Youth Orchestra Program

Happy New Year! We are looking forward to continuing our music education journey with you this year.

This year our program draws 156 students from 18 counties/cities and 50 schools. We take the health and safety of our students and their families as our highest priority. Upon careful consideration, we have decided to take the following precautions for our resumption of activities after the holiday break, due to the exponential rise of reported COVID-19 cases we are experiencing.

~ Sinfonietta Strings will resume rehearsals in-person January 25.

~ Camerata Strings will hold seating auditions virtually next week, resuming in-person rehearsals January 24 (no rehearsal was scheduled for the week of January 17).

~ YCO will resume in-person rehearsals for strings Monday, January 10, and will be joined by winds, brass, and percussion on January 24.

~ RSYO will resume in-person rehearsals Tuesday, January 11.

We feel it is needful to stress the importance of continuing to follow – and strengthening – any measures we can take to mitigate the spread of the virus. All students must remain masked at all times during rehearsals, and other safety measures may be instituted as well. Youth Orchestra Manager Jennifer Tobin will be in touch with details for each ensemble.

COVID-19 Vaccinations were approved for children 5 – 11 by the CDC on November 2, 2021. If you’ve been vaccinated and/or boostered and have not updated your vaccination status with us yet, please email education@richmondsymphony.com with documentation of your vaccination status, today. We strongly encourage every student in our program to become vaccinated against COVID-19, and every student in our program is now eligible.

Thank you for your patience as we seek the safe path through these challenges together. We appreciate your compliance with all COVID-19 safety measures and precautions – this is what made it possible for us to have such a wonderful return to music-making in-person this fall.

With best wishes for a music-filled 2022,

Walter

Due to the inclement weather, Sinfonietta and RSYO rehearsals are cancelled today, Tuesday, 1/4/22. We will resume rehearsals next week, 1/11.

Be safe and enjoy the snow!

Due to the inclement weather, Camerata and YCO rehearsals are cancelled today, Monday, 1/3/22. Seating auditions for YCO strings will be postponed; you will receive more information soon.

Enjoy the snow!