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The city of Lexington, in collaboration with the Creative Communities Partnership, a program of the Virginia Commission for the Arts, has awarded a grant of $4,500 to the Rockbridge Symphony.
The grant application was initiated by the City Manager’s Office and City Council, and the grant funds are provided in equal shares by the city and the partnership.
The Rockbridge Community Orchestra, its original name, now the Rockbridge Symphony, has been quietly but persistently offering live orchestral music to the citizens of the area for nearly 25 years, and for most of its history has been almost solely supported by its audience.
Dr. Yi-Ping Chen, music director, and the Symphony’s Steering Committee, are honored to have been nominated, and then to have received the award, said a spokesman.
Planning is underway for the 2023-24 concert season and for how best to apply the grant funds to help use live orchestral music to benefit all of the citizens of this area.
“Our first step is to bring back the ‘sensory-friendly’ concert from last fall that provides a safe space for our audience to experience classical music,” said Chen. “Rockbridge Area Community Services will once again collaborate with us to present this year’s concert at Lexington Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Nov. 18. Titled ‘Companions,’ the variety of music chosen for this program will help audience experience similar emotions from different perspectives. The audience members will be encouraged to relax and feel free to respond to the music as is comfortable for them, and a quiet room will be provided for those who find the loud portions uncomfortable. For more information, there is an explanation of the ‘sensory-friendly’ concept on the Symphony’s Facebook page.
The Rockbridge Symphony and Chen see the city’s grant as an especially gratifying acknowledgement of the Symphony’s continuing contribution to the local arts community. The Symphony looks forward to sharing its plans and music with everyone, affirming its mission, “Music is better together!”
The Symphony is beginning rehearsals for the fall concert on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at Maury River Middle School. Watch for more concert news in The NewsGazette. Musicians, especially string players, interested in playing with the Symphony can send an email to rockbridgesymphony@ gmail.com.
