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.

Current Music Director Christopher Seaman continues the traditions of such notable former Music Directors as Eugene Goossens, Jose Iturbi, Erich Leinsdorf and David Zinman. The RPO has also performed under the batons of such renowned guest conductors as Fritz Reiner, Leonard Bernstein, Sir Thomas Beecham and Leopold Stokowski. 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.

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 more than 140 concerts per year, serving approximately 350,000 people through ticketed events, education and outreach activities, concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region, an annual residency at the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival in Colorado and broadcasts 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.