RPO Announces New Bass Trombonist

Rochester, NY – The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra is pleased to announce that Andrew Chappell will be joining the RPO as bass trombonist, replacing David Richey, who retired at the end of this past season. Chappell will begin at the start of the 2006-07 Season.

Andrew has performed with the Houston, New Mexico and New World Symphonies, and with the orchestras of the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder, and the Spoleto Music Festival in Charleston, South Carolina. He also served as acting bass trombonist of the Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra in Sweden and the Malaysian Philharmonic. Originally from San Francisco, Andrew received a bachelor’s of music degree from Oberlin College and a master’s of music degree from Rice University. He counts as his most influential teachers Ray Premru, David Waters, and Sam Pilafian.

In the double-bass section, Jesse Watras will be taking a one-year leave for this upcoming season. Eric Polenik – a 2006 Eastman School of Music graduate and Orchestra Studies Diploma student – will be joining the double-bass section during that time.

Celebrating its 83rd season in 2005-06, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s mission is to perform and present a broad range of quality music; attract, entertain and educate audiences with superior musical performances; maintain and build the Orchestra’s national reputation; and enhance the reputation of the Rochester community as a place in which to live, work, play, visit and learn.