Music that entertains
teaches. engages.uplifts comforts. heals. cultivates serves. sustains. endures unites. connects.belongs dares. sparks. astonishes captivates. inspires. wakes transforms. moves. 2025/26 MUSIC THAT MOVES IMPACT REPORT
“
Aren’t we lucky, so fortunate, to have an orchestra of this caliber, with this conductor, in Rochester.”
Philharmonics Pops Nutcracker Other Specials OrKIDStra Sunday Matinees at Naz Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra SUBTOTAL
Our hope is that this 2025/26 Music That Moves Impact Report reminds you of a moment that moved you last season. Whether that’s an encore in Kodak Hall you’ll never forget, an education event you volunteered for, or a free community concert you enjoyed with your neighbors, we are grateful that you were part of what made this year so special.
28 21 6 3 4 4 3 69
29,204 34,116 9,637 3,895 3,013 2,099 1,917 83,881
RPO Outdoors Education Concerts Care & Wellness Initiative OPUS | Orchestral Program for Urban Students Youth Orchestra Rehearsals & Engagements Free Performances (Around the Town, RPO@RIT) Other Educational Engagements SUBTOTAL
15 13 35 62 49 6 29 209
19,051 13,998 3,327 1,933 76 1,442 2,036 41,863
TOTAL
278
125,744
RPO for All
We don’t have to tell you that music is a powerful thing. It makes you hum, tap your foot, maybe even dance. It connects you to the people beside you. It draws us toward something larger than ourselves—the good, the true, the beautiful.
Put simply: music moves us.
Our Audience Reach 2025/26 Season
Dear RPO Family,
And what a year it was! A star-studded Philharmonics Series saw Maestro Andreas Delfs joined by world-class guests from across the globe—and across town. Two outstanding festivals celebrating those who changed our artform forever. Three Voices of Today premieres from acclaimed artists like Jennifer Higdon and Lowell Liebermann. Special collaborations with Garth Fagan Dance and Rochester City Ballet. And how about that rousing finale with trumpeter Pacho Flores? Or, maybe this year you traded Bach for Yacht Rock! Jeff Tyzik put together another dazzling Pops Series that set scenes from ‘60s LA to the outer reaches of our galaxy. Whether it was R&B, movie music, or latin jazz, the spectacular sound of your RPO brought these diverse styles to life. Beyond the 80,000 patrons who attended an RPO series concert this season, over 40,000 community members took part in free programming through RPO for All, our commitment to fulfilling our vision for a Rochester where all lives are touched by music. Education Concerts, the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, RPO Outdoors—while each of these programs serves a unique purpose, they are united by a common goal: using music to foster learning, belonging, creativity, and human connection. It is your support that moves this goal forward. Your RPO was founded as a civic orchestra for everyone in our community, and it is the loyal support of people like you that has allowed us to thrive for the last century. This year:
RPO& 3,764 households gave $6.1M
109 corporations, foundations, and government agencies provided $ 2.1M in grants & sponsorships
32 donors documented cash or legacy gifts to the RPO endowment totaling $4.1M
RPO endowment funds surpassed 25M, more than doubling since 2020 thanks to the RPO& Campaign
$
This incredible support is more important than ever—thank you. If you have any questions about the RPO’s present or future, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at our emails below. As we enter the final year of our RPO& Comprehensive Capital Campaign, we’re filled with gratitude for your support and excitement for all that’s ahead.
With thanks, Rob Dermody, VP of Development rdermody@rpo.org
Bryce Davis, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives bdavis@rpo.org
Amy Gallaher, Director of Development agallaher@rpo.org
Dorian Delfs, Development Officer ddelfs@rpo.org
George DeMott, Development Officer gdemott@rpo.org
Elizabeth Garijo-Garde, Institutional Partnerships Officer egarijo-garde@rpo.org
RPO MUSIC THAT MOVES IMPACT REPORT
3
“
Aren’t we lucky, so fortunate, to have an orchestra of this caliber, with this conductor, in Rochester.”
Philharmonics Pops Nutcracker Other Specials OrKIDStra Sunday Matinees at Naz Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra SUBTOTAL
Our hope is that this 2025/26 Music That Moves Impact Report reminds you of a moment that moved you last season. Whether that’s an encore in Kodak Hall you’ll never forget, an education event you volunteered for, or a free community concert you enjoyed with your neighbors, we are grateful that you were part of what made this year so special.
28 21 6 3 4 4 3 69
29,204 34,116 9,637 3,895 3,013 2,099 1,917 83,881
RPO Outdoors Education Concerts Care & Wellness Initiative OPUS | Orchestral Program for Urban Students Youth Orchestra Rehearsals & Engagements Free Performances (Around the Town, RPO@RIT) Other Educational Engagements SUBTOTAL
15 13 35 62 49 6 29 209
19,051 13,998 3,327 1,933 76 1,442 2,036 41,863
TOTAL
278
125,744
RPO for All
We don’t have to tell you that music is a powerful thing. It makes you hum, tap your foot, maybe even dance. It connects you to the people beside you. It draws us toward something larger than ourselves—the good, the true, the beautiful.
Put simply: music moves us.
Our Audience Reach 2025/26 Season
Dear RPO Family,
And what a year it was! A star-studded Philharmonics Series saw Maestro Andreas Delfs joined by world-class guests from across the globe—and across town. Two outstanding festivals celebrating those who changed our artform forever. Three Voices of Today premieres from acclaimed artists like Jennifer Higdon and Lowell Liebermann. Special collaborations with Garth Fagan Dance and Rochester City Ballet. And how about that rousing finale with trumpeter Pacho Flores? Or, maybe this year you traded Bach for Yacht Rock! Jeff Tyzik put together another dazzling Pops Series that set scenes from ‘60s LA to the outer reaches of our galaxy. Whether it was R&B, movie music, or latin jazz, the spectacular sound of your RPO brought these diverse styles to life. Beyond the 80,000 patrons who attended an RPO series concert this season, over 40,000 community members took part in free programming through RPO for All, our commitment to fulfilling our vision for a Rochester where all lives are touched by music. Education Concerts, the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, RPO Outdoors—while each of these programs serves a unique purpose, they are united by a common goal: using music to foster learning, belonging, creativity, and human connection. It is your support that moves this goal forward. Your RPO was founded as a civic orchestra for everyone in our community, and it is the loyal support of people like you that has allowed us to thrive for the last century. This year:
RPO& 3,764 households gave $6.1M
109 corporations, foundations, and government agencies provided $ 2.1M in grants & sponsorships
32 donors documented cash or legacy gifts to the RPO endowment totaling $4.1M
RPO endowment funds surpassed 25M, more than doubling since 2020 thanks to the RPO& Campaign
$
This incredible support is more important than ever—thank you. If you have any questions about the RPO’s present or future, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at our emails below. As we enter the final year of our RPO& Comprehensive Capital Campaign, we’re filled with gratitude for your support and excitement for all that’s ahead.
With thanks, Rob Dermody, VP of Development rdermody@rpo.org
Bryce Davis, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives bdavis@rpo.org
Amy Gallaher, Director of Development agallaher@rpo.org
Dorian Delfs, Development Officer ddelfs@rpo.org
George DeMott, Development Officer gdemott@rpo.org
Elizabeth Garijo-Garde, Institutional Partnerships Officer egarijo-garde@rpo.org
RPO MUSIC THAT MOVES IMPACT REPORT
3
From Bach...
From the season-opening Barber Violin Concerto to a roof-raising Carmina Burana finale, the 2025/26 season brought two festivals, a run of Voices of Today premieres, and creative collaborations that filled Kodak Hall. It was an ambitious, dazzling year, and your support made every note of it possible.
“
The RPO strings performance of the Brandenburg Concerto was absolutely top notch. Loved it.”
Music That Immerses: Beethoven Festival Pianists Jonathan Biss and Jon
Nakamatsu and violinist Benjamin Beilman brought three concerti to life. In a moment of real hometown pride, three of your RPO’s own principals—Juliana Athayde, Ahrim Kim, and Chiao-Wen Cheng—stepped into the spotlight for the Triple Concerto. The “Eroica,” the “Pastoral,” the Fifth, the Seventh: a festival for the ages.
“
We attended all of the Beethoven concerts… Maestro Delfs’ conducting was incredible, and the orchestra matched his talent. We considered it the BEST performance of our 65 years of attending RPO concerts!”
4
RPO MUSIC THAT MOVES IMPACT REPORT
“ “ The ballet was magnificent… Oh my goodness! It was so beautiful, I cried… And the music was perfect, flawless, gorgeous. Thank you for this. Please do more”
Music That (Literally) Moves: Dance Festival
In the new year, your RPO shared the stage with two celebrated companies on our first-ever Dance Festival. An all-American program of Bernstein, Copland, and Glass featured Garth Fagan Dance on the latter’s Days and Nights in Rocinhal; the next week pianist JeanYves Thibaudet and Rochester City Ballet breathed new life into the romanticism of Liszt and romance of Romeo & Juliet.
Music that Celebrates: the Maestro’s Circle
For the RPO’s leadership giving society, applause didn’t end the evening! Following nearly 20 concerts this year, Maestro’s Circle members— donors of $2,500+ annually—gathered to raise a glass and toast to your incredible RPO alongside guest artists including Julian Schwarz, Gil Shaham, and Adele Anthony. Here’s to the donors that make all of this possible!
New and underperformed works, all performed at a worldclass level. The quality outstanding, often brilliant. It was such an honor to be in the audience.”
Music That Moves Forward: Voices of Today
to yacht rock!
You packed the house for Pops this season! Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik set the tone with Summer Breeze: Yacht Rock Classics before setting sail for the Caribbean with Camille Zamora and the Mambo Kings. Add the wizardry of Harry Potter, the blockbuster scores of Heroes and Villains, and the beloved tradition of Gala Holiday Pops—and it’s clear the “your” in “your RPO” belongs to everyone.
“
Jeff Tyzik is a treasure! The joy which he adds to every aspect of a concert is priceless!”
“ “ Dana: “We were sharing this moment, but then I thought, ‘wow, we’re sharing this with all of Rochester’”
Herb: “She didn’t even realize when I brought her on stage what I was about to do!”
Music That Engages
RPO third trumpet Herb Smith made his RPO conducting debut leading Endless Love: R&B Love Songs and Duets—a memorable milestone of its own. But getting down on one knee to pop the question, in front of an enraptured audience and ecstatic nowfiancée? Now that’s a moment that stands alone!
Your RPO’s commissioning, recording, and storytelling initiative featured brand-new works from some of today’s leading composers—a new cello concerto from Jennifer Higdon, a new work for soprano and orchestra from Lowell Liebermann, and Avner Dorman’s A Time to Mourn and a Time to Dance performed by Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony—captured for future release on Azica Records.
Music That Captivates
“
Your RPO closed the season the way it opened— swinging for the fences. Trumpeter Pacho Flores dazzled in Roberto Sierra’s Salseando before the orchestra, the Rochester Oratorio Society, and soloists joined forces for Carl Orff’s monumental Carmina Burana. What a way to end a year!
“Carmina Burana was spectacular… The quality of the ensemble Maestro Delfs put together was quite amazing.”
RPO MUSIC THAT MOVES IMPACT REPORT
5
From Bach...
From the season-opening Barber Violin Concerto to a roof-raising Carmina Burana finale, the 2025/26 season brought two festivals, a run of Voices of Today premieres, and creative collaborations that filled Kodak Hall. It was an ambitious, dazzling year, and your support made every note of it possible.
“
The RPO strings performance of the Brandenburg Concerto was absolutely top notch. Loved it.”
Music That Immerses: Beethoven Festival Pianists Jonathan Biss and Jon
Nakamatsu and violinist Benjamin Beilman brought three concerti to life. In a moment of real hometown pride, three of your RPO’s own principals—Juliana Athayde, Ahrim Kim, and Chiao-Wen Cheng—stepped into the spotlight for the Triple Concerto. The “Eroica,” the “Pastoral,” the Fifth, the Seventh: a festival for the ages.
“
We attended all of the Beethoven concerts… Maestro Delfs’ conducting was incredible, and the orchestra matched his talent. We considered it the BEST performance of our 65 years of attending RPO concerts!”
4
RPO MUSIC THAT MOVES IMPACT REPORT
“ “ The ballet was magnificent… Oh my goodness! It was so beautiful, I cried… And the music was perfect, flawless, gorgeous. Thank you for this. Please do more”
Music That (Literally) Moves: Dance Festival
In the new year, your RPO shared the stage with two celebrated companies on our first-ever Dance Festival. An all-American program of Bernstein, Copland, and Glass featured Garth Fagan Dance on the latter’s Days and Nights in Rocinhal; the next week pianist JeanYves Thibaudet and Rochester City Ballet breathed new life into the romanticism of Liszt and romance of Romeo & Juliet.
Music that Celebrates: the Maestro’s Circle
For the RPO’s leadership giving society, applause didn’t end the evening! Following nearly 20 concerts this year, Maestro’s Circle members— donors of $2,500+ annually—gathered to raise a glass and toast to your incredible RPO alongside guest artists including Julian Schwarz, Gil Shaham, and Adele Anthony. Here’s to the donors that make all of this possible!
New and underperformed works, all performed at a worldclass level. The quality outstanding, often brilliant. It was such an honor to be in the audience.”
Music That Moves Forward: Voices of Today
to yacht rock!
You packed the house for Pops this season! Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik set the tone with Summer Breeze: Yacht Rock Classics before setting sail for the Caribbean with Camille Zamora and the Mambo Kings. Add the wizardry of Harry Potter, the blockbuster scores of Heroes and Villains, and the beloved tradition of Gala Holiday Pops—and it’s clear the “your” in “your RPO” belongs to everyone.
“
Jeff Tyzik is a treasure! The joy which he adds to every aspect of a concert is priceless!”
“ “ Dana: “We were sharing this moment, but then I thought, ‘wow, we’re sharing this with all of Rochester’”
Herb: “She didn’t even realize when I brought her on stage what I was about to do!”
Music That Engages
RPO third trumpet Herb Smith made his RPO conducting debut leading Endless Love: R&B Love Songs and Duets—a memorable milestone of its own. But getting down on one knee to pop the question, in front of an enraptured audience and ecstatic nowfiancée? Now that’s a moment that stands alone!
Your RPO’s commissioning, recording, and storytelling initiative featured brand-new works from some of today’s leading composers—a new cello concerto from Jennifer Higdon, a new work for soprano and orchestra from Lowell Liebermann, and Avner Dorman’s A Time to Mourn and a Time to Dance performed by Gil Shaham and Adele Anthony—captured for future release on Azica Records.
Music That Captivates
“
Your RPO closed the season the way it opened— swinging for the fences. Trumpeter Pacho Flores dazzled in Roberto Sierra’s Salseando before the orchestra, the Rochester Oratorio Society, and soloists joined forces for Carl Orff’s monumental Carmina Burana. What a way to end a year!
“Carmina Burana was spectacular… The quality of the ensemble Maestro Delfs put together was quite amazing.”
RPO MUSIC THAT MOVES IMPACT REPORT
5
The RPO was founded with a vision for a Rochester where all lives are touched by music. Today, this spirit lives on through RPO for All. From Kodak Hall to school auditoriums, classrooms, hospitals, senior care centers, and even local parks, your RPO brought music to over 40,000 people in our region through free education and community programming.
Music That Moved Nate
Nate France is co-principal trumpet of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. A member of the Webster Schroeder Class of 2026, Nate spent much of the last two years working directly with RPO third trumpet and RPYO conductor Herb Smith, who provided one-on-one coaching and lessons. “Being a student with Herb was a great experience,” Nate said. “He takes the time to learn who you are as a person and as a player.” The admiration runs both ways. “Nate was one of those students that was such a joy to teach,” said Herb. “He has that innate drive, creativity, and perseverance that’s necessary to be a professional musician. Everything I would tell him to do, he’d tackle with grace and hard work—all the credit goes to him.” This year Nate won the prestigious Rochester International Jazz Festival/ Eastman School of Music scholarship, and plans to attend Eastman in the fall. For Herb, the moment carried a particular echo. He remembers his own years in youth orchestra back in Cincinnati as though they were yesterday—even down to Finlandia, the piece RPYO closed its final concert with, which Herb himself played as a young musician.
“
“
43 8 49 +
Education & Community Engagement
41,863
The RPO goes over and above for individuals who are not normally able to afford or attend performances.”
Total Reach
49
%
43%
Students (18,043)
Music That Moved Monroe Community Hospital
Community Concerts (20,493)
In 2021, the RPO launched our Care & Wellness Initiative to break down barriers to music caused by health and disability status through musician visits, open rehearsals, and a broad commitment to accessibility. Mary McDowell is Director of Resident Programs at Monroe Community Hospital, where she coordinates these experiences for residents with the RPO.
8%
“We serve just under 400 residents and have a bus that holds six. When you come to see us with a smaller performance, it brings the arts to the greater population here. You are truly a community-minded group.”
Care & Wellness (3,327)
Nate was one of those students that was such a joy to teach.”
The RPO also welcomes MCH to Kodak Hall for full orchestra experiences.
The RPO brings ensemble performances directly to Monroe Community Hospital (top) as well as opens up Kodak Hall for open rehearsals (bottom)
“Your ushers go above and beyond each and every time we are able to bring residents to a show. They meet us as we come in, help push folks to the seats they have, and always with a smile. At the end of the concert, there they are again to help us get folks back out to the bus. From the moment we pull up in our bus to the moment we pull out, we are treated with grace and compassion. It is a joy.”
Music That Moved Cobbles Elementary
Since 1929, RPO Education Concerts have brought no less than millions of Rochester-area students to hear their hometown orchestra. This year was no different, and students from Penfield’s Cobbles Elementary sent in cards to show their appreciation!
“Having Nate in the trumpet section was like conducting myself,” Herb said. “It came full circle—Nate being principal trumpet in youth orchestra, as I was, and now going to my alma mater.” As for what Nate takes with him? “These experiences have taught me that being uncomfortable or nervous can be good for anybody, because you learn how to be comfortable in the uncomfortable.”
6
RPO MUSIC THAT MOVES IMPACT REPORT
RPO MUSIC THAT MOVES IMPACT REPORT
7
The RPO was founded with a vision for a Rochester where all lives are touched by music. Today, this spirit lives on through RPO for All. From Kodak Hall to school auditoriums, classrooms, hospitals, senior care centers, and even local parks, your RPO brought music to over 40,000 people in our region through free education and community programming.
Music That Moved Nate
Nate France is co-principal trumpet of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. A member of the Webster Schroeder Class of 2026, Nate spent much of the last two years working directly with RPO third trumpet and RPYO conductor Herb Smith, who provided one-on-one coaching and lessons. “Being a student with Herb was a great experience,” Nate said. “He takes the time to learn who you are as a person and as a player.” The admiration runs both ways. “Nate was one of those students that was such a joy to teach,” said Herb. “He has that innate drive, creativity, and perseverance that’s necessary to be a professional musician. Everything I would tell him to do, he’d tackle with grace and hard work—all the credit goes to him.” This year Nate won the prestigious Rochester International Jazz Festival/ Eastman School of Music scholarship, and plans to attend Eastman in the fall. For Herb, the moment carried a particular echo. He remembers his own years in youth orchestra back in Cincinnati as though they were yesterday—even down to Finlandia, the piece RPYO closed its final concert with, which Herb himself played as a young musician.
“
“
43 8 49 +
Education & Community Engagement
41,863
The RPO goes over and above for individuals who are not normally able to afford or attend performances.”
Total Reach
49
%
43%
Students (18,043)
Music That Moved Monroe Community Hospital
Community Concerts (20,493)
In 2021, the RPO launched our Care & Wellness Initiative to break down barriers to music caused by health and disability status through musician visits, open rehearsals, and a broad commitment to accessibility. Mary McDowell is Director of Resident Programs at Monroe Community Hospital, where she coordinates these experiences for residents with the RPO.
8%
“We serve just under 400 residents and have a bus that holds six. When you come to see us with a smaller performance, it brings the arts to the greater population here. You are truly a community-minded group.”
Care & Wellness (3,327)
Nate was one of those students that was such a joy to teach.”
The RPO also welcomes MCH to Kodak Hall for full orchestra experiences.
The RPO brings ensemble performances directly to Monroe Community Hospital (top) as well as opens up Kodak Hall for open rehearsals (bottom)
“Your ushers go above and beyond each and every time we are able to bring residents to a show. They meet us as we come in, help push folks to the seats they have, and always with a smile. At the end of the concert, there they are again to help us get folks back out to the bus. From the moment we pull up in our bus to the moment we pull out, we are treated with grace and compassion. It is a joy.”
Music That Moved Cobbles Elementary
Since 1929, RPO Education Concerts have brought no less than millions of Rochester-area students to hear their hometown orchestra. This year was no different, and students from Penfield’s Cobbles Elementary sent in cards to show their appreciation!
“Having Nate in the trumpet section was like conducting myself,” Herb said. “It came full circle—Nate being principal trumpet in youth orchestra, as I was, and now going to my alma mater.” As for what Nate takes with him? “These experiences have taught me that being uncomfortable or nervous can be good for anybody, because you learn how to be comfortable in the uncomfortable.”
6
RPO MUSIC THAT MOVES IMPACT REPORT
RPO MUSIC THAT MOVES IMPACT REPORT
7
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 255 EAST AVENUE SUITE LL02 ROCHESTER, NY 14604 585-454-7311 DEVELOPMENT@RPO.ORG
CONNECT WITH US:
ANDREAS DELFS MUSIC DIRECTOR
Thank you to our Sponsors:
JEFF TYZIK
PRINCIPAL POPS CONDUCTOR
CHRISTOPHER SEAMAN CONDUCTOR LAUREATE
in loving memory of
The Christopher Seaman Chair, Supported by Barbara and Patrick Fulford and The Conductor Laureate Society
Lenore P. Lesser
JAKE TANIGUCHI
ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR
The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Education and Community Engagement Chair
TONYA McBRIDE ROBLES PRESIDENT & CEO
KATHERINE LINDAHL CHAIR OF THE BOARD
RPO PERFORMANCES ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE.
SEASON MEDIA SPONSORS: