More Than Just Hot Air: RPO and Supersonic Science

Rochester, NY – What does a garden hose have to do with music?  Combined with a funnel, it becomes a “hose horn,” and is a perfect example of a wind instrument. This homemade instrument – as well as its more traditional orchestral relations – will be featured on Sunday, November 12 in “Supersonic Science,” the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s first orKIDStra concert of this season which explores the science of acoustics. Lead by Principal Conductor for Education & Outreach Michael Butterman (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Chair), the concert will take place at 2:00 p.m. in the Performance Hall at Hochstein.  Although ideal for children of all ages, orKIDStra concerts are geared especially toward families with young children ages 3-9. The orKIDStra Series is sponsored by Wendy’s Restaurants of Rochester.

At 1:00 p.m., a fascinating hour of interactive pre-concert activities is scheduled, be provided by the Education Department of the Rochester Museum & Science Center. The concert itself – which runs under one hour – opens with the signature edition of John Williams’ well-known “Superman Theme.” Faure’s Dolly Suite for piano four-hands, Schriener’s The Worried Drummers with two RPO percussionists, and individual movements of works by Brahms, Massenet, Bach and Bizet will round out the concert, interspersed by sound demonstrations by RPO players featuring bottles, PVC piping and a singing rod.

General admission tickets for orKIDStra Series concerts are $12 for adults and $10 for children, available online at www.rpo.org, by phone (454-2100) and in person from the RPO Box Office, and at all Wegmans Video Departments.  RPO Box Office Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (non-concert Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.).  The Wegmans Video Department is open seven days a week, 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.  A convenience fee may apply.

Now in its 84th season, the RPO inspires and enriches the community through the art of music.  The Orchestra is passionately dedicated to outstanding musical performance at the highest artistic levels, and has a unique tradition of musical versatility, commitment to music education in the broadest sense and a deep and enduring engagement with the community.  The RPO has been honored with the New York State Governor’s Arts Award, and two ASCAP awards for adventurous programming in recent years.

RPO performances are made possible in part with grants from the National Endowment for the Arts; the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency; the State of New York; Monroe County; the City of Rochester; and American Airlines, the official airline of the RPO.