Richmond Symphony Orchestra

The Richmond Symphony Orchestra, commonly called the Richmond Symphony, is a nonprofit American orchestra headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Founded in 1957, it is described as the largest performing-arts organization in Central Virginia and has developed from a regional concert orchestra into a broader music and education organization. Its work combines subscription-style orchestral programming, chamber music, popular and family concerts, youth ensembles, choral performance, touring, radio broadcasts, and community engagement. The organization maintains a full-time orchestra of more than 70 musicians. Its institutional activities also include the Richmond Symphony Chorus, a volunteer ensemble of approximately 150 singers, and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program, which brings together more than 260 elementary- through secondary-school students across four ensembles. Together, these parts of the organization extend the Symphony's role beyond the traditional concert hall and support both professional performance and music education. The Symphony's main concert structure includes the Masterworks series, which presents standard and contemporary symphonic repertoire with guest artists; the Metro Collection Series, focused on chamber music and performances by Richmond Symphony musicians as soloists; the Pops series, which mixes classical and popular repertoire; the LolliPops series for families; and Rush Hour concerts, shorter and more informal programs staged at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. The orchestra also presents special concerts and tours across Central, Western, and Southern Virginia. The organization has worked with a wide range of prominent artists and composers, including Claudio Arrau, Joshua Bell, Yefim Bronfman, Aaron Copland, Yo-Yo Ma, Jessye Norman, Itzhak Perlman, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Isaac Stern, William Grant Still, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, André Watts, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, the Dave Matthews Band, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Hamlisch, and Bruce Hornsby. These collaborations reflect the orchestra's programming across classical, contemporary, crossover, and popular music. Community access and education are central to the Symphony's public identity. In 2015 it launched the Big Tent initiative, taking concerts and festivals into communities throughout the Richmond region. By December 2019, the initiative had reached tens of thousands of audience members, developed more than 150 community partnerships, and helped raise over $400,000 for 363 musical instruments and arts programming in Richmond Public Schools. Big Tent was also supported by a 2017 American Orchestras' Futures Fund grant from the League of American Orchestras. The orchestra is partially supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Approximately 200,000 community members hear its live concerts and radio broadcasts during a season, while roughly 55,000 students and teachers participate in its educational outreach programs. Valentina Peleggi became music director in 2020, Hae Lee was appointed associate conductor and Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra conductor in 2024, and Lacey Huszcza serves as executive director.

The Richmond Symphony Orchestra was founded in Richmond, Virginia, in 1957 and gave three concerts during its inaugural season. Over time, it became a major professional performing-arts institution for Central Virginia, developing regular concert series, special events, regional touring, broadcasts, educational services, and community programs. The organization grew beyond its principal orchestra through two important affiliated programs. The Richmond Symphony Chorus was established in 1971 and presented its first performance under the direction of Robert Shaw. James Erb led the chorus from 1971 through 2007, followed by Erin R. Freeman from 2007 to 2022. Richard W. Robbins became chorus director in 2024. The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program developed four ensembles for elementary- through secondary-school musicians and had more than 260 participants; Hae Lee became its conductor in 2024. The orchestra's programming has been organized around five principal series. Masterworks presents symphonic repertoire and guest artists. The Metro Collection Series emphasizes chamber music and features Richmond Symphony musicians as soloists. Pops combines classical and popular repertoire, while LolliPops is designed for families. Rush Hour offers shorter, informal concerts at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. Alongside these series, the orchestra has performed special concerts and toured throughout Central, Western, and Southern Virginia. Its artistic history includes music directors Edgar Schenkman, Jacques Houtmann, George Manahan, Mark Russell Smith, Steven Smith, and, from 2020, Valentina Peleggi. Former associate conductors include William Henry Curry, Peter Bay, Marin Alsop, Thomas Wilkins, Eckart Preu, Clark Etienne Suttle, Sarah Hatsuko Hicks, Erin Freeman, Keitaro Harada, and Chia-Hsuan Lin. The orchestra has collaborated with major classical performers and composers as well as popular artists, including Joshua Bell, Yo-Yo Ma, Jessye Norman, Itzhak Perlman, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, the Dave Matthews Band, and Bruce Hornsby. Community engagement became especially visible through the Big Tent initiative, launched in 2015. The program brought concerts and festivals into communities across the Richmond region rather than limiting activity to conventional concert venues. By December 2019, it had reached tens of thousands of audience members, created more than 150 community partnerships, and helped raise more than $400,000 for 363 instruments and arts programming in Richmond Public Schools. The League of American Orchestras recognized the initiative through support from its 2017 American Orchestras' Futures Fund. The Richmond Symphony is a nonprofit corporation partially supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Its reported annual reach includes approximately 200,000 people attending live concerts or hearing radio broadcasts and approximately 55,000 students and teachers participating in education and outreach programs. Its current institutional model combines a full-time professional orchestra, affiliated choral and youth ensembles, ticketed performance series, regional access programs, and school-based music education.

• 2024

  New youth-program and chorus leadership

  [1]Richmond Symphony Orchestraen.wikipedia.org

  Hae Lee was appointed associate conductor and youth orchestra conductor, while Richard W. Robbins became director of the Richmond Symphony Chorus.

• 2020

  Valentina Peleggi begins music-director tenure

  [1]Richmond Symphony Orchestraen.wikipedia.org

  Valentina Peleggi became the Richmond Symphony's music director.

• 2017

  Big Tent receives Futures Fund support

  [1]Richmond Symphony Orchestraen.wikipedia.org

  The community initiative was among the programs supported by the League of American Orchestras' American Orchestras' Futures Fund.

• 2015

  Big Tent initiative launched

  [1]Richmond Symphony Orchestraen.wikipedia.org

  The Symphony began taking concerts and festivals into communities across the Richmond region.

• 1971

  Richmond Symphony Chorus established

  [1]Richmond Symphony Orchestraen.wikipedia.org

  The Richmond Symphony Chorus was founded and gave its first performance under Robert Shaw.

• 1957

  Richmond Symphony founded

  [1]Richmond Symphony Orchestraen.wikipedia.org

  The Richmond Symphony Orchestra was established in Richmond, Virginia, and performed three concerts in its first season.

A regional professional orchestra positioned as both a leading performing-arts institution and a community music-education organization. Its offer spans major symphonic repertoire, chamber and popular programming, family concerts, youth ensembles, school outreach, and accessible neighborhood events.

• Orchestral concert series

  Masterworks

  The Symphony's principal symphonic series, presenting orchestral repertoire and guest artists. It represents the organization's core large-ensemble artistic offering and connects the Richmond audience with established and contemporary concert works.

• Chamber music series

  Metro Collection Series

  A chamber-oriented series featuring Richmond Symphony musicians, including appearances by orchestra members as soloists. The format offers smaller-scale programming alongside the organization's full-orchestra concerts.

• Popular and crossover concert series

  Pops

  A concert series combining classical orchestral performance with popular repertoire and crossover programming. It broadens the Symphony's audience proposition beyond conventional symphonic repertoire.

• Family concert series

  LolliPops

  A family-focused concert series designed to make orchestral music approachable for children and caregivers through accessible programming and a welcoming concert format.

• Informal short concert series

  Rush Hour

  One-hour concerts presented in a casual setting at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. The format emphasizes convenience and informality, offering a shorter alternative to a traditional symphony program.

• Volunteer chorus · 1971

  Richmond Symphony Chorus

  A volunteer choral ensemble founded in 1971 and associated with the Richmond Symphony. The chorus has approximately 150 members and expands the organization's vocal and large-scale concert capabilities.

• Youth music education

  Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program

  A program comprising four ensembles for elementary- through secondary-school students. It provides structured ensemble training and performance opportunities for more than 260 young musicians.

• Community engagement initiative · 2015

  Big Tent

  A community-facing initiative launched in 2015 that brings concerts and festivals to neighborhoods throughout the Richmond region. It combines public performance with partnerships, fundraising for instruments, and support for school arts programming.

• 2015Big Tent

  Richmond region · Central Virginia

  The Richmond Symphony launched Big Tent to bring orchestral concerts and festivals into communities throughout the Richmond area, extending access beyond established performance venues.

  Outcome. By December 2019, the initiative had reached tens of thousands of audience members, formed more than 150 community partnerships, and helped raise over $400,000 for 363 instruments and arts programming in Richmond Public Schools.

  Source

• 2015

  Adopt community-based Big Tent strategyStrategy

  Background

  The Symphony sought to extend its public reach through concerts and festivals located in communities across the Richmond region.

  Action taken

  It launched Big Tent as a community engagement and access initiative.

  Aftermath

  The program later reported tens of thousands of audience members, more than 150 partnerships, and substantial support for instruments and Richmond Public Schools arts programming.

  Funds raised for instruments and arts programming. More than $400,000 (By December 2019)

  Source

1. 1Richmond Symphony Orchestraen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Richmond Symphony official websiterichmondsymphony.com