February 7, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Richmond Symphony Announces its 62^nd Season with Music Director Candidates, Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020 and the return of Marin Alsop for the Opening Weekend September 21, 22, 2019.

February 7, 2019 – Richmond, Virginia: Today Executive Director David Fisk announced an exciting 2019-20 season for the Richmond Symphony. While the season opens with the return of one of the greatest living conductors in the world today, Marin Alsop, it will also feature an international showcase of the best up-and-coming talent through a season-long search for a Music Director and Richmond’s hosting of the Menuhin Competition in 2020.  This is a truly monumental season that is not to be missed!

Highlights of the season include:

1. An Opening Night concert featuring the return of past Richmond Symphony Associate Conductor and current Music Director for the Baltimore Symphony and São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Marin Alsop, for a performance of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, Brahms, Zemlinsky with the Richmond Symphony Chorus, and Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with previous Menuhin Competition finalist and Paganini Violin Competition winner, Inmo Yang.
2. Music Director Candidates will journey to Richmond for two-week residencies to conduct concerts and events anchored around the Altria Masterworks Series (bios attached). These include:

• Roderick Cox conducting a concert with soprano Brandie Sutton performing works by Rachmaninoff, Barber, Charpentier, and Tchaikovsky
• Ankush Kumar Bahl conducting John Adams, Mozart, and Bruckner with clarinetist Anthony McGill
• Laura Jackson conducting works by Michael Gandolfi, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler with cellist Julian Schwarz
• Valentina Peleggi conducting Rossini, Respighi, Joan Tower, Clara Schumann, and Tchaikovsky
• Farkhad Khudyev conducting Rachmaninoff, Grieg, and Janacek with the Richmond Symphony Chorus

3. The Altria Masterworks Series will close as part of the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020 with the Competition’s two final concerts: the Senior Finals and Closing Gala Concert with Guest Conductor Andrew Litton.

The Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020 will take place in Richmond May 14 – 24, 2020 in venues throughout the city including the Modlin Center for the Arts at University of Richmond, the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts at VCU, and in the Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Throughout the competition 44 of the best young violinists in the world will compete for top awards in performances ranging from solo recitals to concerts with chamber groups and full orchestra. While the Richmond Symphony will be the primary accompanying orchestra for the festival, the Sphinx Virtuosi ensemble – made up exclusively of 18 of the top Black and Latinx classical musicians – will also participate in accompanying the Junior Finals and in performances and workshops with local public schools.

4. The 2019-20 Pops season will feature a variety of performances sure to delight and entertain Richmond audiences, including the return of the amazing Michael Cavanaugh, this time performing the music of Elton John; a concert celebrating NASA’s six-decade journey into space; the return of Jeans ‘n Classics with The Apollo Hall of Fame; and the annual holiday tradition, Let It Snow!
5. The Union Bank & Trust LolliPops season kicks off with a concert for all of the cowboys and cowgirls in your life with music from the Wild Wild West, the annual family tradition and beloved animated film The Snowman, a chance for the audience to join the Orchestra for a Symphony Sing-A-Long, and a co-production with the School of Richmond Ballet performing choreography to Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring. This series will be conducted by Associate Conductor Chia-Hsuan Lin.
6. After a third season of sold-out performances, the Symphony will team up again with Hardywood Park Craft Brewery for a series of one-hour, Thursday evening Rush Hour concerts.
7. Randolph-Macon College will continue to host the Metro Collection series. This season the series will be conducted by four of our Music Director Candidates and highlight Symphony musicians as soloists.

(Full list of concerts and dates listed in separate document)

“The Richmond Symphony’s 62^nd season is one of welcoming and the discovery of diverse talents,” says Executive Director David J.L Fisk. “We welcome six outstanding Music Director Candidates; world-class guest conductors Andrew Litton (Music Director of the New York City Ballet), Jahja Ling (Conductor Laureate of the San Diego Symphony) and the return of former Richmond Symphony Associate Conductor Marin Alsop; and exciting guest artists ranging from violinist Inmo Yang to the return of pop sensation Michael Cavanaugh. We welcome the world to our region during the eleven-day Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020. Most of all, we welcome YOU to enjoy all that our 62nd season has to offer!”

Continued Accessibility Efforts Around Free and Discounted Tickets

The Richmond Symphony strives to engage and serve broader segments of the Richmond-metro area community. For the 2019/20 season the Richmond Symphony will continue its Dominion Energy funded program to extend free tickets to active members of the military. We recognize the sacrifices of our active military members and their families and want to thank them for their service by offering the chance to attend and enjoy Symphony concerts. The Richmond Symphony also provides free tickets to youth 18 and under for our Altria Masterworks concerts. In addition, most Richmond Symphony performances have tickets starting at the low price of $10.

The Richmond Symphony gratefully acknowledges the significant support of Altria, presenting sponsor of our Masterworks Series, and Union Bank & Trust, presenting sponsor of the LolliPops Series. We also extend our thanks to Genworth, sponsors of the appearance of Marin Alsop in our season opening weekend, and Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, providing support for our LolliPops Series Pre-Concert Festivals. Finally, we thank Dominion Energy for its sponsorship of our free tickets for active military members initiative.

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Contacts:
Erin Frye
Marketing and PR Manager
804.788.4717 ext. 121
efrye@richmondsymphony.com

Scott Dodson
Director of Advancement and Patron Communications
804.788.4717 ext. 120
sdodson@richmondsymphony.com

Kirshbaum Associates, Inc
National Publicists for the Menuhin Competition Richmond 2020
711 West End Avenue, Suite 5KN New York, New York10025 United States of America
212.222.4843
info@kirshbaumassociates.com