About Blacksburg
Community Symphony
The Blacksburg Community Symphony (BCS)—formerly the Blacksburg Community Strings—was founded in 1999 with a simple but powerful mission: to bring musicians of all ages and abilities together to create and share beautiful music.
Membership is free and open to all. With no auditions required, BCS removes financial and skill-based barriers, creating an inclusive space where anyone who loves music can learn, grow, and perform without pressure.
Our primary gift to the community is free, semi-annual concerts that showcase the joy of collective music-making. In addition, our members often perform in smaller ensembles at local gatherings and special events. Our vision is clear: to be a musical home for all who wish to play—and a source of music for all who wish to listen.
Why Music Matters
Music is more than entertainment—it is transformative. For musicians, studies show that playing music boosts mood, strengthens memory, and can even support therapies for conditions like Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, and traumatic brain injury. Remarkably, musical memories often endure even as other cognitive abilities fade.
For listeners, music awakens emotions, unlocks memories, and enhances mental well-being. At BCS, we witness these benefits firsthand—whether it’s a musician finding joy in rehearsals or an audience member moved by a familiar melody. Our goal is to share this gift widely, enriching the lives of everyone in our community.
