Education and Community Engagement
Our musicians make a difference.
The Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s work extends far beyond performing concerts across Hampton Roads. Our musicians dedicate many hours each season to reaching young people in our community with educational programming.
Each year, these programs serve more than 45,000 students. This work is critical in the face of public funding cuts to music education: there is a significant gap in children’s exposure to music, and we are determined to help bridge that gap. Our roster of programs includes:
HeartStrings, which strengthens character through string instruction for elementary students in underserved schools
Master Classes, where the VSO’s internationally acclaimed guest soloists provide instruction to young musicians
SOAR, an artist residency program matching VSO musicians with local schools for coaching and mentorship
Young People’s Concerts, a series that brings elementary students from 11 cities to their first orchestra concert
Please join us in making this important work a reality by donating to our education programs today!
Partners in Education
Business Consortium for Arts Support
The Camp Foundation
The Capital Group Companies/Home of American Funds
Chesapeake Fine Arts Commission
Charles and Minette Cooper
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Norfolk Alumnae Chapter
Franklin Southampton Charities
Hampton Roads Community Foundation
The Morningstar Foundation
Music & Arts
Portsmouth Museum & Fine Arts Commission
Rouse-Bottom Foundation
Mayer I., Oscar Brandeis and Frances Levy Birshtein Fund
The Best of Wagner’s Ring Cycle • 10/20-10/22
Friday, October 20, 2017 | 8PM | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News Saturday, October 21, 2017 | 8PM | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk Sunday, October 22, 2017 | 2:30PM | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach Wagner’s 15-hour Ring Cycle is to opera...
Halloween Spooktacular • 10/29
Sunday, October 29, 2017 | 3 PM | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts Dress up in your favorite Halloween costume and join Robert Shoup and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra for a ghoulish afternoon of monstrous fun! The Orchestra will perform some of the spookiest...
From the Music of Bach to the Reformation Symphony • 11/3-11/5
Friday, November 3, 2017| 8PM | Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport News Saturday, November 4, 2017 | 8PM | Chrysler Hall, Norfolk Sunday, November 5, 2017| 2:30PM | Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia Beach We mark the 500th Anniversary of the...
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 • 11/9 & 11/11
Thursday, November 9, 2017 | 8PM | Crosswalk Community Church, Williamsburg Saturday, November 11, 2017 | 8PM | Regent University, Virginia Beach The second installment of the series begins with Hungarian composer Zoltán Kodály’s Dances of Galanta. Kodály based the...
