In a year when The Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and held the top five spots on the Billboard Hot 100, another significant musical event occurred right nearby: the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra (RSO) began. Originally founded as a community orchestra, it transitioned into a fully professional orchestra in the early 1970s.
“Ridgefield is the smallest town in America to support a professional symphony orchestra,” says Laurie Kenagy, RSO’s executive director. “Beyond the orchestra, it’s about presenting great music through innovative programs like Music At The Mansion, the RSO Quartet: Inspired by Art, Heritage in Motion: Identity Through Music, and our holiday jazz concert featuring the Pete Wikul Band, as well as community outreach throughout the year.”
While RSO still performs many of the classics you would expect, including Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, the entire experience has transformed. RSO has modernized what was a formal evening out into an engaging and accessible experience for residents throughout northern Westchester.
“Twenty years ago, people dressed up to attend a concert, but now, you can be more casual,” Kenagy explains. “We haven’t raised our ticket prices in years, and we’ve also removed that invisible wall between the orchestra and the audience—our conductor talks to the audience during the concerts. Even intermission is fun because there’s always a local youth group providing concessions. We really strive to make the whole experience of attending a symphony orchestra more comfortable and enjoyable, while still showcasing superior professional musicians.”
While this may sound great for classical music lovers, if your music preferences are more in line with The Beatles or Taylor Swift, why should you care, much less attend an RSO concert? For starters, the concerts are short—approximately an hour and a half each, so it’s the perfect amount of time to try something new. Next, it’s a great way to connect with your children or grandchildren by sharing the experience of live music. And there’s also the simple fact that it’s music, and it’s music on a grand scale.
“I’m not a musician, and I didn’t grow up listening to classical music; I was a 70s rock kid,” says Kenagy. “But I love introducing new audiences to this genre of music. It’s exciting when people attend an RSO concert and they hear something like Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 or Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, they walk away stunned. The sound you get from an orchestra is very powerful. Nothing is amplified; it’s just pure music.”
And why not try it somewhere that’s a short drive away? With concerts held in venues ranging from the 900-seat Richardson Auditorium at Ridgefield High School or the 500-seat Ridgefield Playhouse to the more intimate The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum or Lounsbury House, you can customize your evening and experience.
Regulars and newcomers alike will have multiple opportunities to experience the RSO firsthand during the 2024/25 season. As part of their 60th anniversary celebration, the RSO will present four large orchestra concerts, each featuring a popular classical symphony. The concerts will also include iconic concertos performed by renowned guest soloists and contemporary pieces. Additionally, several small ensemble chamber concerts will be performed throughout the season in a variety of venues. And, to round out the year, a special season finale event will be held in May celebrating six decades of music.
“If you’ve never attended an RSO performance, give it a try,” Kenagy suggests. “You will be pleasantly surprised!”
This article was published in the September/October 2024 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
