With RPO since: 1996
Hometown: Pittsburgh PA
First orchestra job: Erie Philharmonic
Favorite composer or musical period: Whichever one I happen to be playing at the time.
Earliest musical memory: My grandfather playing acoustic guitar on Sunday afternoons.
Favorite thing about Rochester: Parks, hiking trails, our canine friends and abundance of birds.
Jeff Campbell
With RPO since: 1994
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
First orchestra job: RPO
Favorite composer or musical period: There’s too much great music to choose a favorite.
Earliest musical memory: Watching my dad load his drums into the car.
Favorite thing about Rochester: It’s a great place to raise my family.
Michael Griffin
With RPO since: 1994
Hometown: Kenosha, WI
First orchestra job: Albany Symphony Orchestra
Favorite composers: Mozart and Beethoven, but also Brahms, Prokofiev and Sibelius
Earliest musical memory: My father listening to the Saturday Metropolitan Opera broadcasts, often from underneath the auto as he worked.
Favorite thing about Rochester: There is a high quality of music making, and the commute is short. It is great place to raise a family, filled with people who care about the quality of life.
Gaelen McCormick
With RPO since: 1995
Hometown: Albany, NY
First orchestra job: Binghamton Philharmonic
Favorite musical period: Baroque
Earliest musical memory: My aunt practicing piano in the living room.
Favorite thing about Rochester: Dinosaur BBQ, canal trails.
Jack Stauber
With RPO since: 1971
Hometown: Fairport NY
First orchestra job: RPO
Favorite composer: Delius
Earliest musical memory: My mother used to take me to concerts at the Eastman Theatre.
Favorite thing about Rochester: The seasons.
Jesse Watras
With RPO since: 1995
Hometown: Dayton, OH
First orchestra job: Dayton Philharmonic
Favorite musical period: Romantic
Earliest musical memory: Getting a ukulele when I wanted a violin.
Favorite thing about Rochester: The weather.
Robert Zimmerman, Principal
With RPO since: 1967
Hometown: Rochester, NY
First orchestra job: Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Favorite composer: Sibelius
Earliest musical memory: Listening to my father play 78 rpm records.
Favorite thing about Rochester: Short commute to work.
