Education & Community Engagement


School-based Programs

Elizabeth G. Schneider Discovery Concerts
Docent Program
Music Ambassadors Program
Open Rehearsals
Symphony at School

Elizabeth G. Schneider Discovery Concerts

Reservation form

Expedition: The Road to Rhythm
October 29, 2009 & March 11, 2010
10:00 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.
Carpenter Theatre

The Elizabeth G. Schneider Discovery Education Concerts, held during the school day, engage young minds through exciting full-orchestra performances. These special morning performances by the Richmond Symphony correlate with Virginia Standards of Learning. Participating schools receive student listening guides, a teacher guide and a study CD in advance of the performance.

New this year! The final concert (11:30am, March 11) will be geared toward middle and high school students. The concert will feature the same great music and a more sophisticated presentation, though students of any age are welcome at all concerts.

Tickets are $5 (general admission); $4 for Title 1 schools.

Docent Program

When you send in your reservation for the Elizabeth G. Schneider Discovery Education Concerts, be sure to request an in-school visit by an RSO Docent. Working in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University, undergraduate music majors are trained to introduce students to the orchestra and symphonic music. These free, 50-minute visits are designed to help students develop an appreciation for the concert repertoire and make the concert experience more meaningful. (link to registration form)

Musical Ambassadors Program (MAP)

Reservation form

Five chamber ensembles of the Richmond Symphony perform over 100 concerts annually for approximately 30,000 school children in Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, and Richmond Public Schools as well as private and home schools. Performances for students of all ages are upbeat and informal. Programs are age-appropriate, last approximately 30 - 45 minutes, and relate to the theme of the Elizabeth G. Schneider Discovery Education Concert.

Middle school and high school music teachers may opt for either a performance or sectional format for MAP programs. MAP performances are offered to Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico, and Richmond Public Schools at no charge and are available to private and home school groups at affordable rates.

String Quartet (SQ)
Instrumentation: Violin (2), viola, cello
Available for audiences in grades 6-12
Program Theme: Exploring Music and Cultural Heritage

Richmond Symphony Strings (RSS)
Instrumentation: Violin (10), viola (3), cello (2), bass (2) plus percussion (for the 09-10 season)
Available for audiences in grades k-5
Program Theme: The RSS World Music Awards: our favorites from around the world

Woodwind Quartet (WW4)
Instrumentation: Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon
Available for audiences in grades k-5
Program Theme: to be determined

Woodwind Quintet (WW5)
Instrumentation: Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn
Available for audiences in grades 6-12
Program Theme: The Woodwind Quintet’s European Vacation

Brass Quintet (BQ)
Instrumentation: Trumpet (2); French horn, trombone, tuba plus percussion (for the 09-10 season)
Available for audiences in grades 1-12
Program Theme: What IS rhythm, anyway?

Open Rehearsals

Reservation form

This is your chance to see the Richmond Symphony at work in rehearsal in the Carpenter Theatre. Open Rehearsals give high school and college students and teachers the opportunity to learn from Richmond Symphony musicians, guest artists and conductors. Students are invited to observe a complete (2 ½ hour) rehearsal; there will be a fifteen minute break approximately halfway through. Following the rehearsal, the conductor, guest artists and/or select members of the RSO may take questions from students.

Open Rehearsals are free of charge, but seating is limited. Reservations must be made in advance through the RSO Education Department

Friday, October 16, 7:30pm
Christian Knapp, conductor
Jeremy Denk, Piano

Debussy Prélude à “L’aprés-midi d’un faune”
Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op.26
Berlioz Symphonie fantastique

Friday, November 13, 7:30pm
Arthur Fagan, conductor
Yang Wei, Pipa

Beethoven Egmont Overture
Bright Sheng Nanking! Nanking! A Threnody for Orchestra and Pipa
Franck Symphony in D minor

Thursday, February 4, 7:30pm
Karen Johnson, violin

Sierra Sinfonia No. 4
Dvorak Romance for Violin and Orchestra in F Minor, Op. 11
Paganini La Campanella from “Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor, Op. 7”
3RD MOVEMENT ONLY
Stravinsky Petrushka


Friday, February 26, 7:30pm
Jon Nakamatsu, piano

Mozart Overture to the Magic Flute
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor”
Dvorak Symphony No. 6

Symphony @ School

Symphony @ School connects the Richmond Symphony with two Richmond City middle schools; musicians, students, teachers & families come together to increase skills, participation & passion for music.

Symphony @ School, which began in the fall of 2008, is a new education initiative of the Richmond Symphony. The program is the result of conversations between RSO, local music teachers, Richmond Public School administrators and currently serves two middle school communities: Binford Model Middle and Lucille Brown Middle School. Students meet weekly with RSO artist-teachers to receive private and group instruction on their instrument.

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