ABOUT US
The Rhode Island Philharmonic is the only fully integrated professional orchestra and music school in United States ,placing it in the unique position of presenting great music through both our performance and music education programs .
The Orchestra is now in its 65th Season; the 2009-2010 Season is Music Director Larry Rachleff’s 14th with the Orchestra.
This season the Orchestra performs an eight-concert Classical Series with a roster of world-renowned guest artists, that includes pianists Lilya Zilberstein and JasonHardink, violinists SoovinKim and PhilippeQuint, percussionist EvelynGlennie, cellist AlbanGerhardt and guest conductor MichaelStern. Soprano Michelle Areyzaga, alto Susan Lorette Dunn, tenor Aaron Blake, baritone Robert Honeysucker and the Providence Singers, Andrew Clark, artistic director, join the Orchestra in two performances of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Our Rush Hour Series, underwritten by StrategicPoint Investment Advisors, now in its ninth season, has moved to four early Friday evenings of short, informal, accessible classical concerts. Our three Open Rehearsals offer audience members insight into the collaboration between the conductor, guest artists and orchestra musicians as they prepare for the upcoming classical concert. Our partnership with the Providence Performing Arts Center, POPS-PHIL-PPAC, enters its fifth season presenting Ben Folds in October. Francisco Noya conducts these concerts as well as our Education Concerts at VMA in May.
The Philharmonic mission has expanded as we combine exceptional symphonic performances with an emphasis on the highest quality music education at our Music School. The School will serve approximately 14,500 children, youth and adults this year with lessons, classes, ensembles and community engagement programs: The Music School provides private instrument and vocal lessons, classes and performance ensembles of all sizes, ability levels and instrumentations from classical, pop, jazz and rhythm and blues to the Youth Orchestras, Wind Ensembles and adult Community Orchestra.
In December 2006 , the Philharmonic moved into its permanent home on Waterman Avenue in East Providence. This facility, also housing the administrative offices, is now the Carter Center for Music Education & Performance which opened in the fall of 2008, the only facility of its kind in Rhode Island. This Center has dramatically increased our ability to provide high quality, comprehensive and accessible music education for thousands of students through our scholarship and community partnership arrangements. Our students come from virtually every community in the state and nearby Massachusetts.
Under the artistic leadership of Music Director Larry Rachleff and Resident Conductor Francisco Noya, the Philharmonic Orchestra comprises 73 professional musicians, a dedicated administrative staff and a group of enormously committed volunteers who serve on the Philharmonic Board of Directors and Board of Overseers.
Music Director Larry Rachleff began his tenure in the 1996-97 Season. Founding Music Director Francis Madeira retired in 1978, and Alvaro Cassuto led the Orchestra from 1979-1985. Andrew Massey served as Music Director from 1986-1991, followed by Zuohuang Chen who served in that capacity through the 1995-96 season.
Subscriptions to Classical, Rush Hour and Open Rehearsal Series are
available by phone through the Philharmonic Box Office
by calling 401.248.7000, Monday - Friday, 9am-4:30pm.
purchase single tickets online here
