RPO Opening Night event seeks to draw younger crowd

The RPO will roll out the red carpet this Thursday night for Music Director Ward Stare’s inaugural season at the RPO. Prior to the Philharmonics Series Opener Pines of Rome, the RPO will throw a pre-concert bash at Max of Eastman Place with Italian cuisine, cocktails, live jazz by The Kieran Hanlon Trio, and a meet-and-greet with the Maestro.

In keeping with the glitz and glamour of an opening night, guests will have the opportunity to pose for photos on the red carpet. While the RPO has always thrown a pre-concert event on opening night, this particular event is especially geared towards young professionals--an audience Stare is keenly interested in attracting to the RPO as a young professional himself. 

“I have always wanted to learn more about how to get involved with the RPO,” said Stephanie Layne, 27 of Rochester. “It’s such an institution in Rochester, and I’m excited to mix and mingle at the red carpet event with other young professionals with this nuanced interest.”

Although Stare was appointed to his position in July of 2014, this will be the first season that he has programmed and for which he will serve as main conductor for the Philharmonics Series. In February, we saw a glimpse of the Maestro’s ideas to engage new audiences with the season preview event, a free concert where Stare introduced the new season and the orchestra played samples of what’s to come. Stare also engaged the audience by taking questions live onstage through social media.

“I’d like to support the RPO however I can,” said Steve Tulgan, 34 of Pittsford, and also a member of the RPO’s Development and Season Opening Steering Committees. “I’m not in a position right now to become a subscriber, but I can support them by being a member of the committee for this fantastic opening event and by attending a few concerts a year. The RPO is one of the most gratifying and rewarding cultural experiences that Rochester has to offer. Watching so many fine musicians perform in unison, with such exacting standards, is quite awe-inspiring.”

Tickets are still available to the RPO’s red carpet opening night, and young professionals can enjoy the event and concert for a special price of $65. Following the event, red carpet event attendees are invited back to Max of Eastman Place for a dessert reception. Tickets to the red carpet event alone are $50. Tickets available online or by calling 585-454-2100.

If you go:
RPO Opening Night Celebration
Thursday, September 17, 5:30-7PM
Max of Eastman Place (25 Gibbs St., Rochester)
Tickets: Purchase online for the $65 young professional price, includes concert ticket to Pines of Rome that evening at Kodak Hall at 7:30 PM. Red carpet event tickets alone are $50, purchase by calling 585-454-2100.