Richmond Symphony

The Nutcracker
2016-12-23 14:00 - 16:00, 2016-12-22 14:00 - 16:00, 2016-12-21 19:00 - 21:00, 2016-12-20 19:00 - 21:00, 2016-12-18 16:30 - 18:30, 2016-12-18 13:00 - 15:00, 2016-12-17 19:00 - 21:00, 2016-12-17 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) and 5 more dates | Carpenter Theatre, 612 East Grace Street, Richmond , VA, 23219, United States
From the opening notes of Tchaikovsky’s famous overture, audiences are whisked into the warm, candlelit drawing room of the Silberhaus family, buzzing with celebrations of Christmas. To the delight of the family’s young daughter, Clara, Dr. Drosselmeyer, the mysterious toymaker, and his handsome nephew arrive with a special gift – a wooden nutcracker doll – that captures the girl’s imagination. As darkness falls, Dr. Drosselmeyer’s magic begins to work, setting in motion fantastical events that will fill Clara’s dreams: a battle beneath the branches of an enchanted Christmas tree, the transformation of the nutcracker doll into the young Nutcracker Prince, and a journey from a snow-covered forest to the far-off Kingdom of Sweets. Join the Russian Bear, the Chinese Dragon and the Mouse King as they celebrate the magic of the holidays with Richmond Ballet!

Paramount Theater
2016-12-07 18:00 | Paramount Theater, 215 E Main S, Charlottesville, VA, 22902, United States
The Richmond Symphony is performing in Charlottesville, Virginia in December for an evening of fun, delightful music to kick off the holiday season. They will be performing Union Bank & Trust Lollipops Concert series 2. The symphony will be accompanying the Academy Award-winning movie The Snowman.
The performance will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. in the Paramount Theater located in the downtown mall in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Winter Concert
2016-12-04 19:00 | Carpenter Theatre, 612 East Grace Street, Richmond , VA, 23219, United States
You are invited to join the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program (YOP) for a free concert on Sunday, December 4 at 7pm at the Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Arts Center. Student musicians will perform pieces by some of the most renowned classical composers including Sibelius, Brahms and Mozart. Three out of four YOP ensembles totaling 176 students will be featured at the concert including Youth Concert Orchestra led by Christopher Moseley, Camerata Strings led by Rebecca Jilcott and String Sinfonietta led by Christie-Jo Adams. This will be the group’s first concert since they began practicing together at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in September.

Let It Snow! 2016
2016-12-04 15:00 - 17:00 | Carpenter Theatre, 612 East Grace Street, Richmond , VA, 23219, United States
Celebrate the holidays with a concert featuring the sounds of the season! Join the Richmond Symphony and Richmond Symphony Chorus for this annual tradition the whole family will love.
Learn more about Chia-Hsuan Lin, conductor
Learn more about Erin R. Freeman, director
Learn more about Richmond Symphony Chorus
Learn more about Sarah Kate Walston, soprano
Learn more about City Singers Youth Choirs

Let It Snow! 2016
2016-12-03 20:00 - 22:00 | Carpenter Theatre, 612 East Grace Street, Richmond , VA, 23219, United States
Celebrate the holidays with a concert featuring the sounds of the season! Join the Richmond Symphony and Richmond Symphony Chorus for this annual tradition the whole family will love.
Learn more about Chia-Hsuan Lin, conductor
Learn more about Erin R. Freeman, director
Learn more about Richmond Symphony Chorus
Learn more about Sarah Kate Walston, soprano
Learn more about City Singers Youth Choirs
Purchase tickets to Sunday’s performance.

Handel's Messiah
2016-12-02 19:30 - 21:30 | Carpenter Theatre, 612 East Grace Street, Richmond , VA, 23219, United States
For generations, Richmonders have been delighted by this magnificent holiday classic. Don’t miss the Richmond Symphony and the Richmond Symphony Chorus performing Handel’s masterwork.
Learn more about Erin R. Freeman, conductor
Learn more about Richmond Symphony Chorus
Learn more about Youngmi Kim, soprano
Learn more about Jessica Renfro, mezzo-soprano
Learn more about Marco Panuccio, tenor
Learn more about Michael Dean, bass-baritone

Cyber Monday
2016-11-28 00:00 - 23:59 | Richmond Symphony, 612 East Grace Street, Suite 401, Richmond, VA, VA, 23219, United States
Click here to view our special Cyber Monday deals only available on November 28, 2016.

The Snowman
2016-11-26 11:00 - 12:00 | Carpenter Theatre, 612 East Grace Street, Richmond , VA, 23219, United States
A new annual holiday tradition with the Richmond Symphony! Enjoy the Academy Award-winning movie The Snowman accompanied by the Richmond Symphony. This charming animated film tells the story of a young boy’s magical friendship with a snowman. Enjoy other holiday favorites during this program as well including Sleigh Ride and excerpts from The Nutcracker.
Arrive early and join us for a free pre-concert festival, featuring our instrument petting zoo and enjoy interactive activities for the whole family that will enhance your concert experience. Pre-concert festivities begin at 10am in Rhythm Hall. LolliPops concerts are ideal for children ages 5 and up, but music lovers of all ages are welcome. Subscribe Now to the LolliPops series and save almost 40%!

Learn more about Steven Smith, conductor
What our patrons are saying about previous LolliPops concerts:
“Thank you! All staff were wonderful making the children feel welcome & special. It really made a difference with the experience!”
“The Richmond Symphony, and especially the LolliPops concerts, are some of my favorite things about our wonderful Richmond! I am so grateful that we have such a wonderful organization for 3 generations in our family to all enjoy together. Thank you!”
“I just can’t put into words how much we loved the Halloween show. I wish that every child in Richmond could have been there too!”
Sponsored By

Our LolliPops Concerts are now Sensory-Friendly!
Click here for more information.

© Snowman Enterprises Limited
“The Snowman“ by Raymond Briggs is published by Puffin

10th Annual Come and Play
2016-11-20 18:00 - 19:30 | VCU Siegel Center, 1200 W Broad Street, Richmond , VA, 23284, United States
Be part of Richmond’s Biggest Birthday Party!
You are invited to come see 700+ musicians perform under one roof during the 10th Annual Come and Play. A special addition for the 10th year, Music Director Steven Smith and Erin R. Freeman will each join Chia-Hsuan Lin on the podium to conduct one piece during the concert.
The concert is free and open to the public (no ticket required).“ Come and Play” was envisioned by David Fisk, Executive Director of the Richmond Symphony after starting a similar program overseas. He presented the idea many times before Aimee Halbruner and Erin Freeman agreed to plan and coordinate the project. The goal of the first year was to engage 30 – 40 community musicians to join the Richmond Symphony, however, the interest of the community far exceeded the expectation attracting over 400 musicians! As the community embraced the idea of Come and Play, it was obvious that a traditional concert venue would not be sufficient to accommodate the ensemble and the partnership with the Stuart C. Siegel Center at VCU was formed.
Come and Play, now in its 10th season, welcomes over 650 musicians from across Virginia (and beyond) to the Siegel Center at VCU for a rehearsal and performance of classical and popular symphonic favorites. The concert always begins with the same selection: Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King from Peer Gynt.
Musicians describe the experience as motivational, inspirational, and pure fun. There are as many personal stories as there are participants, such as the family that comes together every year to play, to the musician who hasn’t played his instrument in 20 years, to the child who is playing his relative’s instrument for his first orchestral experience. These stories are the heart of the experience of Come and Play.
Come and Play has become an annual favorite for the Richmond Symphony family as well as the Richmond community.
This event is presented in support of music education in Richmond area schools. For more information about Come & Play, please contact the Education & Community Engagement Department at education@richmondsymphony.com.
Come & Play 2015

Richmond Symphony at Goochland
2016-11-19 16:00 - 21:30 | Goochland High School, 3250 River Rd W, Goochland , VA, 23063, United States
The Richmond Symphony is performing A Holiday Tradition on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 4pm in Goochland High School’s auditorium. Bring your friends and family and enjoy seasonal favorites including music from Disney’s Frozen, The Nutcracker, and more in a holiday concert led by Associate Conductor Chia-Hsuan Lin.
Tickets—at the special price of $20 for adults and $15 for children. Tickets are available at will call at Goochland High School or online. More information on Rotary Club of Goochland’s website.

Fall Concert
2016-11-13 19:00 | Carpenter Theatre, 612 East Grace Street, Richmond , VA, 23219, United States
Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO) is the top ensemble of the Youth Orchestra Program. Richmond Symphony’s flagship educational program, founded in 1962, consists of four youth orchestras providing beginning to advanced musical training. As the premier 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.

Berlioz Romeo and Juliet
2016-11-13 15:00 - 17:00 | Carpenter Theatre, 612 East Grace Street, Richmond , VA, 23219, United States
Discover the power of live music with our Altria Masterworks series. Featuring orchestral classics and contemporary composers, this series will inspire you. Join us an hour before each concert for a free pre-concert talk with the Richmond Symphony Music Director, Steven Smith. These talks often feature guest artists and conductors and provide you with insights for the concert you are about to hear.
Learn more about Steven Smith, conductor
Learn more about Kathryn Leemhuis, mezzo-soprano
Learn more about Vale Rideout, tenor
Learn more about Darren K. Stokes, bass-baritone
Learn more about the Richmond Symphony Chorus
Learn more about Erin R. Freeman, chorus director
Program Notes
Artwork by: Bizhan Khodabandeh / Inspired by: Berlioz Romeo and Juliet

Berlioz Romeo and Juliet
2016-11-12 20:00 - 22:00 | Carpenter Theatre, 612 East Grace Street, Richmond , VA, 23219, United States
Discover the power of live music with our Altria Masterworks series. Featuring orchestral classics and contemporary composers, this series will inspire you. Join us an hour before each concert for a free pre-concert talk with the Richmond Symphony Music Director, Steven Smith. These talks often feature guest artists and conductors and provide you with insights for the concert you are about to hear.
Learn more about Steven Smith, conductor
Learn more about Kathryn Leemhuis, mezzo-soprano
Learn more about Vale Rideout, tenor
Learn more about Darren K. Stokes, bass-baritone
Learn more about the Richmond Symphony Chorus
Learn more about Erin R. Freeman, chorus director

Purchase tickets to Sunday’s performance
Program Notes
Artwork by: Bizhan Khodabandeh / Inspired by: Berlioz Romeo and Juliet

La Bayadere, Slaughter on 10th Avenue, and Lift the Fallen
2016-11-06 14:00 - 17:00, 2016-11-05 19:00 - 22:00, 2016-11-04 19:00 - 22:00 | Carpenter Theatre, 612 East Grace Street, Richmond , VA, 23219, United States
Three strikingly different ballets with the Richmond Symphony.
For the first time in professional history, Richmond Ballet will perform one of the most iconic scenes in the world of classical ballet, Marius Petipa’s mesmerizing ‘Kingdom of the Shades’ from the lavish, full-length ballet, La Bayadere.
Ma Cong’s Lift The Fallen, a stunning tribute to his mother, will be presented for the first time with live orchestration at the Carpenter Theatre this year after thrilling audiences across China during the Company’s 2015 tour.
Also gracing the Richmond Ballet stage for the first time, George Balanchine’s Slaughter on Tenth Avenue is a sultry, boozy tale of jealousy, mobsters and the seamy underbelly of New York City.

An Afternoon of Music and Theatrics
2016-11-06 02:00 - 15:00 | Agecroft Hall, 4305 Sulgrave Rd., Richmond, VA, 23221, United States
UPDATE: Due to the high volume of RSVPs, we are no longer accepting reservations for this event.
It’s an afternoon of music and theatrics when Steven Smith, music director of the Richmond Symphony, shares the stage with two noted Shakespeare specialists, Carol and Ken Adelman, president and vice-president of “Movers & Shakespeares” on Sunday, Nov. 6.
Presented at the historic Agecroft Hall, site of Richmond’s own summer Shakespeare Festival, these three entertaining speakers will compare beloved film versions of “Romeo and Juliet” alongside Berlioz’s brilliant musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, all in anticipation of the upcoming concerts by the Richmond Symphony and Chorus, November 12th and 13th, in the Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Arts Center.
Featuring commentary on how Berlioz and Shakespeare conceived their works, the three speakers will present excerpts of the symphony and compare film versions of a selection of Shakespeare’s scenes, including the masked ball — where the two fall madly in love; the classic balcony scene; and the tragic ending and enduring legacy of the young lovers.
Carol and Ken Adelman are the creators of “Movers & Shakespeares,” a program devised to teach leadership through the works of Shakespeare. Carol is a frequent teacher of Shakespeare seminars at the Aspen Institute, has been a producer of amateur theatre for decades, and is currently the Director of the Center for Global Prosperity at the Hudson Institute, which publishes the annual Index of Global Philanthropy and Remittances. Ken, who has taught Shakespeare at Georgetown University and George Washington University, is a former Ambassador to the U.N. and U.S. Arms Control Director under President Reagan, and author of Reagan at Reykjavik and Shakespeare in Charge. Their daughter, Jocelyn, has been a violinist with the Richmond Symphony since 2004.

Windborne's Music of Whitney Houston
2016-10-29 20:00 - 22:00 | Altria Theater, 6 North Laurel Street, Richmond , VA, 23220, United States
The Guinness World Records named Whitney Houston as the most-awarded female act of all time, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide—a true diva with a powerful voice that touched our hearts and souls. Join the Richmond Symphony and vocal sensation Rashidra Scott for an evening of Whitney’s biggest hits, including “How Will I Know?,” “Where Do Broken Hearts Go?” and of course “I Will Always Love You.”
Join us at the Altria Theater, a special location!
Learn more about Brent Havens, conductor
Learn more about Rashidra Scott, vocalist
A short message from vocalist Rashidra Scott:
