The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra (RIPO) is a professional orchestra based in Rhode Island which performs throughout Southern New England. Founded in 1944,[1] Based in East Providence, Rhode Island, its performing home is Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence. Along with the annual Rhode Island Chamber Music Concerts and the Providence Singers, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the best examples of classical music companies in Rhode Island.[2] RIPO is the country's largest combined professional orchestra and music school.[3]
The RIPO was founded in 1944 or 1945 by Francis Madeira who went on to be its director and conductor;[4] he retired in 1978.[5] Its current music director (as of July 2009) is Larry Rachleff.[6] In the 1960s, Erich Kunzel served as its assistant conductor.[7] As of 2010, the orchestra has attracted the likes of conductor Jahja Ling, violinists Jennifer Frautschi, Karen Gomyo and David Kim and pianists Ilya Yakushev, Jessie Chang and Jon Kimura Parker to perform with the orchestra.[8] The largest annual fundraising event is the school's Red Hot & Cool Ball.[9]
The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra is the only fully integrated professional orchestra and music school in United States. It has a major music school founded by Alan Fox, which educates over 14,000 young people and adults with music lessons of all ability levels and instrumentations with classes and ensembles.[10] The educational program of the school spans not only classical music but extends into pop, jazz, rhythm & blues and advocates youth orchestras and big band ensembles. Instruction is provided on 35 different instruments.[2]
The orchestra received a grant to support "Music After Hours", a consortium with the Music School geared towards educating aspiring young musicians grades 3-5 children after school hours. This was put into effect in 2001.[11] In September 2008, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Society established the Carter Center for Music Education and Performance, located on Waterman Avenue in East Providence which has over 30 private studios, including a jazz, rock and blues wing.[10] Every May, the orchestra puts on four education concerts at VMA and groups of musicians perform at schools and community centers throughout the year.[10]