As summer is winding down, and back to school season is among us, we’re getting into the fall programming season that gets us excited every year. From new performance line-ups at nonprofit venues, to festivals and big gifts, this month’s Phil-Ins has a lot of great news.
Itzhak Perlman to Headline Richmond Symphony Season Opening Weekend
Nine centuries-old Stradivarius violins – handcrafted between 1685 and 1725 by the legendary Antonio Stradivari – will take center stage at the Richmond Symphony’s 2024-2025 season opener – Strad Fest. The four-day weekend kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 12 with The Art of Stradivari, featuring third-generation Italian Luthier, Sofia Vettori. The crescendo the next evening is the ExSTRADvaganza and Into the STRADosphere Gala, featuring a bevy of virtuosos. A Strad Fest Chamber Concert will take place on Saturday afternoon followed on Sunday with An Afternoon with Itzhak Perlman – a conversation and performance. All the events will be held at the Dominion Energy Center. For full schedule and ticket information, see the link above.
RVA East End Festival is Back
The RVA East End Festival, a free, family event that features performances and artwork by local professionals and Richmond Public Schools students, is returning on Saturday, Sept. 21 from noon to 9 p.m. at Chimborazo Park. “This event is a communitywide investment of love in our children because it creates opportunities for them to succeed,” said Marilyn Heckstall, festival chair. Performers include members of the Richmond Symphony, the Celebration Male Chorus and the Dap Mallory Band. Since 2016, the RVA East End Festival has raised over $458,000 to support music, visual arts and performing arts programs at elementary, middle and high schools in the East End. For more information, including vendor application and sponsorship opportunities, click here.
Oh, the Humanities
Virginia Humanities, the state humanities council, announced grants to 13 nonprofit organizations across the commonwealth. The $44,000 in grants were awarded to support projects exploring the stories of Virginia – its history, communities and cultural traditions. Among the recipients: Augusta County Historical Society ($5,000) in Staunton for its Voices from the Tunnel: When Men were Machines exhibit; Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia ($2,000) for its The Other Boys of Summer Documentary Screening & Program; and the Inthrive Film Festival ($8,000). A complete list of recipients and descriptions of their projects can be found here.
Healthcare Worker Shorter Spawns Student Program in SW Virginia
Last year, some 8,000 job ads were posted in Southwest Virginia for healthcare workers – dental and nursing assistants, pharmacy technicians and the like – but employers have been perennially challenged to find enough qualified applicants. In an effort to drive more interest in healthcare careers, the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers (anchored by Carilion Clinic) has launched a program designed to introduce high school and middle school students to careers in healthcare. Comprised of educators, employers, economic development professionals and community partners, the organization works with its partners to address workforce shortages. Cardinal News has the full story here.
Easing the Pressure
Huddle Up Moms, a Roanoke nonprofit dedicated to helping promote women’s health and wellness by empowering mothers through education and support, has launched a new program designed to help new moms monitor their own health and keep maternal mortality rates from rising. Called Moms Under Pressure, the initiative helps mothers and families avoid pregnancy complications through blood pressure monitoring. Roanoke’s WDBJ7 has the story.
Photo Credit: BYU Arts, featuring Itzhak Perlman, who will be performing as a special guest artist at Strad Fest.
