Rachleff to retire as Rhode Island Philharmonic’s music director

LARRY RACHLEFF, music director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, will retire after the 2016-2017 season. / COURTESY RHODE ISLAND PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
LARRY RACHLEFF, music director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, will retire after the 2016-2017 season. / COURTESY RHODE ISLAND PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

PROVIDENCE – Larry Rachleff, Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra’s music director, will retire after the 2016-2017 season after nearly two decades with the organization to spend more time with his family in Texas.
Rachleff, of Houston, did not renew his contract.
“It’s time for me to pass the reins on to the next person,” Rachleff said in a statement. “It has been a tremendous and important honor for me to serve as music director these past two decades. Leaving will be very difficult and a significant loss for me in so many ways, but with two seasons left to go, there is much to accomplish and important and inspirational projects to be completed. “
He will continue serving as professor of orchestral conducting at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Houston.
Rachleff will conduct his 20th season this year, and will conclude his tenure with 21 full seasons as music director.
In the last three seasons, single ticket sales have increased 51 percent and the number of subscribers increased 46 percent.
During his time in Providence, Rachleff helped establish the Philharmonic Music School, now among the largest community musical schools in the country. He also supported education programs that reach more than 25,000 students across the region each year.
The philharmonic’s board of directors will immediately begin a search for a new music director.
“Larry is not just a phenomenal conductor and music director, he is one of the foremost music educators in the United States, and the Music School here has grown and flourished under his influence,” Executive Director David Beauchesne said. “Larry has created a great foundation for our organization artistically and educationally. His departure in two years will be a huge loss, but also a tremendous opportunity for someone to come in and build on his amazing legacy.”
The orchestra will spend the next two years celebrating Rachleff with performances, including premieres of commissioned works by Nico Muhly and Christopher Theofanides; collaborations with the Providence Singers; galas with flautist James Galway and pianist Lang Lang; guest artists; and some of the repertoire Rachleff is most known for, like Shostakovich, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky.

“Larry has been and incredible artistic leader for our organization,” Board Chair Marie Langlois said. “In many ways it is hard to imagine the philharmonic without him; however, we are in an excellent position to attract exceptional candidates to succeed him. With the quality of the orchestra Larry has built, the unique and thriving Music School, the organization’s deep educational and artistic partnerships with the community, and our growing financial strength, there is no doubt that we will find a remarkable person to help us imagine and realize the next phase of the philharmonic’s development.”

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