Why Donors Support the RPO

The RPO is “a cultural jewel that I want to help preserve,” says donor Deanne Molinari (pictured at left), a retired higher education administrator from Fairport. “The RPO is one of the best orchestras in the United States, and the most versatile as evidenced by the various concert series and the education work it does.”

Molinari is one of more than 30 donors who have joined the newly formed Artistic Excellence Society (AES), which recognizes annual campaign donors who make three-year pledges of $2,500 per year or more. “I was pleased to be able to join the Artistic Excellence Society because we are so fortunate in this community to have an orchestra to support,” she says. “Many communities have lost that option because they were unable or unwilling to support their orchestras when the need was greatest.”

“I’ve long been convinced that supporting our outstanding orchestra also provides support for so many other Rochester cultural organizations that are connected to the RPO,” says Rob W. Goodling, a Corn Hill resident, former Churchville-Chili choral director, and current music history instructor at the Hochstein School of Music and Dance.

Funding from AES members directly supports musicians' compensation, educational programming, artistic innovation, and concert and guest artist or guest conductor underwriting.

In addition to helping the RPO to attract and retain the best talent, serve the community, and grow in national recognition, other benefits of joining the AES include the opportunity to “adopt” a RPO musician, complimentary refreshments at Eastman Theatre concerts, a special donor brunch, and much more.

Jeff Crane, superintendent of schools for the West Irondequoit Central School District, says, “Sue and I enthusiastically joined the AES as a way in which we could demonstrate our gratitude for—and influence the sustainability of—the tradition of excellence that is the RPO!”

For more information about joining the AES, call Lauri Van Hise at 585-454-7311, x280 or e-mail her at lvanhise@rpo.org.

Orchestra photo by Janice Hanson.