Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra (RIPO) is a professional orchestra based in Rhode Island
which performs throughout Southern New England
. Founded in 1944, Based in East Providence, Rhode Island
, its performing home is Veterans Memorial Auditorium
in Providence
. Along with the annual Rhode Island Chamber Music Concerts and the Providence Singers, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the best examples of classical music companies in Rhode Island. RIPO is the country's largest combined professional orchestra and music school.
The RIPO was founded in 1944 or 1945 by Francis Madeira who went on to be its director and conductor; he retired in 1978. Its current music director (as of July 2009) is Larry Rachleff. In the 1960s, Erich Kunzel
served as its assistant conductor. As of 2010, the orchestra has attracted the likes of conductor Jahja Ling
, violinists Jennifer Frautschi
, Karen Gomyo and David Kim
and pianists Ilya Yakushev, Jessie Chang and Jon Kimura Parker
to perform with the orchestra. The largest annual fundraising event is the school's Red Hot & Cool Ball.
The orchestra received a grant to support "Music After Hours", a consortium with the Music School geared towards educating aspiring young musicians grades 3-5 children after school hours. This was put into effect in 2001. In September 2008, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Society established the Carter Center for Music Education and Performance, located on Waterman Avenue in East Providence which has over 30 private studios, including a jazz, rock and blues wing. Every May, the orchestra puts on four education concerts at VMA and groups of musicians perform at schools and community centers throughout the year.
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
which performs throughout Southern New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. Founded in 1944, Based in East Providence, Rhode Island
East Providence, Rhode Island
East Providence is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 47,037 at the 2010 census, making it the fifth largest city in the state.-Geography:East Providence is located at ....
, its performing home is Veterans Memorial Auditorium
Veterans Memorial Auditorium (Providence)
Veterans Memorial Auditorium is a performing arts theater in Providence, Rhode Island. Construction began in 1928, but was delayed by the Great Depression. The theater was finally completed in 1950. It is among the oldest arts venues in Rhode Island and is on the National Register of Historic...
in Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. Along with the annual Rhode Island Chamber Music Concerts and the Providence Singers, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the best examples of classical music companies in Rhode Island. RIPO is the country's largest combined professional orchestra and music school.
The RIPO was founded in 1944 or 1945 by Francis Madeira who went on to be its director and conductor; he retired in 1978. Its current music director (as of July 2009) is Larry Rachleff. In the 1960s, Erich Kunzel
Erich Kunzel
Erich Kunzel, Jr. was an American orchestra conductor. Called the "Prince of Pops" by the Chicago Tribune, he performed with a number of leading pops and symphony orchestras, especially the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra , which he led for over 44 years.-Early life and career:Kunzel was born to...
served as its assistant conductor. As of 2010, the orchestra has attracted the likes of conductor Jahja Ling
Jahja Ling
Jahja Ling is an orchestra conductor. He is of Chinese descent and is now an American citizen. He began to play the piano at age 4 and studied at the Yayasan Pendidikan Musik School of Music. At age 17, he won the Jakarta Piano Competition and, one year later, was awarded a Rockefeller grant to...
, violinists Jennifer Frautschi
Jennifer Frautschi
Jennifer Frautschi is a Grammy-nominated American born classical violinist, currently based in where she lives with her husband, world renowned horn soloist Eric Ruske, and their 2-year-old daughter...
, Karen Gomyo and David Kim
David Kim
David Kim is a violinist born in Carbondale, Illinois and was the only American to win a prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 1986, where he got sixth prize. Since 1999, he has been the concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra...
and pianists Ilya Yakushev, Jessie Chang and Jon Kimura Parker
Jon Kimura Parker
Jon Kimura Parker, OC is a Canadian pianist.- Biography :He was born in Vancouver, Canada, the son of Keiko Parker and the nephew of Edward Parker.He appeared with the Vancouver Youth Orchestra when he was five...
to perform with the orchestra. The largest annual fundraising event is the school's Red Hot & Cool Ball.
Music school
The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra is the only fully integrated professional orchestra and music school in United States. It has a major music school founded by Alan Fox, which educates over 14,000 young people and adults with music lessons of all ability levels and instrumentations with classes and ensembles. The educational program of the school spans not only classical music but extends into pop, jazz, rhythm & blues and advocates youth orchestras and big band ensembles. Instruction is provided on 35 different instruments.The orchestra received a grant to support "Music After Hours", a consortium with the Music School geared towards educating aspiring young musicians grades 3-5 children after school hours. This was put into effect in 2001. In September 2008, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Society established the Carter Center for Music Education and Performance, located on Waterman Avenue in East Providence which has over 30 private studios, including a jazz, rock and blues wing. Every May, the orchestra puts on four education concerts at VMA and groups of musicians perform at schools and community centers throughout the year.