Christie-Jo Adams
Christie-Jo Adams is a distinguished music educator with a career spanning 32 years. Currently, she serves as the Coordinator for PreK-12 Arts Education for Richmond Public Schools in Richmond, Virginia, having previously held the position of Fine Arts Instructional Specialist. Prior to her current administrative roles, Ms. Adams dedicated 21 years to teaching orchestra within […]
Davey Van Beveren
A Chesapeake, Virginia native, Davey’s passion for music began in elementary school with a plastic recorder. He holds a bachelor’s degree in oboe performance from Oberlin College & Conservatory and a master’s degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. An accomplished performer, Davey has performed with a variety of orchestras, such as the Shepherd […]
Dr. Julie Bemis
Dr. Julie Bemis is the Vice President of Education & Community Engagement at the Richmond Symphony, where she thrives in collaborating with both staff and musicians. Passionate about connecting the community to music, Julie believes in its transformative power to inspire, unite, and uplift people of all ages and from all backgrounds. She is particularly […]
Hae Lee
Korean conductor Hae Lee is Associate Conductor of the Richmond Symphony and Conductor of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra. He won Second Prize at the Kussewitzky Conducting Competition in Italy and was a Finalist at the Besançon Competition for Young Conductors in France. In 2025, Lee served as a jury member for the Antal Doráti […]
Anna Mitchell
Violinist and violist Anna Mitchell (she/her) is an arts administrator originally from Prince George County, Virginia. Anna currently serves as Education Assistant with the Richmond Symphony School of Music and is delighted to work with the same youth orchestra program she grew up, playing in! Anna is a Spring 2023 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, […]
Dr. Justin Alexander
Justin Alexander currently serves as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. A dynamic and versatile percussionist, Justin has performed throughout the United States and the world, with performances in Belgium, Australia, Sweden, Costa Rica, and The Dominican Republic. As a percussionist who started on the drum set, Justin’s […]
Leslie Dripps
Leslie Moruza Dripps has been a member of the Richmond music education community since 2003, teaching for Richmond Public Schools, Hanover County Public Schools, and now in the non-profit sector. She is passionate about equitable access to music opportunities for all students, and advocates for voice science-informed singing instruction at every level. Leslie has taught […]
Melissa Jones
Melissa Jones is delighted to direct the Camerata Strings Ensemble with the Richmond Symphony School of Music and its Youth Orchestra Program. She received music degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Tennessee. She taught strings in Hanover County Public Schools for 16 years and is currently in her third year […]
Adrian Pintea
Romanian violinist Constantin Adrian Pintea has performed throughout Europe and the United States as a soloist and chamber music player. Adrian won his first national prize at the age of 12 and was a prize recipient at the Jeunesses Musicales and Remember Enescu international competitions. He was accepted at The Juilliard School for his undergraduate […]
Marcey W. Leonard
Marcey W. Leonard, a Richmond, VA native, has been the Admissions Assistant for VCUarts Music since January 2017. Marcey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in arts business and development from Virginia Commonwealth University (2019) and loves that with her work, she can give back to the department and community that […]