Our friends at the Richmond Symphony League will be hosting their 55th annual Student Concerto Competition on Saturday, January 3, 2026. The Leagueโs concerto competition is open to any classically trained instrumentalist in Virginia who has not yet graduated from high school. The first-prize winner will receive a cash award and be considered for an invitation to perform with the Richmond Symphony. The application period is open now and will close in early December. For more information, click here.
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Congratulations to our Youth Orchestra Program students selected to participate in this yearโs prestigious All-Virginia Band, Chorus, and Orchestra event! All-Virginia ensembles bring together the top student musicians from across the state, and this yearโs event culminated in an afternoon of performances on Saturday, April 18. The following students participated in this yearโs event:
Rosie Smith - bassoon, Symphonic Band
Minami Furukawa - oboe, Symphonic Band
Peter Yanovitch - principal double bass, Orchestra
Andrew Grogan - double bass, Orchestra
Elizabeth Mackie - assistant principal viola, Orchestra
Benjamin Kirby - voice, SATB Chorus
An additional congratulations to clarinetist Porter Clark, who was also selected to participate but was unable to attend the event.
@rvasymphony @virginiamusiceducators #AllVirginia #VMEA #Orchestra #SymphonicBand #SATBChorus
Itโs time for another Student Showcase, featuring RSYO clarinetist Harper Nishimoto! ๐ถ Harper is a junior at J.R. Tucker High School, where she serves as one of two drum majors for J.R. Tuckerโs marching band, the Marching Tigers (@jrtmarchingtigers).
Earlier this year, the Marching Tigers were selected to perform at the inauguration of Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger, who is a Tucker alum. As drum major, Harper led the Marching Tigers as they marched at the inaugurationโs paradeโa performance that was broadcast live to thousands of viewers across the state.
We couldnโt imagine a better musician to lead such a high-profile performance! Congratulations to both Harper and the Marching Tigers! ๐ถโค๏ธ
@jrt_bandorchestra @rvasymphony #MarchingBand #DrumMajor #ClassicalMusic #Band #Orchestra
A manifestation for every instrument (in orchestral score order) ๐ CLAIM YOUR MANIFESTATION by visiting the link in our bio and registering for your Youth Orchestra Program audition TODAY!
@rvasymphony #YouthOrchestra #ClassicalMusic #MusicEd #ClassicalMusicMemes #RVA
This is how spring has us feeling at the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program ๐ฅฐ๐ป๐
@hae.conductor @rvasymphony #Tchaikovsky #ClassicalMusic #ClassicalMusicMemes #MusicEd #AprilFoolsDay
๐ถ โ Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture, Rick Astley: Never Gonna Give You Up
DEADLINE EXTENDED for Virginia music educators to redeem their FREE tickets to the Richmond Symphony! All RSVPs are now due by noon on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. For more information, read below. ๐๐ถ
โโโโโโ
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 music educators! As part of our annual Teacher Appreciation event, Virginia music educators may enjoy two (2) complimentary concert tickets to a Richmond Symphony performance at the Carpenter Theatre on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:30pm. โฅ๏ธ๐ถ
The program opens with Jessie Montgomeryโs Hymn for Everyone, written during the pandemic and serving as a tribute to the composerโs late mother. Then, concert pianist Angela Cheng performs Beethovenโs poetic Piano Concerto No. 4. At the intermission, music teachers are invited to the Donor Lounge to mix and mingle with other educators from around the area. To close the evening, Music Director Valentina Peleggi leads the Richmond Symphony through Aaron Coplandโs Americana-inspired Symphony No. 3.
Music teachers, thank you for all YOU do, changing lives through the power of music! ๐ถ Visit linktr.ee/rssom to redeem your tickets for this yearโs special event. All RSVPs are due by noon on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
@virginiamusiceducators #MusicEducation #VirginiaTeacher #RichmondVA #RVA #VMEA
Two of our RSYO 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 Abigail Spanberger, Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi, Secretary of Education Dr. Jeff Smith, and more.
Congratulations to the eight RSYO students who performed at this event for a beautiful performance and for representing the Richmond Symphony School of Music: Elizabeth M., Elizabeth S., Fielding, Isaac, Luke, Samantha, Thomas and Will! ๐ป๐๐ถ
Photos by Ovrbord Media/Parker Michels-Boyce.
@libraryofva @theoremmedia @schoolcouldbe #YouthOrchestraProgram #ChamberMusic #ClassicalMusic #MusicEducation #MusicEd
LAST CHANCE for Virginia music educators to redeem their FREE tickets to the Richmond Symphony! The deadline is Tuesday, March 31, 2026. For more information, read below. ๐๐ถ
โโโโโโ
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 music educators! As part of our annual Teacher Appreciation event, Virginia music educators may enjoy two (2) complimentary concert tickets to a Richmond Symphony performance at the Carpenter Theatre on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:30pm. โฅ๏ธ๐ถ
The program opens with Jessie Montgomeryโs Hymn for Everyone, written during the pandemic and serving as a tribute to the composerโs late mother. Then, concert pianist Angela Cheng performs Beethovenโs poetic Piano Concerto No. 4. At the intermission, music teachers are invited to the Donor Lounge to mix and mingle with other educators from around the area. To close the evening, Music Director Valentina Peleggi leads the Richmond Symphony through Aaron Coplandโs Americana-inspired Symphony No. 3.
Music teachers, thank you for all YOU do, changing lives through the power of music! ๐ถ Visit linktr.ee/rssom to redeem your tickets for this yearโs special event. All RSVPs are due by the end of the day on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
@virginiamusiceducators #MusicEducation #VirginiaTeacher #RichmondVA #RVA #VMEA
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 music educators! As part of our annual Teacher Appreciation event, Virginia music educators may enjoy two (2) complimentary concert tickets to a Richmond Symphony performance at the Carpenter Theatre on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:30pm. โฅ๏ธ๐ถ
The program opens with Jessie Montgomeryโs Hymn for Everyone, written during the pandemic and serving as a tribute to the composerโs late mother. Then, concert pianist Angela Cheng performs Beethovenโs poetic Piano Concerto No. 4. At the intermission, music teachers are invited to the Donor Lounge to mix and mingle with other educators from around the area. To close the evening, Music Director Valentina Peleggi leads the Richmond Symphony through Aaron Coplandโs Americana-inspired Symphony No. 3.
Music teachers, thank you for all YOU do, changing lives through the power of music! ๐ถ Visit linktr.ee/rssom to redeem your tickets for this yearโs special event. All RSVPs are due by the end of the day on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
@virginiamusiceducators #MusicEducation #VirginiaTeacher #RichmondVA #RVA #Virginia
โWorking on the Senate floor for 8 hours a day, Iโve come to appreciate the art of a well thought out speech,โ Qian said. โOf course, I have my own political convictions, but it was still refreshing to hear all the arguments coming from our very own leaders. Often, these speeches would spark intense political debates among our own group [of pages], which allowed me to practice live debate and argumentation.โ
โโโโโโ
This monthโs Spotlight Series highlights Chris Qian, violinist in RSYO and junior at Maggie L. Walker Governorโs School for Government and International Studies. This fall, Qian was selected as one of just thirty students to participate in the U.S. Senate Page Program, in which juniors and seniors spend a semester working as staff members in the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C.
To read this monthโs Spotlight Series, visit the link in our bio. Our monthly Spotlight Series is written by Anna Mitchell, Education & Social Media Coordinator.
#musiceducation #youthorchestra #senatepage
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 music educators! As part of our annual Teacher Appreciation event, Virginia music educators may enjoy two (2) complimentary concert tickets to a Richmond Symphony performance at the Carpenter Theatre on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 7:30pm. โฅ๏ธ๐ถ
The program opens with Jessie Montgomeryโs Hymn for Everyone, written during the pandemic and serving as a tribute to the composerโs late mother. Then, concert pianist Angela Cheng performs Beethovenโs poetic Piano Concerto No. 4. At the intermission, music teachers are invited to the Donor Lounge to mix and mingle with other educators from around the area. To close the evening, Music Director Valentina Peleggi leads the Richmond Symphony through Aaron Coplandโs Americana-inspired Symphony No. 3.
Music teachers, thank you for all YOU do, changing lives through the power of music! ๐ถ Visit linktr.ee/rssom to redeem your tickets for this yearโs special event. All RSVPs are due by the end of the day on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
@virginiamusiceducators #MusicEducation #VirginiaTeacher #RichmondVA #RVA #Virginia
Today is Arts Across Virginia Day! #ArtsAcrossVA26 ๐ถ๐ซ At the Richmond Symphony School of Music, located in the heart of central Virginia and capital city of the state, we connect people of all ages to meaningful music experiences, including the following:
๐ป The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program, which includes nearly 200 students across five ensembles
๐บ Hopkins-Eggleston Discovery Concerts, performances in the Carpenter Theatre for school groups which align with Virginia Standards of Learning
๐ฅ Educational Ensembles, which bring chamber music experiences to students across central Virginia
๐ช Future Music Educators Symposium, which primes high school juniors and seniors for a possible future career in music education
๐น The Peleggi Lab, a hub of musical programming curated by @rvasymphony Music Director Valentina Peleggi which includes composition, conducting, and more
๐ช Symphony Series Companion Courses, a series of free online lectures for lovers of music history and culture
โฆand more! To learn more about the Richmond Symphony School of Music and our diverse programming, visit the link in our bio or go to richmondsymphonysom.com.
Photos from recent seasons by James H Loving Photography (@jamesloving), Dave Pearson (@pearsonphoto2000), and Christian Thesken (@truenorthprods).
@virginiamusiceducators #Virginia #ClassicalMusic #MusicEducation #PerformingArts
This could be you: a member of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program! Audition registration for our 2026โ27 season is officially open starting today! ๐ป๐ช๐บ๐ฅ๐ช๐ถ
Students will have the option to audition in person or virtually, with in-person auditions taking place on Saturday, June 6 and virtual audition submissions being due on Sunday, May 31. Please note that this audition period is the only chance for current YOP students to move up in ensemble.
To learn more and register for your audition, visit the link in our bio or go to linktr.ee/rssom. We hope to see you in our ensembles next season!
Photos from the 2024โ25 and 2025โ26 seasons by James H Loving Photography (@jamesloving), Demetrius Holloway (@whoisholloway), Dave Pearson (@pearsonphoto2000), and Christian Thesken/True North Productions (@truenorthprods).
#YouthOrchestra #MusicEducation #MusicEd #YouthBand #Orchestra
