RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) — The Richmond Philharmonic is celebrating 50 years as a semi-professional classical orchestra with a free concert next month.

In 1972, under the direction of VCU music teacher Milton Cherry and violinist Cornelia Henderson with decades of volunteer musicians. Today, the group has more than 70 diverse performers.

According to a statement, the theme for this upcoming concert is Ode to Joy, representing a “celebration of the full orchestra’s return to music following the COVID shutdowns and 50 years of fulfilling its mission.”

During the pandemic, small groups of musicians have kept the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra’s mission alive by performing at vaccination clinics and on Facebook Live.

This concert will feature “Millennium Canon” by American composer Kevin Puts. The Central Virginia Masterworks Chorale and the Richmond Concert Chorale will join the Philharmonic Orchestra to perform Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.

The soloists are Anne O’Byrne, Erin Stuhlman, Lynn Atkins and Joshua Brown. Ryan Tibbets, is the artistic director of the choirs.

Maestro Peter Wilson will give a pre-concert talk at 3 p.m., where audience members can learn more about the composers and the music on the program.

The event will take place on Sunday, May 15 at 4 p.m. at St. Christopher’s School at 711 St Christopher’s Rd.

Copyright 2022 WWBT. All rights reserved.

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