RPO Board of Directors
OFFICERS
Ross P. Lanzafame, Esq., Chairperson of the Board
Curtis S. Long, President & CEO
Cindy Yancey, Vice Chairperson
Robert A. Woodhouse, Treasurer
Karen Kessler, Secretary
TERM EXPIRES JUNE 2021
Steve Ashley
James Englert
David Lane
Dr. Sidney Sobel
Cindy Yancey
TERM EXPIRES JUNE 2022
James Fulmer
Dr. Ralph F. Jozefowicz
Karen Kessler
Ross P. Lanzafame, Esq.
Ronald E. Salluzzo
Jason Thomas
Robert Woodhouse
TERM EXPIRES JUNE 2023
Diana Clarkson, Esq.
George Daddis
Catherine Frangenberg
Allyson Hiranandani
Dr. Diane Lu
Dr. Eva P. Sauer
George J. Schwartz, M.D.
Richard Stein
Dr. James Watters
Michael Millard
Elizabeth F. Rice
Katherine T. Schumacher
TERM EXPIRES JUNE 2024
Paulette Gissendanner
Zuzana Kwon
Jack McGowan
Barbara Pierce
Dr. Victor Poleshuck
EX-OFFICIO
Rebecca Gilbert, Orchestra Representative
Erik Behr, Orchestra Representative
Patrick Fulford, Chairperson, Honorary Board
Curtis S. Long, President & CEO
Jamal J. Rossi, Dean, Eastman School of Music
HONORARY BOARD
Patrick Fulford, Chairperson
Nancy Beilfuss
James M. Boucher
Paul W. Briggs
William L. Cahn
Louise Epstein
Joan Feinbloom
Betsy Friedman
Ronald A. Furman
Mary M. Gooley*
David C. Heiligman
A. Thomas Hildebrandt
Harold A. Kurland, Esq.
Cricket and Frank Luellen*
Elizabeth F. Rice
Nathan J. Robfogel, Esq.
Jon L. Schumacher, Esq.
Katherine T. Schumacher
Betty Strasenburgh
Josephine S. Trubek
Suzanne D. Welch
Patricia Wilder*
Deborah Wilson
The RPO expresses its gratitude to all those who have served as Honorary Board members in the past.
PAST RPO CHAIRPERSONS
1930–32: Edward G. Miner*
1932–34: Simon N. Stein*
1934–38: George E. Norton*
1938–41: Leroy E. Snyder*
1941–42: Frank W. Lovejoy*
1942–43: Bernard E. Finucane*
1943–46: L. Dudley Field*
1946–48: Edward S. Farrow, Jr. *
1948–51: Joseph J. Myler*
1951–52: Joseph F. Taylor*
1952–55: Raymond W. Albright*
1955–57: Arthur I. Stern*
1957–59: Thomas H. Hawks*
1959–61: Walter C. Strakosh*
1962–63: Ernest J. Howe*
1963–65: O. Cedric Rowntree*
1965–67: Frank E. Holley *
1967–69: Thomas C. Taylor*
1969–71: Thomas H. Miller*
1971–72: Mrs. Frederick J. Wilkens*
1972–73: Edward C. McIrvine
1973–74: Robert J. Strasenburgh*
1974–75: John A. Santuccio
1975–76: Robert J. Strasenburgh*
1976–78: Dr. Louis Lasagna*
1978–80: Edward C. McIrvine
1980–82: Peter L. Faber
1982–84: Paul F. Pagerey*
1984–85: Peter L. Waasdorp*
1986–89: Robert H. Hurlbut*
1989–91: Paul W. Briggs
1991–93: Karen Noble Hanson*
1993–95: Ronald E. Salluzzo
1995–98: A. Thomas Hildebrandt
1998–00: Harold A. Kurland, Esq.
2000–04: David C. Heiligman
2004–06: Ingrid A. Stanlis
2006–09: James M. Boucher
2009–11: Suzanne D. Welch
2011–13: Elizabeth F. Rice
2013–15: Dr. Dawn F. Lipson
2015-17: Jules L. Smith, Esq.
2017-19: Ingrid A. Stanlis
* Deceased
Administration
Curtis S. Long
Curtis S. Long
President and CEO
President and CEO
Ronald L. Steinmiller
Ronald L. Steinmiller
Ron Steinmeiller, Chief Financial Officer
Ronald L. Steinmiller is the Chief Financial 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.
Chief Financial Officer
Kate Kammeyer
Senior Vice President & General Manager
Katie Simmons
Katie Simmons
Executive Assistant
Executive Assistant
Marketing & Communications
Dawn Kellogg
Interim Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Ortensia Èstelle de Loren
Ortensia Èstelle de Loren
Manager of Content & Digital Marketing
Ortensia 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, Ortensia oversees the RPO's presence on digital and social media, content, and email marketing. She is also Editor of our Bravo brochures. Ortensia 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, Ortensia is often discovering new locales to enjoy with her friends.
Manager of Content & Digital Marketing
Artistic Operations & Education
Barbara Brown
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.
Director of Education
Rebecca Sealander
Rebecca Sealander
Concert Production Manager
Concert Production Manager
Tyler Thormählen
Tyler Thormählen
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.
Guest Artist Liaison
Yunn-Shan Ma
Yunn-Shan Ma
Conducting Fellow
Conducting Fellow
Patron Services Center
Daniel Lippa
Daniel Lippa
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.
Ticketing Manager
Jenni Kohler
Jenni Kohler
Group Sales and Marketing Partnerships Manager
Group Sales and Marketing Partnerships Manager
Troy Tette
Patron Services Manager
David T. Meyer
David T. Meyer
House Manager, part-time
House Manager, part-time
Development
Domenic Argentieri
Vice President of Development
Robert Dermody
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.
Senior Director of Development & Centennial Campaign Manager
Amy Gallaher
Amy Gallaher
Amy Gallaher, Director of Development, Annual Giving & 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.
Director of Development, Annual Giving & Special Events
Bryce Davis
Bryce Davis
[email protected]
Bryce Davis joins the RPO as a recent graduate of the University of Rochester, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Music, cum laude. As Assistant Director of Institutional Giving and Stewardship, Bryce manages the RPO's Foundation and Government relationships. He is excited to have this opportunity to bridge business and art to help the RPO thrive in an ever-changing environment. Previous roles include Co-Host and Producer of the Careers Unfiltered podcast at the Gwen M. Greene Center and Event Producer for the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America.
Originally from a small town about an hour and a half south of Rochester called Wellsville, Bryce now lives in the City's 19th Ward. Outside of work, he can often be found cycling, hiking, and singing with his friends.
Assistant Director of Institutional Giving & Stewardship
Finance
Mark Pignagrande
Mark Pignagrande
Finance Manager
Finance Manager
Irene Shaffer
Irene Shaffer
Staff Accountant
Staff Accountant
Shanna Yerdon-Walker
Shanna Yerdon-Walker
HR Coordinator
Laura Viau
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].
Office Administrator
Rochester Philharmonic League
Scott Horsington
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.
Volunteer Administrator