts, masterclasses with guest artists, and more—and fingers crossed the weather eases up so we can make more memories (and music) again soon, starting next week! ❄️🎻
Photos by Dave Parrish Photography (@rvaphotog), James H Loving Photography (@jamesloving), Adrienne Broom Creates (@yoadriennecreates), Anna Mitchell (@annamiitchcreates), and the photography team at The St. Paul’s Baptist Church.
@rvasymphony #richmondsymphony #orchestra #youthorchestra #classicalmusic #concert #richmond #rva #rvakids #rvaart #rvamusic

Calling all beginning violists, cellists, and double bassists! If making more music is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, then String Sinfonietta is the place for you! 🎻
Sinfonietta is open to any string musician who has played their instrument for at least one year. In this ensemble, students learn the basics of playing in an orchestra. They learn about their section within the orchestra, and their role within the section. Students learn to watch and follow a conductor, and how to listen to other sections in the orchestra. Above all, the young musicians in Sinfonietta learn the joy of making music with others.
To register and learn more about recommended fundamentals, visit the link in our bio and fill out the inquiry form. Sinfonietta’s violin section is full at this time, and we will be recruiting new violinists at the start of next school year. Registration for Sinfonietta is open until the ensemble is full and some sections may close before others.
Photos by James H Loving Photography (@jamesloving).
@rvasymphony #violin #viola #cello #doublebass #orchestra #youthorchestra #violinist #violist #cellist #doublebassist

There’s a reason why they call December the most wonderful time of year! Earlier this month, our students in Youth Community Strings were invited to perform Carol of the Bells during a Sunday morning service with @myspbc. Between those who attended the service in person and those who viewed the livestream, over 3,000 people watched our young musicians perform!
We’re delighted to share our students’ performance with you today in celebration of the holiday season. On behalf of the Richmond Symphony School of Music, happy holidays to all, and we look forward to making music with you in the New Year! 🎇🎻
A special thank you to our lead teacher Caitlin Barry, our co-teacher Anita Williams, all of our amazing volunteers, and our partners at The Saint Paul’s Baptist Church and A to B Kid Shuttle.
@rvasymphony @myspbc @spbc_imagination @caitlinabarry #violin #violinist #youngviolinist #musiceducation #orchestra #elementarymusic #youthorchestra #youngmusician #carolofthebells

Though we may be nearing the end of the calendar year, December marks an important moment for String Sinfonietta, Camerata Strings, and Youth Concert Orchestra: our first concert of the year! Last week at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 150 of our young musicians took the stage, performing works including Erica Donahoe’s Alpine Glory, Todd Parrish’s Boreas, and Bedřich Smetana’s Moldau.
Mark your calendars for our YOP spring concerts coming up in May! Sinfonietta, Camerata, and YCO will take the stage again on Monday, May 19 at the Carpenter Theatre in the Dominion Energy Center.
Photos by James H Loving Photography (@jamesloving).
@rvasymphony #youthorchestra #richmondsymphony #rvasymphony #youthorchestraprogram #violin #viola #cello #doublebass #flute #oboe #clarinet #bassoon #frenchhorn #trumpet #trombone #tuba #percussion #orchestra #youthband
