Summer Work
While most musicians would greatly prefer to remain and play in Richmond during the summer months, at this time, the RSO decides to only offer concerts for 38 weeks out of the year. Our members must find work where they can, and many travel a great distance from Richmond to do so. Here are some places you can find RSO musicians during the summer:
Grant Park Music Festival - Chicago
The Grant Park Music Festival is the nation’s only free, outdoor classical music series of its kind. Each summer, the Festival provides free classical music to all of Chicago in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.
Colorado Music Festival - Boulder, CO
The CMF summer season showcases Maestro Michael Christie and the CMF Orchestra performing for audiences of over 22,000 each summer. Programming includes beloved classical favorites, world music, chamber music, genre-bending ensembles and new works by contemporary composers. Inspired programming performed by exceptional musicians has earned CMF recognition from the League of American Orchestras and the National Endowment for the Arts.
AIMS Festival Orchestra in Graz - Vienna
The AIMS Festival Orchestra in Graz provides a unique opportunity to perform operatic and symphonic literature with a professional-level orchestra under European conductors. Exploring the beautiful country of Austria and environs and networking with musicians from the USA and Canada are added benefits. The AIMS Festival Orchestra is for experienced players who wish to perform in interesting venues in Austria under the direction of internationally acclaimed conductors.
Sun Valley Summer Symphony - Idaho
The Sun Valley Summer Symphony celebrates the majesty of its Alpine setting with the beauty of outstanding free classical music performances, and enriches our lives through its artistic, educational and cultural programming, made possible through the philanthropic generosity of its community.
Des Moines Metro Opera - Iowa
A summer opera festival, the company usually performs three operas in rolling repertory during June and July. Although created as an opera company for the Midwest, the company's audience base has grown over the years. As of 2008 it claims audiences from some 35 states and several foreign countries. The company also sends its educational arm, Opera Iowa, to sites throughout the state from fall through spring. Typically a troupe of several singers, a pianist and technical director, Opera Iowa has also traveled for educational performances in nine neighboring states and participated in exchange programs with like organizations in Japan and China.
Eastern Music Festival - Greensboro, NC
The Eastern Music Festival and School, founded in 1961 in Greensboro, North Carolina, is a nationally renowned classical music festival of the performing arts and institute for young musicians that runs for five weeks during the summer. The institute accepts gifted students of ages 14 through 22 at an exclusive enrollment of 200. In 2009, there were over 800 applicants from around the world for the 200 spots. The faculty consists of outstanding musicians selected from leading orchestras and music schools with world-class performing artists serving as both faculty instructors and performers. The music director and principal conductor for the Festival is Gerard Schwarz.