Richmond Symphony records

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Commonwealth University, Cabell Library
James Branch Cabell Library
Virginia Commonwealth University
P.O. Box 842003
901 Park Avenue
Richmond, VA 23284-2003
Contact for questions and access:
POC: SCA Staff
Phone: (804) 828-1108
Fax: (804) 828-0151
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

Recordings of the Richmond Symphony, commercial and non commercial, cannot be reproduced in any form. Notes in the program books cannot be reproduced without written permission of the author.

All literary property rights are retained by the Richmond Symphony.

Preferred citation:

Richmond Symphony Archives, Collection Number M 382, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.

Summary

Extent:
42.4 Linear Feet
Creator:
Richmond Symphony
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Richmond Symphony Archives, Collection Number M 382, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of correspondence, musician files, concert programs, season plans, contracts, newspaper clippings and articles, Board meeting minutes, scrapbooks, photography, financial records and administrative documents, and audio-visual materials, chiefly from the 1980s through the 2000s, but also from earlier decades. A collection of related records, the RADA/Richmond Symphony Archives (M 257), is also held by Special Collections and Archives.

Papers explaining the guidelines of, letters referring to meeting minutes, raising funds, etc.

Minutes, management proposals, union proposals, press clippings

Biographical / historical:

Virginia's capital had its own symphony orchestra for a brief period in the 1930s, but the present Richmond Symphony dates from 1956, when it was founded as a community orchestra. Edgar Schenkman led the orchestra as its music director and conductor from its founding until 1971, when direction was taken over by French conductor Jacques Houtmann. The Symphony expanded greatly during Houtmann's sixteen years of leadership, achieving regional orchestra status and turning its part time "Little Symphony" into a full time Sinfonia in 1973. The first such professional symphonic ensemble to be established in Virginia, the Richmond Sinfonia proceeded to expand its schedule, particularly in the area of in school concerts for Virginia's school children. Further performing flexibility was lent by the Symphony's String, Brass, and Woodwind Ensembles. The development of student concerts and the sponsorship of youth orchestras rounded out the Symphony's extensive involvement with music education in the state.

The Richmond Symphony continues to be the largest performing arts organization in Virginia. Concert series, both classical and popular, are held in the Richmond Mosque and the Virginia Center for the Performing Arts (Carpenter Center), a downtown theater in whose renovation the Symphony took part. These and other special performances are supported by foundations, private donations, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Acquisition information:
Donated by the Board of the Richmond Symphony in August of 2009.
Arrangement:

Collection is in alphabetical order.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Names:
Richmond Symphony