Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Symphony 'Free for All'


The Richmond Symphony will present a "Musical Free for All" beginning at 10 a.m. on March 28 at the downtown main branch of the Richmond Public Library, First and Franklin streets.

The event, co-sponsored by the Friends of the Richmond Public Library, will feature activities for families and children, including a "petting zoo" with hands-on exposure to instruments of the orchestra, computer composition classes, sessions in instrument tuning and care, introductor Suzuki violin lessons with instruments provided, art activities and storytelling.

The Richmond Ballet's Minds in Motion Team XXL and the Happy Lucky Combo will perform, and the symphony, conducted by Erin Freeman, will stage an open rehearsal at 10 a.m. and a concert of works by Haydn, Dvořák, Rimsky-Korsakov and others at 3:30 p.m.

Admission is free, but donations of canned goods for the Central Virginia Food Bank are requested. (This is the local component of the "Orchestras Feeding America" national food drive.)

For more information, call the symphony box office at (804) 788-1212, or visit www.richmondsymphony.com