The Richmond Symphony has been awarded a matching grant by the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation to purchase a state-of the-art mobile stage “The Big Tent” to take our music to local communities in a compelling and unique outdoor setting. The structure (one of the largest on the East Coast) provides sufficient performance space to accommodate the full 70-piece Richmond Symphony, the 150-voice Symphony Chorus, and a variety of orchestral concerts.

The Richmond Symphony is committed to this project creating a lasting impact on the various communities and populations it serves. Our Community Philosophy is to:

• Create transformational benefits to the host community.
• Be more than the single instance of a Symphony performance.
• Focus on community partnerships and shared goals.
• Provide opportunities for members of a community to participate and use the “Big Tent” for additional activities.
• Craft meaningful and positive experiences/outcomes for all involved.
• Encourage community pride.
• Generate additional funding and activities for students and schools.
• Raise funds and awareness for local non-profits/community initiatives

The Big Tent allows the Richmond Symphony to offer free outdoor concerts and serve tens of thousands of people a year, including the many education and community engagement programs. For more information about the Big Tent, please contact community@richmondsymphony.com.