Richmond Community Orchestra will play a variety of classical music Sunday as it opens its 11th season.
Selections are to include “Consecration of the House” by Beethoven; “Morning, Noon and Night” by von Suppe; “Prelude in G Minor” by Rachmaninoff; “Norwegian Dances” by Grieg; “Morning Song” by Elgar; and “In a Persian Market” by Ketelbey.
Admission is free for the concert, which takes place at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 in Goddard Auditorium in Earlham College’s Carpenter Hall, 801 National Road W., Richmond.
Donations of any amount will be accepted after the concert for orchestra expenses such as facilities rental and music purchases.
RCO’s approximately 50 musicians range from high schoolers to retirees in Wayne, Preble, Darke and Union counties. Some have taught music and others have worked in careers including medicine, law, ministry and information technology. Jay Conard of Preble County leads the all-volunteer orchestra.
The idea for the orchestra developed in the fall of 2008 when musicians playing for a Richmond Civic Theatre production wondered if they could get together more often to rehearse and perform a variety of music.
Since then, rehearsals have continued taking place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. most Mondays at Earlham College, and more members are welcome.
In addition to several performances for the community each year, RCO provides free group violin lessons and instruments to local children in collaboration with partner organizations that have included Amigos, Girls Inc., Townsend Community Center, Hagerstown’s Arts Place and Richmond Friends School. Funding for the Strings Initiative Program comes from donations and grants sought by the orchestra.
The orchestra is one of the 47 local charities aiming to raise funds between Nov. 4-12 during the Wayne County Foundation’s annual Challenge Match.
The orchestra’s next concert will feature holiday music. It will be at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at Earlham College.
For more information, visit the orchestra’s page on Facebook or rcoindiana.org

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