Music Instruction

Youth Orchestra Program
Orchestra Project Summer Camp
Masterclasses and Workshops
RSOL Concerto Competition
Music Together

Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program (YOP)

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the 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, prepared excerpt and a short sight-reading 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.

Summer Camp: Orchestra Project

June 24-June 29, 2012 on the campus of VCU
Orchestra Project 2012 brochure

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 grades 3-12. Orchestra Project is an exciting summer music camp staffed entirely by some 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. The mission of Orchestra Project is to bring about transformative growth in young musicians.

Orchestra Project 2012 brochure

Orchestra Intensive

Intensive is designed for ambitious middle and high school students who are looking for intense music study. The Orchestra Intensive camp is an advanced full symphony camp. Admission by audition only.

String Odyssey

Odyssey is designed for string students with 2 or more years of experience on their instrument. Odyssey is open to all string players currently in grades 3-12 (for the 11-12 school year) with a teacher recommendation.

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. Please check back regularly.

Please check the website regularly; information about masterclasses is updated often as visiting artists’ availability changes.

Richmond Symphony Orchestra League Concerto Competition

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 2011-12 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 will take place Saturday, January 7, 2012 from 8am-4pm on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

RSOL Concerto Competition Repertoire List
Application Form 2011

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: 9:30 & 10:30am on Saturday mornings
Cost: $160 (fall semester); $165 (winter and spring semesters) includes all materials
Schedule:
Fall 2011: 9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12 (no class 10/8)
Winter 2012: 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25
Spring 2012: 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5 and 5/12 (no class April 7)

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