Pictured (l. to r.): Front row: Kathleen Murphy Kemp, Melissa Burton, Ingrid Bock Yang, Stefan Reuss. Back row: Don Reinfeld, Polly Hunsberger, Mary Ann Wukovitz, Robert Taylor
Photo: Abe Weiss
(Click on photo for enlarged version)
As published in Bravo Book 6, March, 2005
Melissa Burton
With RPO since: 1999
Hometown: Rochester
Earliest musical memory: Going to The Nutcracker at the Eastman Theatre
Favorite thing about Rochester: Its strong tradition of musical excellence in performance and education
Marjorie “Polly” Hunsberger
With RPO since: 1959
Hometown: Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Favorite composers: Bach through Stravinsky
Earliest musical memory: Going to Marlboro with my cello teacher to hear and meet Pablo Casals
Kathleen Murphy Kemp, Assistant Principal
With RPO since: 1974
Hometown: Auburn, NY
Earliest musical memory: Listening to my parents perform on their trumpets and to my grandma singing
Favorite thing about Rochester: Wonderful place to raise a family
Don Reinfeld
With RPO since: 1978
Hometown: Long Island, NY
First orchestra job: Buffalo, NY
Favorite thing about Rochester: Big enough for lots of diversity; small enough to get around easily
Stefan Reuss, Principal
With RPO since: 1988
Hometown: Fürth, Germany
First orchestra job: San Francisco Symphony
Favorite thing about Rochester: Great schools, beautiful countryside especially Finger Lakes
Robert F. Taylor
With RPO since: 1968
Hometown: Salem, OH
First orchestra job: Youngstown Symphony (Ohio) at age 15
Earliest musical memory: Mother teaching piano at home and father playing pipe organ in church
Mary Ann E. Wukovitz
With RPO since: 1972
Hometown: Hamilton, NY
Favorite composers: Shostakovich and Prokofiev
Earliest musical memory: Dad teaching me trumpet at age four.
Ingrid Bock Yang
With RPO: On and off since 1980
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
First orchestra job: Right here with the RPO under David Zinman, and I consider it the best musical training I’ve ever had
Favorite composers: Mozart, Mendelssohn and Mahler
