“...the RPO plays dozens of free concerts all over the area throughout the year, but there’s something special about performing outdoors in the summer.”
RPO ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR
JHERRARD HARDEMAN
More than 2,000 attended last summer’s free RPO concert at Ontario Beach
THE MAGAZINE OF THE RPO MAY 2025 VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 9
4 FROM THE PODIUM
More premieres in store for RPO Pops audiences
7 IN TUNE
Spend summer with your RPO Outdoors
8 IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Lasting first impressions
10 IN HARMONY Strings for Success
12 NOTEWORTHY
A consistent new Phils and Pops start time for the 25/26 Season: 7:30 PM
13
from the podium
Jeff Tyzik continues to craft
Pops premieres for RPO’s upcoming season
By MIKE CIDONI Movements Senior Writer
Jeff Tyzik rehearses The New Wave, one of many concerts he’s curated, arranged, and premiered with the RPO
Before we dive into the new season, would you quickly reflect on your RPO Pops series for 24/25?
This season was quite a challenge. I was premiering three new concerts. The first one, Disco Divas, lent itself to a symphonic sound, because, at that time in recording, many artists were using strings, brass, and horns. So, that was a fun program to work on—even when I had to stretch. I mean, Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” was totally synthesizer based. I had to figure out what an orchestra could do that would be meaningful. Getting there was a real thrill for me, and, I hope, for the vocalists, the orchestra, and the
MOVEMENTS: The second premiere was just a month later, The New Wave, which celebrated the likes of Blondie, The Police, and New Order—post-punk rock of the ’70s and ‘80s. Musically, it was a totally different story than Disco
That’s because there were virtually no acoustic instruments in any of that music, meaning I had to completely reimagine It. I mean, imagine doing New Order’s “Blue Monday” with an orchestra. So, I was a little nervous about taking that on, because I wasn’t sure I believed in it. But the more I got into the music, the more I found that there were some interesting elements there. Then I realized I could do something with it to make it symphonic, grand in some places.
MOVEMENTS: Over the years, you’ve made no secret of your love for the swinging sounds of Sinatra and The Rat Pack, which ruled Las Vegas in the ‘50s and ‘60s. RPO audiences have heard a lot of these songs before, but not the way they will later this month in your 24/25 season finale, Come Swing with Me (8 PM, Friday, May 23 and Saturday, May 24).
23 & 24
TYZIK: The concert is a rare opportunity to hear live the great arrangements that Nelson Riddle and Billy May and these other legends did for Sinatra and Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole and Bobby Darin. Many of these arrangements weren’t available to orchestras until recently. And just wait until you hear them in concert with the RPO with a vocalist like Paul Loren, who is fabulous at this kind of music.
MOVEMENTS: The 25/26 Pops season is kicked off with another of your world premieres, Summer Breeze: Yacht Rock Classics (7:30 PM, Friday, October 3 and Saturday, October 4).
TYZIK: Just this morning, I started working on the arrangement for The Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes,” which is a prime example of yacht rock. It’s this perfect blend
Top to bottom: Donna Summer; cover art for Blondie, The Police, and New Order.
Above: The 25/26 Pops season is kicked off with another Tyzik world premiere, Summer Breeze: Yacht Rock Classics (7:30 PM, Friday, October 3 and 7:30 PM Saturday, October 4), including the music of The Doobie Brothers and Christopher Cross.
TICKETS TO RIDE: In the 25/26 Pops Series, Tyzik takes us sailing with the smooth sounds of Yacht Rock, into Space with Troupe Vertigo, and back to the early ’70s pop-rock with the legendary artists of Lauren Canyon.
of soft rock, jazz, and R&B that appeared in the ’70s, was hugely popular through ‘80s, and then became its own genre. Jami [Tyzik, Jeff’s producing partner] came up with the idea for the concert. She said, “There are so many great records,” like “Sailing” and “Ride Like the Wind” by Christopher Cross, “You Belong to Me” by Carly Simon, “Africa” by Toto. And she’s right. It’s a long, strong list.
MOVEMENTS: For those who missed the RPO
SUMMER BREEZE: YACHT ROCK
CLASSICS
OCT 3 & 4
Eclipse Spectacular: A Symphonic Celebration at Blue Cross Arena in April last year, Space! (7:30 PM, Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22) offers another chance to see what the fuss was all about.
TYZIK: Space! takes a lot of best of the Eclipse concert and moves it into a concert hall setting. But a smaller [venue] doesn’t mean it’s going to be any less of an experience. Just for one example, [aerial artists] Troupe Vertigo will have more room to work in Kodak Hall than they did at Blue Cross Arena. I truly feel the concert will, in its own way, be just as spectacular as it was the night before the eclipse.
MOVEMENTS: It’s a long new season, but would you give us just a few other 25/26 concerts that have you excited?
TYZIK: Well, I always look forward to Gala Holiday Pops
SPACE!
OCT 21 & 22
THE SOUNDS OF LAUREL CANYON
JAN 16 & 17
(Friday-Sunday, December 19-21) and what we can do to make it fresh while continuing to offer what keeps audiences coming back every year. We have another premiere concert, The Sounds of Laurel Canyon: Rock Legends of the ’60s and ’70s (7:30 PM, Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17)honoring artists like The Mamas & The Papas, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac, who were in this one incredible Hollywood neighborhood in this one period producing some of their most iconic hits. Another premiere is Endless Love: R&B Love Song Duets (7:30 PM, Friday, February 6 and Saturday, February 7) with the amazing voices of Shayna Steele and Chester Gregory, and the RPO’s own Herb Smith making his Pops Series conducting debut. Of course, he’s best known locally for playing the trumpet, but Herb’s an accomplished conductor, and I’m excited for Rochester to experience just how terrific he is.
MOVEMENTS: Here’s hoping there’s some “vacation” in your summer vacation, Jeff.
TYZIK: I only have two concerts the first week of July, with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in Aspen, which has become a tradition for me. But, otherwise, it’s dog walks on the beach, quality time with family and friends, eating and cooking. I can’t wait.
in the spotlight
Lasting first impressions
Family and friends reflect on the first time they heard the RPO
Dr. Eva P. Sauer, MD, RPO Board Member
My parents liked orchestral music. And, since childhood (in Vienna, Austria), I would go to the symphony, and I loved it. Years later, when I came to Rochester, I was delighted to realize what a wonderful orchestra the city had. And, ever since that first performance, I have been a season ticket holder, a supporter, and a great lover of the RPO. So, when I was asked to be on the board, I could not say no.
Dr. Sauer also chairs the RPO Maestro’s Circle Leadership Giving Society.
Ginny Ryan, Director of Community Engagement, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust; veteran Rochester news anchor
Not a lot of people know this, but I played the flute in my early, early years—not very well, but I did play. I remember coming to the Eastman Theatre when I was in elementary school for a special day concert. The orchestra was rehearsing, and we got to listen to a few pieces. It was spectacular. I didn’t become a musician. But working in local news, I couldn’t help but be aware of the importance of the RPO to the community. And, to this day, it’s still an important part of my life.
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) and Canandaigua National Bank & Trust (CNB) have a longstanding relationship, with CNB a 24/25 season presenting sponsor of the RPO’s Pops Series and CNB’s Laurie Haelen serving on the RPO board of directors.
Barbara Brown,
RPO Vice President of Education
My first experience with the RPO was my first year in Rochester as a student studying saxophone and literature at the Eastman School of Music. I remember thinking, ‘What better luck than having a professional orchestra right in the walls
of your school? I will never forget walking into the theater for the first time. I was blown away. And, now, 18 years later, since my first day at Eastman, I still feel that same feeling when I enter the theater. I never dreamed I would spend my life working with RPO, and, almost every day, hearing worldclass music in such a beautiful place.
Barbara Brown joined the RPO in 2008, was named Director of Education in 2012, and continues to play sax.
Scott Spezzano, Co-Host,
The Breakfast Buzz with Spezzano & Sandy, 98.9FM
I grew up in Livingston County, which doesn’t seem so far away unless you’re a kid. So, I didn’t have my first RPO experience until I was in my late teens or early 20s. But when I started in Rochester radio, local arts groups were critical to my job. I finally got to see the RPO and then great Jeff Tyzik in a Pops concert. And, from then on, I was hooked.
Spezzano has served as emcee for various RPO events, including our 2024-25 Season Gala.
Diana Clarkson, Esq., Chair, RPO Board of Directors
Music’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My first experience with the RPO was when the orchestra came to the Allendale Columbia School and performed in the gym. That was a major memory from my childhood. And ever since then, the RPO has been a part of my life. So, when the first opportunity to work with orchestra presented itself, I jumped at the opportunity. And then to be asked to step into a leadership role and really help effectuate and continue the RPO’s remarkable trajectory, it was a no-brainer. It’s not work when it’s something you love, and something so important the lives of everyone in the community.
Clarkson studied piano from second-to-12th grade and still plays—albeit for an audience of one. “Just for myself,” she said, with a laugh.
“Playing the violin makes me feel happy and peaceful” –Strings for Success student
in harmony
Strings for Success
Innovative program just one slice of the OPUS pie
By LAUREN MACDONOUGH, Movements Staff Editor
Why Music Matters in Education
Higher Grades
Students who participate in music programs tend to excel academically. According to a 2019 RCSD internal report: Students involved in music have higher GPAs (3.1 vs. 2.2) compared to peers without arts participation.
Better Attendance
Music keeps students connected to school. Research shows that students involved in music have: Higher attendance rates (90% vs. 80%) Source: Rochester City School District
Boosted Brain Development
Musical training enhances areas of the brain tied to language and learning. A 2016 USC Brain and Creativity Institute study found: Accelerated development in language, reading, and auditory processing in children with music instruction.
It’s hard to argue against the positive impact music has on childhood education (see Why Music Matters in Education, above).
George Eastman understood that when he founded the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the first in the country to emphasize community music education.
Starting in 2023, the RPO partners with School #45, School #19, School #58, School of the Arts, Eastman Community Music School’s Pathways Program, EnCompass, ROCmusic, and the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra to create the Orchestral Program for Urban Students (OPUS). The goal: provide opportunities that positively influence and enrich the lives of local students through music education. This partnership underscores how music education can profoundly affect students’ academic journeys and personal development. OPUS offers a well-rounded approach to music education, including access to rehearsals, coaching sessions with musicians, visits from conductors and guest artists, complimentary concert tickets, and performance opportunities alongside the RPO. Through a continuum of high-impact
partnerships for all age levels from Pre-K through high school, students are immersed in the world of orchestral music and have opportunities to learn and grow.
Strings for Success at Rochester City School District’s School No. 19 is one slice of the OPUS pie. A free, inclusive, and innovative instrumental strings program in partnership with the Center for Youth, all students in grades 2-8 at School #19 can participate. In addition to high-quality music instruction, students participate in ensembles, performances, field trips, and learning opportunities from RPO conductors, musicians, and visiting guest artists.
Barbara Brown, RPO’s Vice President of Education sees firsthand the positive effects of Strings for Success. “I’ve seen students develop confidence in themselves and realize what they can achieve. Working together in an ensemble fosters cooperation and respect; important life lessons to learn.”
As students find joy, confidence, and connection through music, programs like OPUS and Strings for Success prove that education extends far beyond textbooks. With continued community support, this connection between music and learning will inspire generations to come.
Staff Summer Plans
We asked RPO staff members what their plans are for the summer before the 25/26 Season starts
This summer, I’m traveling to Acadia National Park in Maine to do some hiking, rock climbing, and eat as many lobster rolls as possible!
– Ashlee Allaire, Youth Orchestra and Education Projects Manager
In the month of June, I have 3 vacations—a cousin’s destination wedding in Jamaica, a girls trip to Charleston, South Carolina, and a family road trip to see the Cardinals play the Guardians in Cleveland.
– Lauren MacDonough Director of Marketing
I’m going to try my hand at gardening this summer!
–
Rachel Solomon Volunteer Administrator
We have plans to see lots of Red Wings games, first time game at Hudson Valley Renegades, AND a couple of games at Yankee Stadium—we’re a BIG fan of baseball! Also, sending our daughter off to Keuka College to start her journey to nursing school.
