Curtis S. Long

President and CEO

Ronald L. Steinmiller

Chief Operating Office & Chief Financial Officer

Ronald L. Steinmiller is the Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for the management of the entire operation of the orchestra.  Prior to his promotion in February 2016 he served as Vice President for Finance and Administration and was responsible for the establishment, interpretation and management of policies, procedures and guidelines for the successful financial and administrative operations.  He has been with the RPO since April 2008.  Prior to joining the RPO, he has been in management positions for over 25 years with local manufacturing firms, distribution companies and local sports teams.

He has served on various community organizations as; Past President and Treasurer of the Gates-Chili Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Board for Monroe County School Business Partnership, Former Head of Trustees for Gates Presbyterian Church, Member of the Gates Presbyterian Church Stewardship Committee, Member of the Community Forum Group in Churchville-Chili School District, and acted as coach, and board member Chili Soccer for 16 years.  In May of 2011, he was awarded the FEI’s Financial Executive of the Year award.

Katie Simmons

Executive Assistant

Nicole Morelle

Vice President of Marketing & Communications

[email protected]

Marie-Adélina de la Ferrière

Marie-Adélina de la Ferrière, Content Marketing Manager
[email protected]

Marie-Adélina (Lina to family, friends, and close associates) has been with the RPO since 2016. Originally a part-time Patron Services Representative, she worked her way up the ladder to her current role as Content Marketing Manager (appointed in October of 2018). In her current role, Lina oversees the RPO's presence on social media as well as overseeing email marketing. She is also Editor of our Bravo brochures. Lina earned her B.S. and M.A. in History from The College at Brockport and later returned to earn two Master's certifications in Nonprofit and Arts Administration.

A Downtown resident, Lina is often discovering new locales to enjoy with her friends.

Emily Gisleson

[email protected]

Eric Gaston

Vice President of Artistic Administration

Barbara Brown

Barbara Brown, Director of Education

Barbara Brown joined the RPO in 2008 and was named Director of Education in 2012. As Director of Education, she is responsible for the management and implementation of all of the RPO’s educational concerts and activities. Additionally, she oversees and coordinates all aspects of the RPO’s community engagement programs. Barbara earned a BA/BM in Saxophone Performance, as well as a BA in Anthropology from the University of Washington. She came to Rochester to complete an MM in Saxophone Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music, where she was also awarded a Performer’s Certificate. Barbara still performs in the area with the Vertex Saxophone Quartet. She and her husband (RPO Clarinetist Andrew Brown) reside in Irondequoit along with their adorable dog, Birdie.

Rebecca Sealander

Concert Production Manager

Tyler Thormählen

Tyler Thormählen is a musician, educator, and aspiring arts administrator from Austin, Texas. Although early in his career, Tyler brings a variety of professional experiences and knowledge to the RPO team. As Guest Artist Liaison, his time is split between planning for guest artist visits through various administrative duties and directly providing guest artists with travel and hospitality accommodations.

Tyler is also a full-time student at the Eastman School of Music where he studies with RPO Principal Horn, W. Peter Kurau, and Second Horn, Maura McCune Corvington. Tyler is currently working toward a M.M. in Music Performance and a M.A. in Music Leadership, and is the first dual-degree student of the kind. He completed his undergraduate work in Music Performance at Stephen F. Austin State University (Go ‘Jacks!) in Nacogdoches, Texas.

As an active freelance horn player, Tyler performs with a broad range of ensembles. He particularly enjoys playing in opera, ballet, and musical theater productions. When not in the office or on stage, he enjoys exploring Rochester and immersing himself in nature.

Yunn-Shan Ma

Conducting Fellow

Daniel Lippa

Dan Lippa, Ticketing Manager

Dan is in his first year as Ticketing Manager and is excited to help bring the RPO to new heights. His primary duty includes managing and maintaining the functionality of the ticketing database. He brings a plethora of skills to the RPO including box office management, sales, customer service, media relations, and hospitality. Dan is a Sport Management graduate from St. John Fisher College, class of 2012. His career goals have been focused within the sport management and entertainment fields. He previously has worked for Bowlero Corporation, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Baltimore Orioles, the Rochester Knighthawks, the Rochester Red Wings, and for SMG at the CMAC Performing Arts Center.

Outside of the office Dan enjoys playing drums, baseball, and hockey. He also enjoys running and hiking with his dog Gracie on the various nature trails throughout Rochester, NY.

Jenni Kohler

Group Sales and Marketing Partnerships Manager

Troy Tette

[email protected]

David T. Meyer

House Manager, part-time

Domenic Argentieri

Vice President of Development

[email protected]

Robert Dermody

Senior Director of Development, [email protected]

Rob Dermody is the Senior Director of Development and works closely with the RPO Board and Leadership, to raise the necessary support for identified priorities. He manages a portfolio of approximately 150 relationships, creates fundraising strategies for all prospects, develops relationships with donors, solicits major gifts up to and exceeding one million dollars and coordinates effective donor stewardship. Rob cultivates relationships with VIP donors and external strategic alliances to maximize synergistic opportunities.  He is starting his fourth year with the RPO and is mission-led.

Moira Dow

[email protected]

Amy Gallaher

Amy Gallaher, Coordinator of Annual Giving and Special Events
[email protected]

Amy Gallaher comes to the RPO with over 15 years of special event and donor engagement experience.  A graduate of the State University of New York College of Technology at Delhi with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Hospitality Management, Amy came to the Rochester area in 1998.  Her past experience includes event support and program management at the Wilmot Cancer Institute at URMC, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and immediately prior to joining the Development team at the RPO, she was the manager of special events and donor engagement at the Hillside Children’s Foundation where she also oversaw the Hillside Special Santa Program.  Amy lives in the town of Walworth (Wayne County), with her husband and three children.

Bryce Davis

Development Associate and Grants Manager
[email protected]

Mark Pignagrande

Finance Manager

Kari Swenson

Kari Swenson, Database Manager

Kari started working for the RPO in 2015 as a part-time box office representative.  She then worked as the Ticketing Database Manager from 2017-2018 until moving until her current role as the Database Manager since July 2018.  In this role, she is responsible for the maintenance and organizational use of the ticketing software, Tessitura.  Kari earned a B.A. in Music and Art History from the University of Connecticut and has an M.S. in Arts Administration from Drexel University.

Outside of the RPO, Kari teaches calligraphy classes at the Rochester Brainery and enjoys hanging out with her husband and their two cats.

Irene Shaffer

Staff Accountant

Shanna Yerdon-Walker

Laura Viau

Laura Viau, Office Administrator & Finance Assistant, is the voice of the RPO (585-454-7311).  She answers the phone at reception, welcomes visitors, volunteers, and vendors.  Laura processes the mail, coordinates building repairs, orders office supplies, and other office tasks.  At least half of her day is spent doing data entry for the Finance department.   Laura was a RPO volunteer for over twenty years and a member of the Crescendo (young adult) group.

Laura helped at many special events including, but not limited to, Symphony Showcase Houses, Red Carpet events, Bagels with the Conductor before the Sunday matinees, and decorating the Eastman Theatre for the holidays.  She helped children with crafts at Orkidstra concerts, the (instrument) petting zoo at WXXI and Strong Museum events, and assisted with RPYO auditions.  Laura did mailings at the office and volunteered at the reception desk when she worked in the schools and was available during the day.

Laura brings a lifetime of library and organizational skills to the RPO.  She also brings her appreciation and love of music and the RPO.  A family friend took her to concerts as a teen.  Laura is a Little Theatre volunteer, a JCC usher, a RBTL usher (30 years in the upper balcony) and a Blessed Sacrament Next-New Sale worker, currently in charge of the movies and music department!

Laura works 8:30-5 Monday-Friday.  Her email is [email protected].

Irene Narotsky

[email protected]

Scott Horsington

Scott Horsington, Volunteer Administrator
[email protected]

Scott Horsington joined the RPO in June of 2019. As Volunteer Administrator, Scott acts as the liaison between RPO staff, RPO volunteers, and the Philharmonic League Board, Committees, and Members. He’s also in charge of volunteer recruitment.

Scott earned a BM from Fredonia, MM from Arizona State, and completed the Master of Public Administration degree at the College at Brockport, where he is also a faculty member.