History

Your RPO – Enriching and Inspiring the Community

Since its founding by George Eastman in 1922, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music. For more than 80 years, the RPO has been known for its high standard of artistic excellence, unique tradition of musical versatility and deep commitment to education and community engagement.

In September 2011, Norwegian conductor Arild Remmereit joined the RPO as the Orchestra’s 11th Music Director, following in the footsteps of such illustrious conductors as Eugene Goossens, Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman, and Christopher Seaman. The RPO also has performed under the batons of such renowned guest conductors as Fritz Reiner, Leonard Bernstein, Sir Thomas Beecham, Leopold Stokowski, and Aaron Copland.

Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his tenure with the RPO.

The Orchestra is also at the vanguard of music education, naming Michael Butterman as Principal Conductor for Education and Outreach (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair) – the first position of its kind in the country. In addition to performing concerts for students of all ages, RPO musicians visit every elementary school in the Rochester City School District through the Primary Ensembles Program.

Christopher Seaman assumed the role of Conductor Laureate (The Christopher Seaman Chair, supported by Barbara and Patrick Fulford and The Conductor Laureate Society) beginning with the 2011-2012 Season, and will return annually to conduct the RPO beginning in March 2012.

In 2002, the RPO received the New York State Governor’s Arts Award for excellence and community service. In 2005 and 2006, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and the American Symphony Orchestra League honored the RPO with an ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, recognizing the Orchestra’s commitment to music written in the last 25 years.

Today, the RPO presents nearly 200 concerts per year, serving an estimated quarter of a million people through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. RPO concerts also are rebroadcast on WXXI 91.5 FM.

As one of the great American orchestras, the RPO aspires to be an institution driven by a culture of confidence, adventure, excellence and success; the premier cultural organization in the region and the hub of cultural life year-round; and recognized nationally for artistic and organizational excellence, creativity and innovation.