About the RSO
The Rockland Symphony Orchestra (RSO) is an ensemble of professional and talented avocational musicians performing concerts, community events, and educational programs for audiences around Rockland County, NY.
For more than 70 years, we have been dedicated to providing access, opportunity, and means for everyone in our area—of any age, from any community—to enjoy the enriching experience of great music performed live. We play music of both classic and contemporary composers, featuring music written or performed by Rockland-area musicians whenever we can.
RSO History
1952
What is now the Rockland Symphony Orchestra was founded as the Suburban Symphonette, a group of 20 musicians under the leadership of conductor Edward Simons.
The Symphonette was first supported by the Rockland Foundation, now known as the Rockland Center for the Arts.
1955
With membership at 50, the Symphonette became independently incorporated as the Suburban Symphony Association, Inc., and became known as the Rockland Suburban Symphony.
1963
George Koutzen is named conductor as Ed Simons took leave to conduct the national tour of the Broadway musical “Camelot.”
1974
Professional conductor Ugo Didio stepped to our podium as George Koutzen left for a performing position in California.
1977
Ed Simons returned as director of the symphony, where he would continue for another 40 years.
Also in 1977, the RSO was named Rockland Community College’s “Orchestra in Residence.”
1981
Dr. Marvin von Deck, prize-winning conductor and long-time director of the orchestra at Tappan Zee High School, joins the RSO as Associate Conductor.
1989
We officially start doing business as the Rockland Symphony Orchestra.
2017
At age 100, Ed Simons conducts his final concert with the RSO, becoming the oldest active conductor in the U.S.
2023
Nicole Peragine joins the RSO as Principal Conductor, and is now our Musical Director.
Our Music Director
Conductor and violist Nicole Peragine joined the RSO as Principal Conductor in 2023.
Ms. Peragine is currently the Associate Dean for Programs at the Music Conservatory of Westchester where she oversees program development and directs the orchestras.
Ms. Peragine has performed with the Fayetteville Symphony, Carolina Philharmonic, Chappaqua Orchestra, The Symphony of Westchester, and the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. She served as education writer for the North Carolina Symphony’s Friday Favorite concert series and regularly consults on education projects.
Ms. Peragine received her Bachelor of Music Education at the Crane School of Music, her Master of Music in Viola Performance from the UNC Greensboro School of Music, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Johns Hopkins University.
Her principal viola teachers include Dr. Shelly Tramposh and Dr. Scott Rawls. Her primary conducting teachers include Dr. Christopher Lanz, Dr. John Locke, Dr. Douglas Bish, and Juliano Dutra Aniceto.
Orchestra Members
Piccolo
Amy Cohen
Flute
Jacqui Drechsler
Alli Potanovic
Amy Cohen
Oboe
Ian Boschen
David Reinstein
Clarinet
David Straus
Gordon MacDonald
Michael Cartaya
Bassoon
Ryan Cerullo
Corey Booth
Horn
Wayne Plummer
Jane Rondin
Ursula Farris
Susan Davidson
David Reinstein
Trumpet
Daniel Madrid
Jacob Gunther
David Hurd
Trombone
Henry Heyzer
Louis Jannone
Steve Carr
Tympani
Ben Carriel
Percussion
Michael Cooney
Violin I
Karen Gilbert
David Rubertone
Sal Pepe
Harrison Tuchman
Elizabeth Smith
Violin II
Jane Berkowicz
Yochanan Burnstein
Arnie Etelson
Thomas Rubertone
Ethan Donn
Laurie Eilen
Danice Desir
Viola
Alexandra
Mena-Jimenez
Irynn Somera
Allison Carbone
Rachel
Tanguay-Golden
Isabel Laufer
Peter Arnow
Cello
Stephen Reid
Christine Mann
Shelley Berson
John Bjorkman
Eric Bjorkman
Michael Laney
Shirley Be
Bass
Darcie Pickering
Board of Directors
Daniel Madrid President
Information Systems Compliance Auditor.
Avocational trumpet player.
Stephen Reid Treasurer
Information systems technology manager. Professional musician (cello and bass) in many varieties of music, both classical and jazz. Manager of musical arts organizations.
Stanley Silverstone Secretary
Attorney based in New City, NY with practice specializing in Labor, Employment, Insurance, Intellectual Property, and contract negotiation.
Matt DuBeau Vice President
Graphic Designer and 30-year Nyack resident. Has served on or for the Boards of multiple not-for-profit organizations in our area.
Jacquelyn Dreschler
Professional flutist and music teacher
Arnold Etelson
Ramapo native, practicing attorney, and local village and town justice for 54 years before retiring. Violinist with the RSO since its formative years as the Suburban Symphony.
Gordon MacDonald
Retired music teacher. Active clarinetist.
Rochelle Spooner
Long-time community member and fund raiser
Advisors to the Board
Ron Levy
Internationally acclaimed keyboardist, recording artist, conductor and music pedagogue.
Marvin Von Deck
Renowned conductor. Former long-time director of music programs at Tappan Zee High School, and Associate Conductor of the RSO.
Partners and donors
PARTNERS
ArtsRock
PATRONS ($1,000+)
Peter and Kathi Arnow
Stephen Reid
Daniel and Irma Madrid
Allison Crowther
Austen-Stokes Ancient
Americas Foundation
SPONSORS ($250 – $999)
Yochanan Burnstein
Barbara Pease
Rockland County
Music Teachers Guild
Kathleen Davies
Shelley Berson
Arnold and Barbara Etelson
Robert E Schnell
SUPPORTERS ($101 – $249)
Annamae Goldstein
Gordon MacDonald
Kenneth O. Nilsen
Daniel and Susan Smith
Louis H. Spitz
Peter Bannon
Ursula Farris
Rochelle Spooner
BOOSTERS ($50 – $100)
Stanley Silverstone
Jeanne A. Steffens
Kuczkowski-Leo Trust
David Miller
Lok Yee Lee Wein
Philip Carmichael
Maria T. Lutz
Carol Vericker
Jerrold Wolfset
FRIENDS $25 – $50
Paul and Rae Bloom
Ann Ludwig
SPECIAL THANKS
For supporting our press releases
Nyack News & Views
Rockland County Times
For promotional assistance
The Angel Nyack
99signs
1952
What is now the Rockland Symphony Orchestra was founded as the Suburban Symphonette, a group of 20 musicians under the leadership of conductor Edward Simons.
The Symphonette was first supported by the Rockland Foundation, now known as the Rockland Center for the Arts.
1955
With membership at 50, the Symphonette became independently incorporated as the Suburban Symphony Association, Inc., and became known as the Rockland Suburban Symphony.
1963
George Koutzen is named conductor as Ed Simons took leave to conduct the national tour of the Broadway musical “Camelot.”
1974
Professional conductor Ugo Didio stepped to our podium as George Koutzen left for a performing position in California.
1977
Ed Simons returned as director of the symphony, where he would continue for another 40 years.
Also in 1977, the RSO was named Rockland Community College’s “Orchestra in Residence.”
1981
Dr. Marvin von Deck, prize-winning conductor and long-time director of the orchestra at Tappan Zee High School, joins the RSO as Associate Conductor.
1989
We officially start doing business as the Rockland Symphony Orchestra.
2017
At age 100, Ed Simons conducts his final concert with the RSO, becoming the oldest active conductor in the U.S.
2023
Nicole Peragine joins the RSO as Principal Conductor, and is now our Musical Director.
Conductor and violist Nicole Peragine joined the RSO as Principal Conductor in 2023.
Ms. Peragine is currently the Associate Dean for Programs at the Music Conservatory of Westchester where she oversees program development and directs the orchestras.
Ms. Peragine has performed with the Fayetteville Symphony, Carolina Philharmonic, Chappaqua Orchestra, The Symphony of Westchester, and the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra. She served as education writer for the North Carolina Symphony’s Friday Favorite concert series and regularly consults on education projects.
Ms. Peragine received her Bachelor of Music Education at the Crane School of Music, her Master of Music in Viola Performance from the UNC Greensboro School of Music, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Johns Hopkins University.
Her principal viola teachers include Dr. Shelly Tramposh and Dr. Scott Rawls. Her primary conducting teachers include Dr. Christopher Lanz, Dr. John Locke, Dr. Douglas Bish, and Juliano Dutra Aniceto.
Piccolo
Amy Cohen
Flute
Jacqui Drechsler
Alli Potanovic
Amy Cohen
Oboe
Ian Boschen
David Reinstein
Clarinet
David Straus
Gordon MacDonald
Michael Cartaya
Bassoon
Ryan Cerullo
Corey Booth
Horn
Wayne Plummer
Jane Rondin
Ursula Farris
Susan Davidson
David Reinstein
Trumpet
Daniel Madrid
Jacob Gunther
David Hurd
Trombone
Henry Heyzer
Louis Jannone
Steve Carr
Tympani
Ben Carriel
Percussion
Michael Cooney
Violin I
Karen Gilbert
David Rubertone
Sal Pepe
Harrison Tuchman
Elizabeth Smith
Violin II
Jane Berkowicz
Yochanan Burnstein
Arnie Etelson
Thomas Rubertone
Ethan Donn
Laurie Eilen
Danice Desir
Viola
Alexandra
Mena-Jimenez
Irynn Somera
Allison Carbone
Rachel
Tanguay-Golden
Isabel Laufer
Peter Arnow
Cello
Stephen Reid
Christine Mann
Shelley Berson
John Bjorkman
Eric Bjorkman
Michael Laney
Shirley Be
Bass
Darcie Pickering
Daniel Madrid President
Information Systems Compliance Auditor.
Avocational trumpet player.
Stephen Reid Treasurer
Information systems technology manager. Professional musician (cello and bass) in many varieties of music, both classical and jazz. Manager of musical arts organizations.
Stanley Silverstone Secretary
Attorney based in New City, NY with practice specializing in Labor, Employment, Insurance, Intellectual Property, and contract negotiation.
Matt DuBeau Vice President
Graphic Designer and 30-year Nyack resident. Has served on or for the Boards of multiple not-for-profit organizations in our area.
Jacquelyn Dreschler
Professional flutist and music teacher
Arnold Etelson
Ramapo native, practicing attorney, and local village and town justice for 54 years before retiring. Violinist with the RSO since its formative years as the Suburban Symphony.
Gordon MacDonald
Retired music teacher. Active clarinetist.
Rochelle Spooner
Long-time community member and fund raiser
Advisors to the Board
Ron Levy
Internationally acclaimed keyboardist, recording artist, conductor and music pedagogue.
Marvin Von Deck
Renowned conductor. Former long-time director of music programs at Tappan Zee High School, and Associate Conductor of the RSO.
PARTNERS
ArtsRock
PATRONS ($1,000+)
Peter and Kathi Arnow
Stephen Reid
Daniel and Irma Madrid
Allison Crowther
Austen-Stokes Ancient
Americas Foundation
SPONSORS ($250 – $999)
Yochanan Burnstein
Barbara Pease
Rockland County
Music Teachers Guild
Kathleen Davies
Shelley Berson
Arnold and Barbara Etelson
Robert E Schnell
SUPPORTERS ($101 – $249)
Annamae Goldstein
Gordon MacDonald
Kenneth O. Nilsen
Daniel and Susan Smith
Louis H. Spitz
Peter Bannon
Ursula Farris
Rochelle Spooner
BOOSTERS ($50 – $100)
Stanley Silverstone
Jeanne A. Steffens
Kuczkowski-Leo Trust
David Miller
Lok Yee Lee Wein
Philip Carmichael
Maria T. Lutz
Carol Vericker
Jerrold Wolfset
FRIENDS $25 – $50
Paul and Rae Bloom
Ann Ludwig
SPECIAL THANKS
For supporting our press releases
Nyack News & Views
Rockland County Times
For promotional assistance
The Angel Nyack
99signs