a note from our Vice President
When thinking about this most recent season, one descriptor comes immediately to mind: astronomical. With our centennial season coming to a close, its significance as both a milestone for the RPO and a jumpstart for an abundance of initiatives within the Education Department will become clear over the course of this document.
The most prominent part of our programming this year was the completion of 200 Acts of Giving Back - double our intended goal - from the RPO to the greater Rochester area, with the 100th Act being performed halfway through the season. These Acts are inclusive of free concerts tailored towards different audiences in our neighborhoods and schools, both in Eastman Theatre and out “Around the Town.”
These Acts include pre-concert performances before RPO concerts from student ensembles, guest musician appearances, open rehearsals, masterclasses, Q&As, and visits to schools, side-by-side concerts between RPO musicians and community music students, mentorship programming in various shapes and sizes, and so much more.
In a direct juxtaposition to the solar eclipse that we experienced this spring in Rochester, our Care & Wellness Initiative (CWI) and Orchestral Program for Urban Students (OPUS) programs have been brought to light throughout the year. We have expanded our reach to include more partners and even more direct interfacing between RPO musicians and the people they serve
Through the support we’ve received, we were able to reach over 40 school districts and over 14,000 students this year with our educational concerts (Tiny Tots, Primary, and Intermediate) alone. We put on 25 different open rehearsals for 14 organizations. We featured community musicians in 13 pre-concert performances, held a special community concert in collaboration with musicians and local leaders alike, and created sensory-friendly programming for eight new organizations. We reached for the stars, and found ourselves starstruck by what we could achieve, together.
As you parse through these pages, think about each individual star in the constellations, and how together they glow brighter than they ever could alone. Looking forward, I estral music as the shining example of Rochesterian h that it has been for the past 100 years, and work to ort our youth in their musical endeavors as much as
Education Department
Education Interns
Assistant Conductor
Education Committee
Summer 2023
Tiny Tots
Primary Concerts
Concerts
EducATION dEPARTMENT
Barbara Brown - Lisk Morris Foundation
Vice President of Education Chair
Barbara Brown joined the RPO in 2008 and was named Vice President of Education in 2022. Her department is responsible for the management and implementation of all the RPO’s educational concerts and activities, including the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Additionally, she oversees and coordinates many aspects of the RPO’s community engagement programs, including the RPO Care & Wellness Initiative, Around the Town Concerts, and summer parks concerts. During the 2023-2024 season, Brown and her team successfully launched the pilot year of OPUS and achieved the centennial season goal of sharing the gift of music with the Rochester community through 100 Acts of Giving Back
Brown earned a BA/BM in Saxophone Performance and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Washington and completed an MM in Saxophone Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music where she was also awarded a Performer’s Certificate. In addition to her duties with the RPO, Brown still performs in the area with the Vertex Saxophone Quartet.
Dr. Chisato Eda Marling - Manager of Education and Community Partnerships
Dr. Chisato Eda Marling joined RPO in February 2022 as the Manager of Education and Community Partnerships. She is also a Saxophone Instructor at the Eastman Community Music School and a founding member of the Vertex Saxophone Quartet. She started playing piano at age 3 and saxophone at age 8. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from the Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo, Japan, a Master of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Minnesota, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance and Literature, a minor in Musician's Wellness, and a certificate in Arts Leadership from the Eastman School of Music. Dr. Marling is also a Vandoren Performing Artist.
EDU IONDEPARTMENT
Sara Beth Lane - Youth Orchestra & Education Projects Manager
Sara Beth Lane is an enthusiastic arts administrator and music educator. She has worked with the Grand Teton Music Festival, Sitka Music Festival, and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra in a variety of administrative capacities including Development, Patron Services, and Operations. Initially serving as the Artistic & Education Coordinator for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, she has served as the RPO’s Youth Orchestra and Education Projects Manager since September 2023.
Rachel Solomon - Volunteer Administrator
Rachel Solomon joined the RPO in 2023 as the Education Department’s Volunteer Administrator. She is also a teaching artist in the area, having taught performance classes at SUNY Geneseo, Nazareth University, and Blackfriars Theatre. Rachel obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Theatre at Nazareth University, and a Master of Arts in Theatre Education from Emerson College in Boston, MA. Rachel has directed, taught, and performed in New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania, including teaching at Actors’ Shakespeare Projects (Boston), Boston Latin School, SUNY Geneseo, and Nazareth University, and community engagement projects in Boston (Emerson Stage) and Rochester (Out of Pocket, Inc.).
Katie Hurwitz - RPYO Assistant (2023)
EDUCATIONDEPARTMENT
Katie Hurwitz is a 2023 graduate of the University of Rochester, where she studied Music in World Cultures and Creative Writing & World Literature. In 2023, she worked as the RPYO Assistant, helping pave way for a new era of the RPYO. Currently under a Fulbright grant in Athens, Greece, Katie teaches English and music to elementary school students, and has just begun her Master’s in Education within the Teaching and Teacher Leadership cohort at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she will explore the intersection of pedagogy, the arts, and applied linguistics.
EDUCATIONDEPARTMENT
EducATION INterns
Talor Marren - Education Department Intern (Summer 2023)
Originally from Rochester, New York, Talor Marren is currently pursuing her Masters of Music in Clarinet Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) after having completed undergraduate degrees at CCM in Clarinet Performance and Music Education. Marren served as the Education and Community Engagement Intern with the RPO, where she mainly worked on curating our RPYO social media presence and has also interned with the Cincinnati New Horizons Orchestra. Currently, Marren works in the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra box office as a Lead Patron Services Representative and is a Community Engagement Fellow with the National Repertory Orchestra
Hannah Reich - Education Department Intern (Fall 2023)
Hannah is a 2024 graduate of the Eastman School of Music, having received a Master of Music in Voice Performance and Literature and a Certificate of Achievement in Arts Leadership. In 2023, she completed internships with both the RPO, where she focused on gathering efficacy metrics for our programming, and WXXI Classical Radio alongside working as a voice instructor at the Eastman Community Music School. She looks forward to upcoming performances as the Ron & Phyrne Pitkin Scholar Young Artist with the Seagle Festival in the Adirondack region and hopes to combine performing, teaching and leading arts organizations throughout her career.
EDUCATIONDEPARTMENT
ONDEPARTMENT
Landon Chang - Education Department Intern (Spring 2024)
Landon Chang is currently pursuing a degree in Saxophone Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music where he studies with Chien-Kwan Lin. Chang made his solo debut with the Spokane Symphony, and was recently featured with the U.S. Army Band's "Pershing's Own.” He has garnered a number of performance awards including top prizes at the Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition and the Yamaha Young Performing Artist Competition. During his tenure with the RPO, Landon focused mainly on preparing content to accompany our Education concerts for the upcoming season.
Kyan Cheung - Education Department Intern (Summer 2024)
Kyan Cheung is an audio engineer, composer, pianist, and percussionist from Fairport, New York. He is currently pursuing a B.S. in Music Business at the Nazareth University School of Music in Pittsford, New York, alongside minors in Music Composition, Entertainment and Recording, and Commercial Contemporary Music. Kyan has been working jointly with our Production team to ensure the efficiency of preparation and setup for our RPO Outdoors concerts and our upcoming season.
Alyssa Koh - Education Department Intern (Summer 2024)
EDUCATIONDEPARTMENT
Alyssa Koh is a Take Five student at the University of Rochester who graduated in May 2024 with a BA in Linguistics and English and a double minor in both Music Cognition and American Sign
Language Their internship with the Education department is focused around facilitating engagement and communications between the RPO, the RPYO and their alumni network, and the surrounding Rochester community.
EDUCATIONDEPARTMENT
Grant Simon - Education Department Intern (Summer 2024)
Grant Simon is a rising junior studying Environmental Health at the University of Rochester. As a violinist, flautist, and a cappella arranger and vocalist, his fields of knowledge are being put to work with the Education Department. At the RPO, he is focused on facilitating prep for the upcoming RPYO season and additional youth-centric events.
Amanda Stevens - Education Department Intern (Summer 2024)
Amanda Stevens is a recent graduate of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, having received a Bachelors of Science in Music Industry in June 2024 Amanda participated in her college’s record label, Rose Record Label Group, as a Promoter and Studio Engineer. She also plays flute, piano, and selfproduced her senior album project. In her intern position at RPO, she is designing and formatting this year’s Annual Report.
EDUCATIONDEPARTMENT
Assistant conductor Jherrard Hardeman
Jherrard Hardeman began his first season with the RPO as Assistant Conductor (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Education and Community Engagement Chair) this season. Hardeman also served as Music Director of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RPYO) throughout their most recent season.
A rising star in the symphonic and chamber music world, the 26-year-old Detroit native was already attracting national attention as a classical conductor, composer, and violinist by his mid-teens Hardeman studied orchestral conducting under internationally renowned conductor David Robertson at The Juilliard School prior to his start with the RPO, and has established connections across the nation with his passion for music and cultivated talent. Hardeman notes he cannot overstate the importance of mentorships by conductors Mei-Ann Chen (Music Director of the Chicago Sinfonietta) and Kevin Noe (Executive Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble).
Hardeman has appeared with the Seattle Symphony, Grosse Pointe Symphony, Juilliard Orchestra, Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, and the Longy Conservatory Orchestra. An innate leader, he has also formed and/or conducted orchestras at such prestigious institutions as the New England Conservatory of Music, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and the AVANTI Summer MusicFest.
With the RPO, Hardeman has taken point on leading the RPO’s signature OrKIDStra family series, a variety of educative concerts at Kodak Hall, community-centric concerts around the Rochester area, the RPO’s summer outdoor performance series, and more.
Education Committee
RPO STAFF
Barbara Brown -Lisk Morris Foundation Vice President of Education Chair
Bryce Davis - Director of Institutional Partnerships
Chisato Eda Marling -Manager of Education and Community Partnerships
Sara Beth Shelton - Youth Orchestra and Education Projects Manager
Rachel Solomon - Volunteer Administrator
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Daisy Algarin - RPO Board Member
William Cahn - Honorary Board Member, retired RPO Principal Percussionist
Catherine Frangenberg - RPO Board Member, Chair of the Rochester Philharmonic League, Education Committee Co-Chair
Paulette Gissendanner - RPO Board Member
Ralph Jozefowicz - RPO Board Member
Karen Kessler - RPO Board Member
Zuzanna Kwon - RPO Board Member
Diane Lu - RPO Board Member
Paul Ness - RPL Advisory Board Member
Victor Poleshuck - RPO Board Member
Katherine Schumacher - Honorary RPO Board Member
George Schwartz - RPO Board Member
Sidney Sobel - RPO Board Member
Ellen Sonnenberg - RPO Violinist
Thomas Warfield - RPO Board Member
Frederic Weingerten - RPYO Advisory Council Member
Cindy Yancey - RPO Board Vice Chair, RPYO Advisory Council Chair, Education Committee Co-Chair
Summer 2023
A variety of chamber ensembles performed at outdoor locations in all four quadrants of the city of Rochester throughout the summer. Additionally, the RPO partnered with multiple local libraries to host instrument petting zoos to give young students a chance to try out different orchestral instruments.
City of Rochester Chamber Ensemble Series
Maplewood Rose Garden
7/11/2023
Marimba Band
Attendance: 175
Barrington Park
7/18/2023
String Quartet
Attendance: 225
Susan B. Anthony Square Park
7/25/2023
Brass Quintet
Attendance: 54
500 Norton St
8/1/2023
Jazz Trio
Attendance: 60
Inlet Education Concerts
7/28/2023
String Quartet and Harp/Clarinet Duo
Attendance: 80
Instrument Petting Zoos
Brighton Library
7/13/2023
Attendance: 50
Central Library
7/26/2023
Attendance: 65
Bristol Mountain
7/28/2023
Attendance: 50
Gorham Free Library
8/2/2023
Attendance: 23
Chamber Ensemble Series
Jazz Trio @ 500 Norton Street
Thank you for an extraordinary evening yesterday!
Easily the best turnout we’ve had at this event since before the pandemic. Most importantly, I couldn’t ask for better partners to have helped bring our city, communities, and people together around our region’s world-class arts.
David Pacific Executive Director of JAACA
Tiny Tots
Program: Move and Groove
Conductor: Jherrard Hardeman
Tiny Tots concerts are tailored for preschoolers and kindergarteners throughout our community in order to be accessible to diverse neighborhoods. It provides an intimate, relaxed environment for young children to both enjoy and learn about music. For this season’s theme, during each 40-minute concert, students were encouraged to “Move and Groove” to the music.
Complimentary lesson plans were provided for participating schools prior to their concert date to help establish concepts students would encounter in the show ahead of time.
5/15/2024, 10:00 a.m.
Fort Hill Performing Arts Center (Canandaigua)
5/15/2024, 11:15 a.m.
Fort Hill Performing Arts Center (Canandaigua)
Attendance: 609
5/16/2024, 9:45 a.m.
East High School (RCSD) 5/17/2024
5/16/2024, 11:15 a.m.
East High School (RCSD)
Attendance: 1265
Churchville-Chili High School (Churchville)
Attendance: 746
Joe Raposo
Antonín Dvorák
and Groove
Sesame Street Theme
Slavonic Dances, Opus 46, Nos. 5-8
John Philip Sousa
Leroy Anderson
Gioachino Rossini
Traditional (Arr. Ricker)
Traditional (Daily)
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Hands Across the Sea March No. 8 in G minor: Presto Plink, Plank, Plunk!
Overture to William Tell Allegro Vivace to the End
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
“Flight of the Bumblebee” from The Tale of Tsar Saltan The Wheels On The Bus
Primary Concerts
Program: The Spirit of Adventure
Conductor: Jherrard Hardeman
This series, which has been a staple of the RPO for over six decades, provides live orchestral programming in Kodak Hall for first through third grade students in the Rochester City School District and surrounding suburbs. Each season, the performance theme, repertoire, and provided lesson plans are changed to give repeat attendees a fresh and equally exciting experience with the RPO.
This year, Assistant Conductor Jherrard Hardeman led the RPO in The Spirit of Adventure, a musical journey meant to introduce students to the instruments of the orchestra and the instrument families they belong to.
A large variety of schools - including public schools, private schools, and homeschoolsall attended our Primary concerts this season.
2/13/24
Primary concerts are often the first time that students get to engage with an orchestra, so each concert is crafted to be fun and interactive for all.
The Spirit of Adventure
Richard Wagner
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Benjamin Britten
Leroy Anderson
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Dmitri Kabalevsky
Antonín Dvorák
Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Rehearsal H to end
Danse Negre, Op. 35, No. 4 16 after letter E to letter G
Simple Symphony for String Orchestra, Opus 4
II. Playful Pizzicato
Fiddle Faddle
Symphony No. 4 in F minor, op. 36
III. Scherzo: Pizzicato ostinato Measures 136-170 (Woodwinds only)
Procession of the Nobles from Mlada
Capriccio espagnol, op. 34 Scena e canto gitano - Harp cadenza (Triangle & Harp only)
Galop from The Comedians, op. 26
Carnival Overture, Opus 92 Rehearsal Q to end
Primary Concert
I just wanted to reach out and tell you how much my kiddos and their classroom teachers loved the concert yesterday! Though I’ve enjoyed many of the other RPO Primary concerts I’ve attended with 3rd graders in the past, this was by far the most engaging and fun concert based on my students reactions. It is always so cool to see what part of the performance piques individual interests, but a majority of my students were hooked the entire time. Wonderful performance by Mr. Hardeman & the rest of the Orchestra.
Rachel Biddle, RCSD #45 teacher
Intermediate Concerts
Program: The Philharmonic Goes West
Conductor: Jherrard Hardeman
This series traditionally consists of onehour concerts in Kodak Hall for fourth through sixth graders and are designed to tie musical repertoire to students’ current academic curricula.
This season, Assistant Conductor Jherrard Hardeman led the RPO in The Philharmonic Goes West, which aimed to transport young audiences to the exhilarating days of the Gold Rush era and the pioneering spirit of historical life on the trail.
Through the music of Copeland, Williams, Rossini, and others, the orchestra sought to evoke the hope and promise of a brighter future that fueled the dreams of those who ventured westward, making history come alive in a fun and unforgettable way.
Participating schools received lesson plans prior to the concert, and students got the opportunity to create artwork and written work related to the concert theme to be presented at the show.
3/11/24
Kodak Hall
Attendance: 1580
3/12/24
Kodak Hall
Attendance: 1408
3/13/24
Kodak Hall
Attendance: 2062
3/14/24
Kodak Hall
Attendance: 1978
John Williams
Philharmonic Goes West
The Cowboys Overture m. 196 to End
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Florence Beatrice Price
(trans. Thomas Taylor Dickey)
Gioachino Rossini
Leroy Anderson
Antonín Dvorák
“Corral Nocturne” from Rodeo
An Outdoor Overture m. 198 to End
Adoration
Overture to Guillaume Tell [William Tell] M. 226 to End
Horse and Buggy
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, op. 95, “From the New World”
II. Largo
B i i t
Intermediate Concert
On behalf of the upper elementary class, I wanted to express our sincere gratitude for the incredible experience we had attending your performance. It was truly a memorable event. Your musicians’ talent and dedication were evident in every note they played. The way you brought the music to life was nothing short of magical. Once again, thank you for sharing your passion and talent with us. We are grateful for this enriching experience and eagerly await future performances.
Mrs. Sciolino & Ms. Mimi
Webster Montessori School
The Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RPYO) gives over 60 student musicians from grades 8-12 the opportunity to perform at a high caliber with peers across the greater Rochester area, as well as providing them with easy access to the RPO and its surrounding resources.
RPYO musicians perform in multiple concerts, get the chance to compete in an annual Concerto Competition and Conducting Competition, and enjoy annual social outings, music-intensive retreats, guest conductor appearances, and mini-camps. Some opportunities include the ability to work with RPO musicians in side-by-side rehearsals, performances, and sectionals. In addition, RPYO musicians receive complimentary tickets to RPO concerts to promote engagement with the orchestra and symphonic repertoire outside of the program.
Due to this year’s newly established partnership between the RPYO and the Eastman Community Music School (ECMS), RPYO musicians can now access Eastman-related perks through their registration with the orchestra. These additional resources include access to Eastman facilities and events, discounts on ECMS courses, and more.
This year, the RPYO has grown alongside its new Music Director: RPO Assistant Conductor Jherrard Hardeman, who has led the orchestra this season into a renewed era of dedication and musical excellence.
RPYO Demographics and Statistics
This season, RPYO students worked with: RPO musicians (individually, in addition to full orchestra side-by-side rehearsals and concerts) at a total of: events, including (but not limited to): sectionals guest conducting rehearsals chamber ensemble coaching side-by-side rehearsals and concerts
This season, students took the opportunity to learn and grow as musicians.
30 total competitors in the Concerto and Conducting competitions (out of 66 musicians)
Retreat Concert
Morton Gould
Steven Bryant
Franz Liszt
9/24/23
Sunshine Rotary Camp
Attendance: 150
American Salute
Dusk
Les Preludes
Transformations
Stella Sung
Eric Whitacre
William Grant Still
Johann Strauss Jr.
11/19/23
Hochstein School of Music
Attendance: 270
Loco-Motion
October
Symphony No. 2
Emperor Waltzes
RPO Side-by-Side:
Finding Your Voice
Evan Henry
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Howard Hanson
3/3/24
Kodak Hall
Attendance: 437
Crepuscule Fantasy (commissioned for the RPYO)
Romeo & Juliet Overture
Symphony No. 2
Climb Every Mountain
Dmitri Shostakovich
Édouard-Victoire-Antoine Lalo
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Edward Elgar
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Richard Rodgers (arr. Robert Russell Bennett)
6/9/24
Kodak Hall
Attendance: 557
Festive Overture
Symphonie Espagnole, mvt. 1
Friana Engineer, violin
Oboe Concerto, mvt. 1
Tristan Zhang, oboe
Pomp and Circumstance No. 4
Cora Roller, student conductor
Capriccio Espagnol
The Sound of Music
RPYO Recruitment
35+
new musicians incoming to RPYO in the 2024-2025 season
97.5 percentage of eligible students retained from the 2023-2024 season (39 of 40)
RPO’s Spring Break Mini-Camp
school visits completed by RPYO Music Director Jherrard Hardeman in the greater Rochester area
Through a new recruitment initiative for the RPYO, current students were encouraged to “bring a friend” to participate in a mini-camp, which included three rehearsals and a concert. For all rehearsals and the subsequent performance, students were given the opportunity to learn from and perform side-by-side with the entirety of the RPO.
In total, 56 students participated in the mini-camp. 32 were prospective RPYO students, and of those students, 14 were accepted through audition to join the RPYO for their incoming 2024-2025 season.
RPYO Dinner and Outing to the RPO
I just wanted to thank you all so much for putting the Saturday event together for all of us. It was such an amazing experience and was honestly surreal getting to sit next to Jherrard for Rite of Spring! I had so much fun and I know the others did as well. Looking forward to doing it again!
Peyton Crony RPYO student
Philharmonics #4 (via complimentary tickets from the RPYO)
It was [a friend of my children’s] FIRST ever orchestra concert, and he sat through that heavy program and said he liked it! Of course, [my children] were riveted during the symphony and even brought the score to follow along. It made my day to see three teenage boys sitting up in the balcony in rapt attention. This is what the RPYO is doing for young musicians in Rochester.
Elinor Freer
Parent to two RPYO students
Around the Town Conce
Program: Symphonic Celebration
This season’s program featured Catalina Wooldridge, the 2023 Young Artist Audition (YAA) Grand Prize Winner.
Conductor: Jherrard Hardeman
Soloist: Catalina Wooldridge, cello
Dates & Locations
10/3/23
Fairport High School
Attendance: 700
10/4/23
St. Theodore’s Catholic Church
Attendance: 350
10/5/23
Williamson High School
Attendance: 320
The “Around the Town” concert series began in 1991 and was designed for those who might not otherwise have the financial means or travel flexibility to experience the joy of live orchestral music. For these programs, the orchestra steps outside its home at Eastman Theatre to reach every corner of the local Rochester community. Around the Town concerts are held completely free of charge at public venues such as places of worship and community centers, thereby providing wider access to the RPO.
Symphonic Celebration
Mikhail Glinka
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
George Gershwin
David Popper
Bedrich Smetana
Antonín Dvorák
Béla Bartók
Aaron Copland
Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture
Danse Negre, Op. 35, No. 4
Lullaby for String Orchestra
Hungarian Rhapsody, Op. 68
“The Moldau”, No. 2 from Má vlast
Slavonic Dances, Opus 46, Nos. 1-4
Rumanian Folk Dances
I. Jocul cu bâta No. 1 in C Major: Presto
II. Brâul
III. Pe loc
IV. Buciumeana
V. Poarga româneasca
VI. Maruntel
VII. Maruntel
“Hoe Down” from Rodeo
unity Special: Mt. Olivet
Mt. Olivet Baptist Church 10/7/24
Conductor: Jherrard Hardeman
Rev. Ricky Harvey, Narrator
Kearstin Piper Brown, Voice
Herb Smith, Trumpet
Attendance: 150
This inspiring program, created in collaboration with Mt. Olivet leadership, RPO Assistant Conductor Jherrard Hardeman, RPO trumpeter Herb Smith, and guest artist and soprano Kearstin Piper Brown, specifically featured historically significant classical composers of African descent, such as Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, George Walker, and William Grant Still.
The free concert opened with an original poem, “Vineyard,” from Mt. Olivet member Peggy Harvey-Lee. Additional music selections included the emblematic black spiritual “Amazing Grace” and a medley of “Let Us Break Bread Together,” “This Little Light of Mine,” and “Witness.”
Mt. Olivet Community Special
Mikhail Glinka
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Antonín Dvorák
George Walker
William Grant Still
Hale Smith
Traditional (Arr. Tyzik)
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
(Edited by Nancy Bradburd)
Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture
Danse Negre, Op. 35, No. 4
Slavonic Dances, Opus 46, Nos. 1-4
No. 1 in C Major: Presto
Lyric for Strings
Mother and Child
Rev. Ricky Harvey, narrator
Negro Spirituals Let Us Break Bread Together
This Little Light of Mine Witness
Kearstin Piper Brown, voice
Amazing Grace
Herb Smith, trumpet
Ballade in A minor, Op. 33
OrKIDStra
Conductor: Jherrard Hardeman
OrKIDStra family concerts are designed to introduce children to live symphonic music. Aimed at children ages 3-9, these fun and interactive performances take place on Sunday afternoons at Hochstein. An hour prior to each concert, ticket holders also have the opportunity to participate in free pre-concert activities.
Each OrKIDStra
includes around four or five preconcert activities for attendees to enjoy completing. RPL volunteers help set up and staff the activities.
The 2023-2024 OrKIDStra season began with a “spooktacular” program called Spooky Symphonies, featuring the orchestra dressed up in Halloween costumes.
In January, Hardeman led the RPO in tandem with the Rochester City Ballet through Peter and the Wolf.
In April, we celebrated Earth Day with the program, Our Planet, Our Home.
To close out our season and celebrate the 2024 Summer Olympics, our final OrKIDStra program, Orchestral Olympics, was aptly themed around the international sports showcase.
event
This season, OrKIDStra concert attendance was higher than ever before
Performances
Spooky Symphonies
10/29/2023
Attendance: 840
Peter and the Wolf (with the Rochester City Ballet)
1/21/2024
Attendance: 857
Our Planet, Our Home
4/21/2024
Attendance: 649
Orchestral Olympics
5/19/2024
Attendance: 504
The Rochester City Ballet, the sole professional ballet company in Western New York, partnered with the RPO to deliver an engaging performance of Peter and the Wolf.
Spooky Symphonies
Modest Mussorgsky (orch. Rimsky-Korsakov)
Camille Saint-Saëns
Edvard Grieg
Hector Berlioz
John Williams
Franz Joseph Haydn
Hector Berlioz
Leroy Anderson
A Night on Bald Mountain
Danse macabre, Opus 40
Rehearsal E to End
Suite No. 1 from Peer Gynt, Opus 46
II. Ase’s Death 5'
IV. In the Hall of the Mountain King 3'
Witches’ Sabbath from Symphonie fantastique, op. 14
Superman March
Symphony No. 94 in G major, “Surprise”
II. Andante
March to Scaffold from Symphonie fantastique
Clarinet Candy
Each OrKIDStra concert has interactive elements to connect the audience with the repertoire even further in a fun way.
During Spooky Symphonies, the orchestra members and conductor performed as slices of pizza, cartoon characters. various animals, and more in celebration of Halloween.
Peter and the Wolf
Featuring: Rochester City Ballet
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Sergey Prokofiev
RPO trumpeter and local conductor Herb Smith served as the afternoon’s narrator of Peter and the Wolf.
Overture to Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492 [The Marriage of Figaro]
Peter and the Wolf, Opus 67 Herb Smith, narrator
The RPO and Rochester City Ballet worked in tandem for multiple programs this season, including the RPO Eclipse Spectacular
Over 800 tickets were sold for Peter and the Wolf
Our Planet, Our Home
Franz Liszt
Igor Stravinsky
Bedrich Smetana
Franz Liszt
Jordan Jinosko
Ludwig van Beethoven
Soon Hee Newbold
George Frederic Handel (Luck)
Franz Liszt
Les Préludes
M. 35 to M. 108 (including Harp)
Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)
“The Moldau”, No. 2 from Má vlast Augurs of SpringReh. 13 to Reh. 16 Beg. to DB of M. 173
Les Préludes
M. 109 to DB M. 201
Three sketches of Unblemished Earth
2. Woodlands
Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Opus 68, “Pastoral” II. Scene by the brook
Reh. H to End
Lion City
XERXES: LARGO (Orchestral)
Les Préludes
3 After Reh. K to End
Orchestral Olympics
Dmitri Shostakovich
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
N. Anthem Traditional
John Philip Sousa
Aram Khachaturian
Ludwig van Beethoven
John Williams
Johann Sebastian Bach (Arr. Luck)
John Williams (Signature Series)
Festive Overture, Opus 96
Procession of the Nobles from Mlada
La Marseillaise [French National Anthem]
Stars and Stripes Forever
Three Pieces from Gayane III. Sabre Dance
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Opus 67 I. Allegro con Brio
Wide Receiver (theme from NBC Football)
Cantata No. 147: Jesu, joy of man’s Desiring
OPUS
Orchestral Program for Urban Students
OPUS, the Orchestral Program for Urban Students, is dedicated to providing opportunities that positively influence and enrich the lives of local students through music education.
City of Rochester students face deep inequities in education, including in music This matters, as students involved in music have improved outcomes including better attendance, higher grades, and stronger test scores. Additionally, music ensembles teach participants crucial life skills such as collaboration, communication, and perseverance.
Through collaborations with Rochester City School District classes and other local organizations, OPUS gives students from pre-K to grade 12 direct access to personal (and often one-on-one) musical instruction and interaction with RPO musicians.
SOTA’s work with RPO has been outstanding this year. Students’ sure to rehearsals coupled with the professionalism, generosity, and selfless giving of your musicians have touched their lives in immeasurable ways.
Alan Tirré Acting Principal at School of the Arts
OPUS Partners
OPUS programming supports students in their musical endeavors from pre-K all the way until the end of high school. Additionally, OPUS partners include both in-school and broader community groups, which further strengthens the music network students have access to.
In-School Partners
ABC Head Start
ABC Head Start is a federally-funded, means-tested program in Monroe County that provides educational and developmental services to over 1,000 children and pregnant women. Today, ABC provides one of the highest performing programs in the country by actively ensuring that all children - regardless of family income - have a quality preschool education, as well as assisting parents in providing a home life that nurtures their child’s full development.
This season, RPO partnered with ABC Head Start to put on an educational concert as presented by the RPO’s Marimba Band.
Dr. Charles T. Lunsford School #19 (and Strings for Success)
School #19 has been designated an “Arts for All” school by the City School District, with significant planned investment into cross-discipline arts instruction. This is inclusive of Strings for Success (SFS), a free and innovative instrumental strings program that is available to all students in grades 2-8 at the Dr. Charles T. Lunsford School #19 in the Rochester City School District through the Center for Youth. In addition to high-quality music instruction, SFS students participate in performances, field trips, and learning opportunities with visiting artists from Rochester and beyond.
This season, School #19 was visited by the RPO’s Marimba Band for an educational concert. Additionally, Strings for Success participated in the RPO concert The Magic of Giving and a separate pre-concert performance, had Assistant Conductor Jherrard Hardeman visit and conduct, attended an RPO open rehearsal, and participated in multiple workshops with RPO concertmaster and violinist Juliana Athayde.
World of Inquiry School #58
School #58 sits on University Avenue, just three blocks from the RPO’s home at Eastman Theatre. As RCSD’s only K-12 building, School 58 provides a fertile ground for all-ages programs and longitudinal outcome tracking.
School #58 sat in on two open rehearsals, was visited by Assistant Conductor Jherrard Hardeman, participated in a brass clinic (run by RPO trumpeter Herb Smith), had a brass quintet perform a concert for the school, and took part in both a side-by-side rehearsal and performance with an RPO jazz trio at the Lilac Festival.
School of the Arts (SOTA)
The School of the Arts is RCSD’s magnet arts high school, providing majors in dance, theatre, music, and more.
This season, SOTA was visited by Assistant Conductor Jherrard Hardeman twice, experienced six open rehearsals, participated in a guest artist Q&A with violinist Sarah Chang, and performed in a pre-concert perfo
Extracurricular Partners
EnCompass
EnCompass, an after-school & summer program of the Education Success Foundation, develops and provides innovative educational services matched to each student’s unique learning style in order to prevent academic failure and enhance lifelong learning. EnCompass reaches 2,400 students in Monroe and Livingston Counties with a Pre-K through graduation pathway.
This season, the RPO partnered with EnCompass to bring an instrument petting zoo to their students, which was run in tandem with a musician visit from harpist Rosanna Moore. Additionally, EnCompass students were also able to enjoy an education concert with a string quartet.
ROCmusic
The ROCmusic Collaborative provides tuition-free instrument instruction and afterschool programming to City of Rochester youth ages 6-18. The RPO is a founding collaborative partner, providing educational support, Q&As, ensemble performances, and side-by-side concerts since its establishment in 2012. The collaborative serves 100+ students each year, providing access to instruments, instruction, after-school care, tutoring, and other community-based programs.
Throughout the 2023 academic year, the RPO piloted a mentorship program for students in ROCmusic, with weekly mentorship by RPO musicians. The mentorship initiatives place RPO musicians in ROCmusic rehearsals, and they also run weekly sectionals and private lessons. All of these opportunities give students direct professional musical support, which is shown off in an annual side-by-side concert between the two groups. In total, RPO musicians completed 200 hours of instruction for ROCmusic this season.
Eastman Community Music School (ECMS)
A division of the Eastman School of Music, ECMS was founded in 1921 for the enrichment of the residents of Greater Rochester with the expectation that musical experience should be available to everyone. The Eastman Pathways program, which provides tuition scholarships for students from underrepresented communities, gives RCSD students the opportunity to benefit from individual lessons, ensemble participation, and courses.
RPO connected with Pathways students and beyond this season with a visit from guest conductor and trumpeter Byron Stripling, a meet-and-greet with various RPO musicians before attending an RPO concert, and the chance for the ECMS Percussion Ensemble to participate in a pre-concert performance.
Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RPYO)
Since 1970, the RPO has offered our community’s advanced young musicians orchestral experiences of the highest order. A program of the RPO Education Department, the RPYO benefits from weekly rehearsals, coaching from RPO musicians, an annual Side-by-Side Concert with the RPO, and other special activities that provide musically rich, personally rewarding, and uniquely maturing experiences to participants. This year, RPYO had four members linked to OPUS.
Magic of Giving Concert
I wanted to share a ripple effect from the Dec. 7 concert [Strings for Success] did with the RPO at Hochstein. We have a record number of students from SFS sign up for lessons at Hochstein this summer. We also have two students taking the leap and auditioning for Hochstein ensembles. I believe this is related to the fact that parents feel comfortable going there because they have been there before and it was such a positive experience. We have removed fear and uncertainty. I know it may seem like a small thing, but this is exactly how to remove barriers and create opportunities. Thank you!
Patty Yarmel
Director of Strings for Success
OPUS’ programming provides its partners with the opportunity to connect across organizations. For example, RPYO student Alina Ying (third from left) attended and played in multiple ROCmusic rehearsals as an additional support to the program’s cello students.
Care & Wellness Initiative
The Care & Wellness Initiative (CWI) provides a variety of chamber ensemble concerts, open rehearsal experiences, and an annual sensory-friendly concert for members of the Rochester community that may better enjoy a less traditional orchestral concert performance due to medical reasons. Many of these experiences were tailored for seniors with neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia and for children and adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
New Partners: Arc of Monroe, BOCES LIVES Program SUNY Geneseo Campus, The Kessler Center, Lifetime Assistance, Linden Creative Opportunities, The Norman Howard School, Pluta Cancer Center, Victor Primary School
Marimba Band at Linden Creative Opportunities
Open Rehearsals for the Alzheimer’s Association
9/28/2024
Program: Philharmonics #2
11/10/2023
Program: Pops #3
12/14/2023
Program: Holiday Pops
2/8/2024
Program: Philharmonics #8
4/18/2024
Program: Philharmonics #12
5/30/2024
Program: Philharmonics #14
Open Rehearsals for Adults with IDD
10/11/2023: Linden Creative Opportunities
Program: Philharmonics #3
Attendance: 5
1/18/2024: Arc of Monroe, BOCES LIVES Program SUNY Geneseo Campus, Lifetime Assistance Program: OrKIDStra #2
Attendance: 69
3/15/2024: Arc of Monroe, Lifetime Assistance Program: Pops #7
Attendance: 34
4/19/2024: BOCES LIVES Program SUNY Geneseo Campus, Lifetime Assistance Program: OrKIDStra #3
Attendance: 13
Chamber Ensemble Performances
11/1/2023: School #29 Group: Chamber Orchestra Attendance: 200
11/7/2023: Mary Cariola Elmwood Campus Group: Chamber Orchestra Attendance: 167
11/8/2023: Monroe Community Hospital Group: String Orchestra Attendance: 90
11/8/2023: St. Ann’s Community Group: String Orchestra Attendance: 130
12/6/2023: Pluta Cancer Center Group: String Quartet Attendance: 95
12/6/2023: St. Ann’s Community Group: Brass Quintet Attendance: 115
12/14/2023: Linden Creative Opportunities Group: Marimba Band Attendance: 40
1/17/2024: St. Ann’s Community Group: Wind Quartet Attendance: 95
3/18/2024: Mary Cariola East Henrietta Campus Group: Cello/Harp Duo Attendance: 113
3/28/2024: The Kessler Center Group: Marimba Band Attendance: 45
4/22/2024: Victor Primary School Group: String Quartet Attendance: 80
4/22/2024: Norman Howard School Group: String Quartet Attendance: 130
4/23/2024: St. Ann’s Community Group: String Quartet Attendance: 65
5/10/2024: Golisano Autism Center Group: Marimba Band Attendance: 26
5/14/2024: Holy Childhood Group: String Quartet Attendance: 130
5/21/2024: St. Ann’s Community Group: Cello/Harp/Flute Trio Attendance: 75
6/26/2024: St. Ann’s Community Group: Marimba Band Attendance: 195
6/26/2024: Camp Joy Group: Marimba Band Attendance: 131
Care & Wellness Performance
Thank you so much for creating such a wonderful experience for our students and the team of clinicians, teachers, and staff supporting them. You couldn’t have known this, but you supported a speech therapist working directly with a student to practice using a new device to express herself, a physical therapist relying on the music to motivate a student to stretch a tight arm, and many teachers and staff using this opportunity to model and practice appropriate behavior, so the students know what to expect at a community event. There were so many opportunities for learning and growth packed in to this experience for our students and we can’t thank you enough. We love our RPO!
Jen Trimble Ford on behalf of the students and staff at Mary Cariola Center
String Quartet Performance
The concert was just great! It was enjoyed by both students and faculty. Many of us reminisced about our love for “Ferdinand” when we were youngsters. Thank you so much!
Rosemary Hodges
Norman Howard School
Sensory Friendly Concert
Program: Embracing The Eclipse: RPO’s Sensory-Friendly Concert
Conductor: Jherrard Hardeman
Attendance: 627
As part of our Care & Wellness Initiative, the RPO designed a sensoryfriendly concert in the lead-up to the RPO Eclipse Spectacular: A Symphonic Celebration on April 7. On April 6 at Hochstein Performance Hall, an eclipsethemed concert was performed, with the venue being set to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for music lovers who would benefit from a more relaxed and accommodating setting. As a result, people of all ages and abilities were able to experience a completely free show commemorating the solar eclipse in a way that worked best for them.
Concertgoers were encouraged to get up and move freely, and a therapy dog was available just outside the concert hall. For attendees with auditory sensitivities, noise-reducing headphones were provided, and the orchestra never played louder than “mezzo forte,” or at a medium-loud volume. Other accommodations included a quiet room and a social narrative to help concertgoers prepare for what they would encounter in the concert hall.
Embracing The Eclipse: RPO’s Sensory-Friendly Concert
Edvard Grieg
Ludwig van Beethoven
Bedrich Smetana
Harold Arlen (Sayre, Chuck)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Antonín Dvorák
Claude Debussy (Arr. Mouton)
Suite No. 1 from Peer Gynt, Opus 46 I. Morning Mood
Symphony No. 6 in F major, Opus 68, “Pastoral” I. Awakening of cheerful feelings on arriving in the country
Letter D to End
III. Gathering of Country Folk
Beg. - M. 465
“The Moldau”, No. 2 from Má vlast Beg. to DB of M. 173
Over the Rainbow from “The Wizard of Oz” (Sayre)
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525 I. Allegro
Serenade in D minor, op. 44 II. Minuetto
Trio to Fermata after Reh. I
Clair de Lune
inor op 95
Open Rehearsals
Open rehearsals offer a chance for members of the Rochester community to see the rehearsal process live and without cost. A standard open rehearsal typically takes place in Eastman Theatre, offering the chance to experience the venue’s acoustics and visuals without the formality of a full concert. They also facilitate intermingling between the orchestra and the public, through their added opportunity to chat personally with the conductor, individual musicians, and visiting guest artists.
This season, the RPO hosted six open rehearsals for the Alzheimer’s Association as part of our Care and Wellness Initiative alongside various local school music ensembles, of whom experienced up to six open rehearsals each this season. Additionally, as a show of our appreciation for our volunteers, RPL members were invited to attend four Music, Munch, and Mingle events throughout the season, in which a musician would converse and get lunch with the group post-rehearsal.
Open Rehearsals
9/21/2023: Nazareth University
Composition Studio/Eastman School of Music Composition Studio
Program: Philharmonic #1
Attendance: 9
9/28/2023: School of the Arts/Alzheimer’s Association
Program: Philharmonic #2
Attendance: 44
10/3/2023: Fairport Students at Fairport High School
Program: Around the Town
Attendance: 123
10/11/2023: Linden Creative Opportunities
Program: Philharmonic #3
Attendance: 5
10/20/2023: School #58
Program: Pops #1
Attendance: 29
10/26/2023: Music, Munch, and Mingle
Program: Philharmonic #4
Attendance: 9
11/10/2023: Alzheimer’s Association/Linden Creative Opportunities)
Program: Pops #3
Attendance: 13
11/15/2023: School of the Arts
Program: Philharmonic #5
Attendance: 42
12/14/2023: Alzheimer’s Association Program: Pops #4
Attendance: 20
1/3/2024: School #58 at West Herr
Auditorium Theatre
Program: Star Wars
Attendance: 50
Harry Potter Open Rehearsal with School #58
OrKIDStra Open Rehearsal with Lifetime Assistance
Open Rehearsal and Q&A with violinist Sarah Chang
Guest Conductor Peter Bay and Assistant
Conductor Jherrard Hardeman at an Open Rehearsal with the School of the Arts
1/11/2024: School of the Arts Program: Philharmonic #6
Attendance: 25
1/18/2024: Arc of Monroe/BOCES LIVES Program at SUNY Geneseo Campus/Charles Finney School/Lifetime Assistance at Hochstein Program: OrKIDStra #2
Attendance: 69
1/25/2024: School of the Arts Program: Philharmonic #7
Attendance: 42
2/7/2024: School #19/Houghton University Program: Philharmonic #8
Attendance: 39
2/8/2024: Alzheimer’s Association/Moodie’s Children’s School Program: Philharmonic #8
Attendance: 38
2/28/2024: Music, Munch, and Mingle Program: Philharmonic #9
Attendance: 25
2/29/2024: School of the Arts Program: Philharmonic #9
Attendance: 52
3/15/2024: Arc of Monroe/Lifetime Assistance Program: Pops #7
Attendance: 34
3/21/2024: Music, Munch, and Mingle Program: Philharmonic #11
Attendance: 24
4/18/2024: Alzheimer’s Association Program: Philharmonic #12
Attendance: 11
Open Rehearsal with pianist Olga Kern
The Planets Open Rehearsal
Open Rehearsals, continued
4/19/2024: Lifetime Assistance/BOCES
LIVES Program at SUNY Geneseo Campus at Hochstein
Program: OrKIDStra #3
Attendance: 13
5/17/2024: Churchville-Chili Students at Churchville-Chili High School
Program: OrKIDStra #4
Attendance: 80
5/29/2024: Music, Munch, and Mingle
Program: Philharmonic #14
Attendance: 12
5/30/2024: Alzheimer’s Association/School of the Arts
Program: Philharmonic #14
Attendance: 35
Community within Open Rehearsal
Due to the RPO’s open rehearsals being held within Kodak Hall, when the attendance limit has not been reached by a given group for an open rehearsal, we are able to offer open rehearsal experiences to different organizations at the same time.
Thus, we have been able to host multiple programs and classes within an open rehearsal, contributing to a sense of togetherness through music and providing even more people with the immersive, intimate experience of an open rehearsal together.
Pre-Concert Performan
Pre-concert performances allow student chamber ensembles the opportunity to showcase their musical talents in the lobby of Kodak Hall prior to RPO concerts. Performers span from students in primary school programs to collegiate studios and, occasionally, professional musicians. After each pre-concert performance, the musicians and their families are given complimentary tickets to the concert that immediately follows their showcase.
Performances
9/21/2023
ESM David Ying Cello Studio
Attendance: 125
9/23/2023
ESM David Ying Cello Studio
Attendance: 150
11/4/2023
ECMS Klezmer Ensemble
Attendance: 150
12/15/2023
Brown/Marling Saxophone Duo
Attendance: 75
12/16/2023
Cypher Quartet
Attendance: 75
12/16/2023
Jim Tiller Quartet
Attendance: 75
2/8/2024
ESM Maple Quartet
Attendance: 125
2/10/2024
ESM Maple Quartet
Attendance: 125
3/21/2024
Strings for Success
Attendance: 200
4/20/2024
Hochstein Suzuki Presto Strings
Attendance: 150
5/24/2024
Crony Sisters
Attendance: 75
5/25/2024
Crony Sisters
Attendance: 75
6/1/2024
ECMS Percussion Ensemble
Attendance: 160
Hochstein Suzuki Presto Strings Strings for Success
Musician EngagementS
RPO conductors, musicians, and guest artists shared their music and expertise with members of the greater Rochester community through a plethora of engagements throughout the season.
Musician Engagements
(outside of our Care & Wellness / OPUS programming)
Alisa Weilerstein - Masterclass 9/22/2023
Location: Hatch Hall
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit
10/5/2023
Location: Williamson High School
Audience: WHS Jazz Band
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit
10/5/2023
Location: Williamson High School
Audience: WHS Choir
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit
11/29/2023
Location: Canandaigua Academy
Brass Quintet - Eclipse Press Conference
12/4/2023
Location: Blue Cross Arena
Brass Quintet - Christmas Chamber Ensemble Concert
12/8/2023
Location: Browncroft Community Church
Jeff Tyzik - Conductor Visit for RPYO
12/17/2023
Location: Eastman School of Music
Brass Quintet - Education Concert
2/9/2024
Location: Marion Junior-Senior School
Jherrard Hardeman - Guest Speaker at Tri-M Honors Induction Ceremony
2/14/2024
Location: Irondequoit High School
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit
2/26/2024
Location: Webster Schroeder High School
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit
2/28/2024
Location: Churchville-Chili High School
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit
2/29/2024
Location: Churchville-Chili High School
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit
3/6/2024
Location: Canandaigua Academy
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit
3/13/2024
Location: Victor Senior High School
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit
3/14/2024
Location: Victor Senior High School
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit
4/9/2024
Location: Brighton High School
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit
4/12/2024
Location: Pittsford Sutherland High School
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit
4/15/2024
Location: Pittsford Sutherland High School
Musician Engagements, continued
Wind Quartet and Cello/Harp Duo 4/19/2024
Location: Bay Trail Middle School
Sarah Kirkland Snider - Masterclass 4/19/2024
Location: Nazareth University
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit 4/23/2024
Location: Mercy High School
String Quartet - If Music Be the Food Community Concert 4/28/2024
Location: St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Wind Quintet - Education Concert 5/20/2024
Location: Bloomfield Middle & High School
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit 5/20/2024
Location: Mendon High School
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit 5/21/2024
Location: Fairport High School
Derrick Skye - Q&A with RPYO 6/1/2024
Location: Java’s Cafe
Jherrard Hardeman - Conductor Visit 6/4/2024
Location: Pittsford Mendon High School
String Quartet - AI in Action Event 6/4/2024
Location: Arbor Loft
Jazz Trio - Education Concert 6/14/2024
Location: Clyde-Savannah Elementary School
Jazz Trio - Jazz in the Bowl 6/18/2024
Location: Highland Park Bowl
Music Educator Awards
Each year, RPO honors nominated outstanding music educators and professional musicians in the Rochester area through an awards ceremony recognizing their commitment to bettering their communities through music advocacy and education. This year, the RPO awarded Webster Schroeder High School strings instructor Kimberly Derse and Minerva DeLand band instructor Matthew Sherrill with Music Educator Awards.
Both instructors were honored at the beginning of a Philharmonic concert, getting to join RPO Music Director Andreas Delfs on stage to receive their awards and be acknowledged by the crowd.
Rochester Philharmonic League
In 1929, the Rochester Philharmonic League (RPL) was founded as a volunteer support group for the RPO. The RPL has since been a stalwart aid in maintaining the RPO’s goal of providing quality education and music experiences for the community.
In a given season, you can find the RPL attending open rehearsals for a Music, Munch, & Mingle with our orchestra members, ushering for concerts, helping set up crafts, and creating a positive and warm environment for all attendees.
This year, the League moved to a new membership model. All volunteers with the RPO are now considered members of the Rochester Philharmonic League, donating their time to making the RPO’s programming run smoothly. Members who wish to make a financial contribution as well may do so through three levels of monetary support, which include two Giving Circle donor levels.
Young Artist Auditions
Hosted by the RPL since 1955, the Young Artist Auditions is the region’s most prestigious competition for high school-age musicians, recognizing talent and dedication in Male Vocal, Female Vocal*, Strings, Piano, and Instrumental categories. The YAA is judged by professionals in each field, with First Round winner awards of $750 and runner-up awards of $300 given for each classification.
Winners and runner-ups then compete for a $1,000 Instrumental Scholarship, a $1,000 Vocal Scholarship, and the Grand Prize, an opportunity to perform in concert with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
2024 Award Winners
Mark Wang, piano - Grand Prize Winner, Mildred and Julius Ness Award for Piano
Lina Yang, flute - Aldridge-Tinker Scholarship for Instrumentalists
Aaron Joseph Blancaflor, tenor - Jan DeGaetani Scholarship for Vocalists
Michael Shi, clarinet - Helen and George Greer Instrumental Award
Michael Giordano, tenor - Nobel Hirsh Award for Male Vocalists
Rebecca Lee, violin - Ruth and Sydney Salzman Award for Strings
*This year, there was no winner awarded for the Tessa Martin Award for Female Vocalists.
Mark Wang, piano
2024 YAA Grand Prize Winner
Sophomore at Pittsford Sutherland High School
100 Acts
A year-long celebration of our Centennial Season, the RPO’s 100 Acts of Giving Back sought to offer a wide variety of free special performances and events to the greater Rochester community, including open rehearsals, hands-on educational opportunities, community engagement programs, and more. Since then, the RPO has completed 200 Acts of Giving Back. The 200th Act occurred on 6/26/24 at Camp Joy, which serves people who are developmentally disabled in a way that prioritizes their independence and enjoyment.
Some new Centennial Initiatives that blossomed in due part to being focal points of our 100 Acts include the completion of 62 Acts for our Orchestral Program for Urban Students (OPUS), which provides musical support from professional RPO musicians to local students throughout their academic careers, and 40 Acts for our Care & Wellness Initiative, which brings music to people to support well-rounded health and wellness care amongst communities with various disabilities.
The RPO celebrated their 100th Act on 2/5/2024 with ROCmusic.
The RPO celebrated their 200th Act on 6/26/2024 with Camp Joy.