Rhode Island Philharmonic Music Director Larry Rachleff “will step down when his contract runs out two years from now, ending something of a love affair between the beloved conductor and his many fans,” writes Channing Gray in Tuesday’s (6/16) Providence Journal. Rachleff “said he will have been at the helm of the Philharmonic for 21 seasons when he leaves, and ‘that’s long enough.’ He also said he does not intend to take on another orchestra, but instead spend more time with his 11-year-old son, Sammy.” Gray writes that Rachleff’s “sense of warmth and dedication to his craft” were effective in “attracting top-notch players from Boston and surrounding areas. As a result, the Philharmonic has emerged as one of the top regional orchestras in the country…. Other areas of growth during Rachleff’s tenure include the merger with The Music School [in East Providence] … and the creation of the popular Rush Hour series and open rehearsals on Friday. Subscriptions are up 46 percent in the past three years, according to [Executive Director David] Beauchesne, and the orchestra … has balanced its $5.2 million budget for the past six years.” A search committee is being formed to select Rachleff’s successor.
Posted June 19, 2015
