The Score | Lessons in Giving

In May, Virginia’s Richmond Symphony partnered with the city of Richmond for a three-day music festival at the city’s Chimborazo Park, which city councilwoman Cynthia Newbille called a “party with a purpose”: to raise $100,000 for new musical instruments for Richmond public school students. They succeeded in their goal, and in October string instruments went to five elementary schools in Richmond’s East End. Prior to the instrument donation, the five schools had a total of seven instruments among them. Funds from the festival—as well as from corporate and foundation sources—allowed the orchestra to provide each of the five schools with 25 instruments, enough for a full string orchestra per school. The Richmond Symphony also plans to donate instruments and music-related equipment to Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Armstrong High School, and Franklin Military Academy. Above right: Fifth-grade students at Chimborazo Elementary School pose with their new instruments.