Rhode Island Philharmonic Hires New Principal Conductor

The GRAMMY Award-winning conductor Robert Spano will assume the role, effectively immediately

Robert Spano has been unanimously selected as Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra’s (RIPO) principal conductor, following his RIPO debut in September 2023, and work with students at the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School.

Currently the music director of the Aspen Music Festival and School and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Spano’s conducting engagements have included the Metropolitan Opera, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh Symphony.

Spano will remain as RIPO’s principal conductor until the orchestra and its music school hires a new, permanent music director, for which the search is currently ongoing.

“We are thrilled and excited to welcome an artist of Robert Spano’s stature with impressive global renown and achievements in orchestral performance and music education,” said RIPO’s executive director David Beauchesne in the press release. “He has already become a valued partner and leader in our artistic planning and I look forward to him becoming engaged in our educational activities as well.”

“[Spano] is an outstanding artist and educator, and we anticipate that he will help us continue to grow both the quality and impact of the orchestra, as well as our education and community engagement programs,” added RIPO’s board president Susan Chung. “We are all delighted that we’ve attracted such a respected arts leader to join our team.”

“I am thrilled to accept the position … I very much enjoyed my work with this wonderful orchestra and was particularly impressed by its commitment to the Music School,” said Spano. “My work as a conductor had always included a major devotion to teaching and mentoring young musicians, which is crucial to the future of symphonic music.”