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Education & Community Engagement


Music Instruction

Music Together
Youth Orchestra Program
Orchestra Project
Masterclasses and Workshops
RSOL Concerto Contest

Music Together

Let’s Make Music Together® with the Richmond Symphony The Richmond Symphony invites children and their caregivers to Richmond CenterStage for Music Together classes with Carol Smoot. The Richmond Symphony is pleased to offer a downtown location that will make it convenient for working parents to meet caregivers and children for classes.

Music Together® is an internationally recognized early childhood music program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and the adults who love them. First offered to the public in 1987, it pioneered the concept of a research-based, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement. Music Together classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical.

Class times: 10:00am on Saturday mornings
Cost: $160, includes all materials
Fall 2010: 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13 & 11/20

Winter 2011 session begins in January; Spring 2011 session begins in March

For more information and to register, please call Carol Smoot at 804-754-4240, carol@musictogetherwithcarol.com or visit www.lmmtva.com.

Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program (YOP)

Formerly known as the Young Performers Program, Richmond Symphony’s flagship educational program consists of four youth orchestras providing beginning to advanced musical training. As the premiere orchestral training program of central Virginia, students participate in weekly rehearsals, coaching and masterclasses by Richmond Symphony musicians, chamber music performances, mentoring and other musical and social activities.

The Youth Orchestra Program is open to elementary through high school students. Rehearsals are held every Tuesday afternoon September through May. The entry-level ensemble is String Sinfonietta; there is no formal audition for this ensemble. Students are accepted into Camerata Strings, Youth Concert Orchestra (YCO) and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO) by audition only. Applicants will be asked to play two scales, a solo piece and a short sight-reading excerpt. In addition, students auditioning for RSYO are required to prepare an orchestral excerpt. Other classes offered through the RSO Youth Orchestra Program include chamber music, introductory classes for students interested in the viola, and music composition.

Click here for Audition Information.
Click here for complete Youth Orchestra Program information.

Orchestra Project

The Richmond Symphony and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) have partnered to create Orchestra Project, a unique orchestra camp for young wind, brass and string musicians in 3rd through 12th grades. Orchestra Project is an exciting summer music camp staffed entirely by the most talented players and teachers in Richmond: VCU professors and full-time musicians from the Richmond Symphony. It is designed to immerse young players in the magic of great music making. Our mission is to bring about transformative growth in young musicians.

Orchestra Intensive
June 27 - July 2, 2010 • 9am-5pm • VCU • $325
Summer 2011 dates will be posted in November 2010
*Audition Only

Orchestra Intensive summer music camp is open (by audition only) to string, wind and brass students currently in grades 7-12 (for the 09-10 school year). A student’s typical day will include full symphony experience, theory classes, small ensembles, and workshops on music technology. Students also have the option (for additional charge) to sign-up for private lessons with Orchestra Project faculty. A final performance will be presented on Friday, July 2 at 7pm.

String Odyssey
July 11 - July 16 • 9am-3pm • VCU • $245
Summer 2011 dates will be posted in November 2010

Financial Assistance
A limited amount of financial assistance is available, based on need. If you are interested in applying for financial assistance please visit www.richmondsymphony.com or www.vcumusic.org to download an application. Financial Assistance will be granted on a first-come-first-served basis.

Resident Camper
Middle and high school students who wish to reside at VCU during the Orchestra Project will be housed in Johnson Hall on the VCU campus. Counselors, also housed in the resident facility, will supervise student activities. An additional resident camper fee will be added to the tuition. The resident camper fee includes 6 days, 5 nights, 16 meals, a bedding package and after camp recreation. Members of the opposite gender will be housed on opposite floors. Housing building is subject to change.

After Camp Recreation • $30/week • String Odyssey ONLY
String Odyssey runs from 9am-3pm. Optional after-camp recreation is available on the campus of VCU for day-time campers. Recreation is included in the resident camper package. From 3:30-5pm students will have access to supervised social activities at the recreation center (including use of the pool and the sports fields). Additional fee of $30 per week.

Private Lessons • $50/ hour
Optional 60-minute private lessons will be available by Orchestra Project faculty and guest artists for an additional fee. Private lessons will be available for $50 for each 60-minute lesson. Lessons will take place between 2-5pm each day. Students must indicate on their registration if they are interested in receiving a lesson. Lessons will be filled on a first-come- first served basis. The lesson schedule will be sent to students the week before camp.

Masterclasses and Workshops

Each season, the Richmond Symphony hosts a number of masterclasses, workshops and demonstrations with Richmond Symphony musicians, guest artists and visiting composers. These interactive sessions provide students the opportunity to learn from (and sometimes perform for) world-class artists. These sessions are scheduled throughout the season and are open to the public.

Richmond Symphony Orchestra League Concerto Contest

Once each season, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra League hosts a concerto contest to encourage and recognize talented young musicians from Virginia. The competition consists of two divisions: piano and instrumental. First-prize winners receive a cash award plus an invitation to perform with the Richmond Symphony during the 2010-11 season. The competition is open to Virginia students in elementary through senior high school who play piano, violin, viola, cello, string bass, guitar, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, harp or percussion.

The contest date for the 2010-2011 season is January 8, 2011.

For more information about any of the Richmond Symphony’s education and community engagement programs, please contact:

Aimee Halbruner
Director of Education & Community Engagement
Richmond Symphony
612 East Grace Street, Suite 401
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 788.4717 x130
Fax: (804) 788.1541