https://richmondsymphonysom.com/, https://linktr.ee/rssom/

Richmond Symphony School of Music, 612 E Grace Street, Richmond, VA (2026)

07/27/2026

Congratulations to the YOP class of 2026! This year, twenty students graduated from the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program. The next senior we’d like to recognize is oboist Minami Furukawa! 🎶

Minami has played with the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra for one year. After graduating from Albemarle High School, she will attend Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, where she will major in mechanical engineering and minor in applied music, continuing her studies on the oboe. During her time in high school, Minami participated in multiple All-Virginia Band, Chorus, and Orchestra ensembles, as well as South Central and Senior Regional Orchestra, Music for All’s Honor Band of America, and the Charlottesville Symphony. Minami writes, “My favorite memory has to be playing with the Richmond Symphony in the side-by-side concert this year. It was unbelievable having the chance to play in the Carpenter Theater and play alongside musicians I have admired for years. The repertoire was also amazing, and it was genuinely the best feeling to play on stage that rehearsal and concert.” She adds, “Thank you to Conductor Lee for being such a wonderful conductor to work under! And thank you especially to Anna and Davey for all of their support and friendly faces every rehearsal.” Congratulations, Minami!

Richmond Symphony

07/22/2026

Congratulations to the YOP class of 2026! This year, twenty students graduated from the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program. The next senior we’d like to recognize is cellist Grayson Ebinger! 🎶

Grayson has performed with Youth Concert Orchestra for three years. Following his graduation from high school, Grayson will pursue a degree in aviation maintenance and technology, with his end goal to one day become a commercial pilot. His favorite memory from his time in YOP was “playing amazing songs with the orchestra,” and in his senior survey, he wrote “Thank you Dr. Goldie for teaching so much about not just playing notes but making music [too].” Congratulations, Grayson! 🎉

Richmond Symphony

07/17/2026

Congratulations to the YOP class of 2026! This year, twenty students graduated from the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program. The next senior we’d like to recognize is RSYO flutist Sophie Curtis! 🎶

Sophie has been a member of the Youth Orchestra Program for three years, performing with both Youth Concert Orchestra and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra. After graduating from Hermitage High School, she will attend Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania to study linguistics. Sophie’s favorite memory from YOP was performing Bedřich Smetana’s Moldau alongside their teacher in RSYO’s February 2026 Side-by-Side with the Richmond Symphony. Sophie adds, “Thank you so much to the YOP team who put in the work to make it possible!” Congratulations, Sophie! 🎉

Richmond Symphony

07/15/2026

Congratulations to the YOP class of 2026! This year, twenty students graduated from the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program. The next senior we’d like to recognize is clarinetist Porter Clark! 🎶

Porter has played clarinet with the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO) for one year. After graduating from Monticello High School, he will attend Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia to study clarinet performance and music education. During his time in high school, he was selected for the All-Virginia Band, Chorus, and Orchestra for two years, participated in South Central Regional Orchestra, and performed with the Raiders Drum & Bugle Corps. His favorite memory from his time in YOP was RSYO’s February 2026 side-by-side performance with the Richmond Symphony, where he enjoyed both performing with and talking to Richmond Symphony members. Porter adds, “Thanks for everything, everyone was so kind and [YOP is] a great program.” Congratulations, Porter! 🎉

Richmond Symphony

06/30/2026

Congratulations to the YOP class of 2026! This spring, twenty students graduated from the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program. The next senior we’d like to congratulate is Elizabeth Chang, RSYO violin! 🎻

Elizabeth has been a member of the Youth Orchestra Program for six years. During her time in YOP, she performed with Camerata Strings, Youth Concert Orchestra, and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra. During her time in high school, she also participated in Central Regional Orchestra and Senior Regional Orchestra. After graduating from Deep Run High School, she will attend the University of Virginia’s Year in Wise program in Wise, Virginia, where she will major in biology. Her favorite memory from her time in YOP was when RSYO filmed and recorded a performance as part of a documentary about the Bluehead Chub. Congratulations, Elizabeth! 🎉

Richmond Symphony

06/29/2026

Congratulations to the YOP class of 2026! This spring, twenty students graduated from the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program. The next senior we’d like to congratulate is Grace Boak, RSYO flute! 🪈

Grace has been a member of our Youth Orchestra Program for two years, performing with both Youth Concert Orchestra (YCO) and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra (RSYO). During her time in high school, she has also performed in district band and the Central Virginia Wind Ensemble. After graduating from the Collegiate School, she will attend Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, where she will major in biophysics on a pre-med track. Her favorite memory from her time in YOP was playing at RSYO’s February 2026 side-by-side concert with the Richmond Symphony. Congratulations, Grace! 🎉

Richmond Symphony

06/26/2026

Congratulations to the YOP class of 2026! This spring, twenty students graduated from the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program. The first of our seniors we’d like to congratulate is Claire Barnes, RSYO viola. 🎻

Claire has been a member of our Youth Orchestra Program for three years, playing in both Youth Concert Orchestra and the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra. During her time in YOP, she has assisted as a member of the social media team. After graduating from Midlothian High School, she will attend James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia to major in advertising and to minor in music. Her favorite memory from her time in YOP was playing Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 with the Richmond Symphony at Big Tent 2025. In her senior survey, she wrote “Shoutout to the viola section :)”. Congratulations, Claire! 🎉

Richmond Symphony

06/11/2026

The Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program is thrilled to announce the newest addition to the YOP family: Christie-Jo Adams, who will conduct String Sinfonietta! Mrs. Adams previously conducted Sinfonietta, our entry-level string orchestra, for twelve years. We are beyond excited to welcome her back to the YOP community this fall! 🎻🎉

Registration for String Sinfonietta will open in early July. To fill out the Sinfonietta inquiry form, visit linktr.ee/rssom. To learn more about Mrs. Adams, read below. 🎶

——

Christie-Jo Adams is a distinguished music educator with a career spanning 32 years. Currently, she serves as the Coordinator for PreK-12 Arts Education for Richmond Public Schools in Richmond, Virginia, having previously held the position of Fine Arts Instructional Specialist. Prior to her current administrative roles, Ms. Adams dedicated 21 years to teaching orchestra within the Richmond and Henrico County Public School systems. She has also served as adjunct faculty at Virginia Union University and, for twelve years previously, as the conductor of String Sinfonietta, the entry-level string orchestra in the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program.

Ms. Adams was instrumental in the implementation and success of Virginia’s first Arts Integration Middle School within Richmond Public Schools and is currently spearheading the development of the district’s Richmond High School for the Arts. A dedicated violinist, she has performed as a member of the Petersburg Symphony and The Richmond Philharmonic. Her innovative approach to integrating the arts into general instruction earned her recognition as a ‘Leader to Learn From’ by Education Week magazine. Additionally, her article, “The Arts as a School Motivator,” was recently published in AASA School Administrator. In 2026 she was awarded the Lucille Brown Impact Award from Richmond Public Schools.

An active leader in the arts community, Ms. Adams serves on the Board of Directors for numerous arts organizations and is a member of the Richmond Mayor’s RVA Arts and Culture Advisory Group. She holds degrees from Longwood University and Averett University. Ms. Adams is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, an honorary international music fraternity for women, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she takes great pride in her role as a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.

——

Richmond Symphony

06/09/2026

Farewell to String Sinfonietta conductor Matt Wilson, who recently celebrated his final concert with our Youth Orchestra Program. ❤️🎶

Since 2022, Mr. Wilson has taught the youngest students in our program, teaching them the fundamentals of playing in a string orchestra and supporting them as they develop their skills on the violin, viola, cello, and double bass. We will miss Mr. Wilson next season, but are grateful for the four amazing years he spent making music with us. Thank you, Mr. Wilson, for all you’ve done to help our young musicians grow! ❤️🎻🌟

05/31/2026

Some peeks behind the scenes from our end-of-season Youth Orchestra concerts 🫶🎶 It’s not too late to audition to join YOP—virtual auditions for all instruments and ensembles are due by 11:59pm this Wednesday, June 3. Visit the link in our bio to sign up for your YOP audition today! (And if you’re interested in joining String Sinfonietta, more information on registration will come out this July!)

Richmond Symphony School of Music

07/27/2026

07/22/2026

07/17/2026

07/15/2026

06/30/2026

06/29/2026

06/26/2026

06/11/2026

06/09/2026

05/31/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category