The Richmond Symphony Orchestra’s Sunset Series became a community staple event for our annual programming in 2020 after Covid led to the organizations need to cancel live performances at Civic Hall. In an effort to maintain our mission of “being an open door to exceptional music and experiences that provide opportunities to connect,” RSO planned a series of outdoor events where patrons could experience the RSO in a safe way.
As the 2021-2022 Season began, RSO found there was still discomfort among patrons to attend Civic Hall performances, so in an effort to continue ensuring community members felt enclouded, we continued our Sunset Series. In those two years, the Sunset Series quickly became a favorite among patrons of the RSO. This led to an effort to raise more funds for the continued growth of the program. Over time, we began to increase our partnership with other community organizations and locations to establish new venues where patrons could go to experience the Symphony Orchestra and engage with local businesses.
This year, we have made an effort to expand beyond Richmond in the hopes to create a larger impact in the greater Richmond area. This ensures that RSO is not just the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, but instead could be seen as the Regional Symphony Orchestra. The expansion to neighboring communities ensures that our mission continues to grow as we make music accessible to an even greater audience.
This year the RSO will be performing it’s Sunset Series in Hagerstown, Liberty, and multiple locations across Richmond! We hope this initiative will encourage neighboring communities in the arts, help them feel more connected to all of Wayne County, and remind them that RSO is A Place To Belong.