Voters Approve Question 5; Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School Grateful

November 5, 2014 - East Providence, RI - Last night, Rhode Island voters approved the most significant investment in the arts and historic preservation in the state's history. Together with the passage of Question 7, the passage of Question 5 confirms Rhode Island voters' overwhelming approval of investment in our state's natural, historic, and arts and culture assets.

David Beauchesne, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School reacted to the news with this statement: "We are so grateful to Rhode Islanders, including the voters, Governor Chafee, House Speaker Mattiello, Senate President Paiva-Weed, and the General Assembly. Supporters of Question 5 recognized that investing in arts, culture and historic preservation is critical to our efforts to create and retain jobs, build a strong economy, develop healthy communities, and create a vibrant state. With this investment, Rhode Island will truly be the 'State of the Arts,' and so much more. The nonprofits supported by this bond will return the public's trust by revitalizing main streets from Westerly to Woonsocket, by putting construction workers, artists and arts educators to work, by producing great art and training the next generation of artists and audience goers."

Speaking about the impact of the passage of Question 5 for the RI Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School, Beauchesne said, "We will continue the transformation of our former manufacturing facility in East Providence into the Carter Center for Music Education & Performance. On behalf of our Orchestra, our Music School, the eleven nonprofit tenants, and the thousands of Rhode Islanders who use the Carter Center on a weekly basis, we thank you! And our colleagues and friends who run arts organizations and historic sites across this great state thank you!"

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School is the largest fully integrated orchestra and music school in the United States. Our mission is to enrich and transform Rhode Island and our region through great music performance and education.

2014-2015 is the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra's 70th Season, Music Director Larry Rachleff's19th with the Orchestra. The season includes an eight-concert Classical Series with a roster of world-renowned guest artists that includes pianists Jon Nakamatsu, Ilya Yakushev and Joyce Yang, violinists Augustin Hadelich and Jennifer Koh, cellist Alban Gerhardt, mezzo-soprano Susan Lorette Dunn, and guest conductor Daniel Hege. Our Amica Rush Hour Series offers an early start time - 6:30pm - on four Fridays (October 17, November 14, April 10, May 8). These shorter, informal, accessible classical concerts feature full performances of select repertoire from the Saturday Classical concerts. Our four Open Rehearsals, on Fridays at 5:30pm (September 19, January 16, February 20, March 20), offer audience members insight into the collaboration between the conductor, guest artists and orchestra musicians as they prepare for the upcoming classical concert. Special events include the perennial holiday favorite Handel's Messiah with The Providence Singers on Saturday, December 20 at 7:00pm at The Vets, conducted by the Singers' former artistic director Andrew Clark, the Philharmonic Pops showcasing Cirque de la Symphonie on Saturday, January 31 at 7:00pm at The Vets and appearing with the Indigo Girls on Friday, February 13 at 8:00pm at PPAC, both conducted by Resident Conductor Francisco Noya. Mr. Noya also conducts our Education Concerts and Summer Pops Concerts.

Now in its 27th year, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School serves approximately 1,500 children, youth and adults every week with lessons, classes, ensembles and community partnership programs, and an additional 20,000 students annually through partnerships, residencies, education concerts and in-school performances. The Philharmonic Music School serves students of all ages and ability levels, and provides instruction in all kinds of music, from jazz and rock to classical and folk. Ensembles include five youth orchestras, two wind ensembles, eleven jazz ensembles and many chamber music ensembles. More than 70 dedicated teachers comprise the faculty, many with degrees from some of the finest music schools in the world. The majority of Philharmonic Music School programs take place at the state-of-the-art Carter Center in East Providence. Completed in 2008, the Carter Center is the largest dedicated community music school facility in New England.

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