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The Richmond Symphony presents a FREE festival of music on Saturday, September 14, from 1 – 7:30 pm at Bandy Field Nature Park: an inclusive community celebration highlighting the diverse neighborhoods and unique quality of Richmond’s West End. Proceeds generated from the event will be used to support and enhance music and art education in Richmond Public Schools. Culminating in a performance by the Richmond Symphony, the Three Chopt Festival will feature a variety of musical performances throughout the day as well as a KIDS ZONE, food trucks, a beer garden, and more.

Three Chopt Festival Schedule:

• 1:00 Thomas Jefferson High School Marching Band

• 1:30 One Voice Chorus (Choral Music)

• 1:30 City Singers Youth Choir (Interactive Orff instrument music making for children) KIDS ZONE

• 2:15 The Reflections (Big Band)

• 3:15  Heavy Shtetl (Klezmer Band)

• 4:30  Doctors of Jazz (Jazz Band)

• 5:30 Jonathan Austin (Juggler & Magician) KIDS ZONE

• 6:00 Richmond Symphony

Daisuke Yamamoto will perform as soloist on Vivaldi’s Autumn from The Four Seasons

The Three Chopt Festival culminates in a performance by the Richmond Symphony, conducted by Chia-Hsuan Lin. The program for this performance features a balance of music by “canon” composers Beethoven, Dvořák, Smetana, Johann Strauss, and Vivaldi; and American composers Duke Ellington, Adolphus Hailstork, John Williams, and John Philip Sousa. A special feature of this concert will be Richmond Symphony concertmaster Daisuke Yamamoto‘s performance as soloist for Autumn from The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi.

Chia-Hsuan Lin will conduct the Richmond Symphony at the Three Chopt Festival

“I love the Big Tent concerts.” said Richmond Symphony Associate Conductor Chia-Hsuan Lin. “For me, these special events are an exciting tour of our lovely neighborhoods through music in the Richmond metro area. Especially in this colorful season infused with the joy of harvest and a hint of autumn, the weather is just gorgeous to relax outdoors. Our Bandy Field Park concert program features pieces by composers whose music is inspired and nurtured by Mother Nature.”

Rain Date: In the event of inclement weather, this concert will be held on Sunday, September 15 3:00 pm at Bandy Field Park featuring the Richmond Symphony only.

In the KIDS ZONE

Jonathan Austin

In addition to performances on the festival main stage, the Three Chopt Festival KIDS ZONE will feature fun activities for children including an Instrument Petting Zoo hosted by the Richmond Symphony League where children may “meet” the instruments of the orchestra up close and personal; an actual Farm Animal Petting Zoo hosted by RVA Goatscaping featuring sheep, goats, and special guest; free Face Painting from RVA Paint Crazy; Hula-Hoop Dancing from RVA Hoop House; and special activities hosted by Richmond Public Schools. The City Singers Youth Choir will present interactive instrument-making in the KIDS ZONE at 1:30, and the exciting juggler and magician Jonathan Austin brings his rare talents to the KIDS ZONE at 5:30.

Food Trucks featuring a variety of culinary delights will be on hand from Curry in a Hurry; Gaucho Food Truck; Souper Bowlz; Scoops; Sweet Temptations by Teresa; and The Neighborhood Scoop. A variety of local vendors will also be present including Friends of Bandy Field:  Hennafy; KEBaubles Jewelry and Accessories; Luving Me Naturally; River City Integrative Counseling, and more.

“The Big Tent Community Festivals are opportunities for Richmond communities to come together and plan a wonderful celebration of the arts,” said Richmond Symphony Community Partnerships Manager Kristen Allegood. “Three Chopt Festival is a labor of love that has engaged numerous individuals and organizations to come together and plan an event reflective of the west end community while supporting arts education. The final element is seeing the joy on neighbor’s faces as they dance to live music, pet an adorable donkey, sip a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, eat a grilled beef Chimichurri, shop for artisan jewelry, and of course, thrill to the experience of a live Richmond Symphony performance! The fun does not end with the Three Chopt Festival, but will continue as the big tent moves to Forest Hill Park in May 2020 and Maymont in September 2020.”

Visit the Three Chopt Festival page on the Richmond Symphony website here.