February 23, 2016

M E D I A A D V I S O R Y

For Immediate Release

Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Side-by-Side with the Richmond Symphony
Sunday, February 28 at 4:00pm
Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Arts Center

February 23, 2016 – Richmond, Virginia The annual tradition continues when the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO) shares the stage with the Richmond Symphony musicians on Sunday, February 28 at 4:00pm. Together they will play side by side, creating a 120 member orchestra! Hear selections from Sibelius, Dvořák, and Tchaikovsky in a concert featuring RSYO cellist, Jason Hwang. Hwang is the winner of the 2015 Richmond Symphony Orchestra League Concerto Competition. The performance will be held at the Carpenter Theatre Dominion ArtsCenter and led by Richmond Symphony Music Director Steven Smith.

The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra, led by Associate Conductor Chia-Hsuan Lin, offers a pre-college orchestra experience for the serious musician. To gain entrance into the ensemble, students from across the Central Virginia region must compete in a competitive audition process each spring. Students in the program hold themselves to a high level of discipline, preparation and musicianship.

Admission to this concert is free with no ticket required.

#           #           #

Program
Steven Smith, conductor
Jason Hwang, cello
SIBELIUS Finlandia, Opus 26
DVOŘÁK Concerto in B Minor for Cello and Orchestra, Opus
104
I. Allegro
Jason Hwang, cello
TCHAIKOVSKY Selections from Swan Lake Suite,

History of Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program
The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program was created in the spring of 1962 and is the oldest youth orchestra in Virginia. Leaders of the newly formed Richmond Symphony partnered with Richmond Public Schools to offer music students the opportunity to participate in a full orchestra experience and provide an exemplary orchestral experience for young musicians.

The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program (YOP) provides quality musical opportunities for student musicians. More than 250 school-aged musicians within a 100-mile radius of Richmond rehearse weekly with one of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program’s four ensembles. YOP is recognized as central Virginia’s premier orchestral training program and is in the forefront of the local arts community with a busy concert schedule that includes fall, winter and spring concerts for all of its ensembles.

The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program is committed to training young musicians, nurturing future performers and developing new audiences. We encourage and welcome everyone, whether a first-time listener or a seasoned concert-goer, to experience the magic of our talented young musicians performing together. YOP alumni can be found in major orchestras around the world including the Richmond Symphony! Many of our alumni become
professional musicians, many become music teachers, while others pursue careers unrelated to the arts and aspire to major leadership roles in their communities.

About the Richmond Symphony
Founded in 1957, the Richmond Symphony is the largest performing arts organization in Central Virginia. The organization includes an orchestra of more than 70 professional musicians, the 150-voice Richmond Symphony Chorus and more than 260 students in the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra programs. Each season, more than 200,000 members of the community enjoy concerts, and radio broadcasts. The Symphony also provides educational outreach programs to over 50,000 students and teachers each year. The Richmond Symphony
is partially funded by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Contacts: Kelli Marakovits
Marketing and PR Manager
p. 804.788.4717 ext. 121
e. kmarakovits@richmondsymphony.com

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