RPO presents young professionals event on Thursday

This Thursday evening, join the RPO and Rochester Young Professionals (RYP) for Beethoven & Brews—a free pre-concert event for young professionals—at Victoire Belgian Beer Bar & Bistro (120 East Ave.) at 5:30 PM. The event will include complimentary appetizers, a meet-and-greet with RPO President and CEO Charlie Owens, and four special guest speakers who will discuss what it’s like to be a young professional in the Orchestra: Anna Steltenpohl, oboe and English horn, will be joined by Lars Kirvan, cello, and Thomas Rodgers and Molly Werts, violin. Attendees will also have the opportunity to take part in a business card drop to win tickets to the RPO's upcoming performance of La Traviata (Feb. 28) and purchase discounted tickets to that evening’s performance of Beethoven’s Fifth at 7:30 p.m. in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre.

“We’re excited to be partnering with the RPO on the first of many events” said RYP President Brad Flower. “One of Rochester Young Professionals’ chief goals is to promote community development in our city. Engaging young professionals in the thriving arts and culture in Rochester is at the heart of this mission.”

While the RPO has organized young professional events in the past, this will be the first time that the RPO will team up with another organization to plan a YP event---something they hope to do again in the future with other YP-friendly organizations. Beethoven & Brews is just one example of the RPO’s renewed commitment to find alternative ways to connect people of all ages in our community to the Orchestra.

“I’m interested and excited to break down the barriers that exist between classical music and the public,” said recently-appointed RPO Music Director Ward Stare in a City Newspaper interview. “I want the concert experience to be an event, something people can look forward to, and something they can talk about for weeks to come and create a little more buzz around the event.”

For more information on Beethoven & Brews, visit rpo.org or RSVP via RYP’s Facebook event.
While Beethoven & Brews is free to attend at Victoire, concert tickets must be purchased separately and are available online and will be available at the event. rpo.org/BeethovenandBrews