The Richmond Symphony Presents Two Free Youth Orchestra Program Concerts, 4/27 and 5/18

Concerts presented by the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program (YOP) highlight some of the region's top young musicians. Students from grades 2 to 12 make up four ensembles, ranging from beginner to advanced. These FREE educational concerts are great for music-lovers of all ages.

We invite you to join us as we celebrate the 52nd season of YOP!

Sunday, April 27 at 7:00 pm featuring three of the four ensembles: Youth Concert Orchestra conducted by Amy Birdsong of Hanover High School, Camerata Strings conducted by Rebecca Jilcott of Matoaca Middle School and String Sinfonietta conducted by Christie-Jo Adams of Brookland Middle School.

Sunday, May 18 at 7:00 pm featuring our top ensemble: Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra conducted by Peter Jacobson. Johnny Willing, winner of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra concerto competition and student at Atlee High School, will be a featured soloist on bassoon.

Admission is FREE! (no ticket required)

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.

Today, celebrating its fifth decade of excellence, 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 200 students in the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program. Each season, more than 250,000 members of the community enjoy concerts, radio broadcasts, and educational outreach programs. The Richmond Symphony is partially funded by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.