The Long Island Philharmonic The Long Island Philharmonic was founded in 1979 by singer/songwriter Harry Chapin and leading Long Island businessmen, the Long Island Philharmonic is the only resident, professional orchestra serving both Nassau and Suffolk Counties and the largest performing arts organization in the region. Now in its 29th year, the Philharmonic continues to serve as the premier Island-based symphony orchestra providing the highest caliber of music programming and standards for excellence in arts education to the residents of Long Island. Considered one of the nation’s most honored and respected regional orchestras, the Long Island Philharmonic was designated a “Primary Arts Organization” by the State of New York. The Orchestra has a legacy of artistic leadership from internationally-acclaimed music directors--Christopher Keene (1979-1990), Marin Alsop (1990-1996), David Lockington (1996-2000), and David Wiley (2001-present). The Philharmonic is the resident orchestra of Tilles Center for the Performing Arts and an inaugural member of the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

The Board of Cooperative Educational Services of Nassau County (Nassau BOCES) and the Long Island Philharmonic had announced in a News Press Release on October 1st that the Philharmonic will serve as the official resident orchestra for the Nassau BOCES Arts in Education program beginning with the 2007-08 season. The Orchestra’s residency, which will be called Long Island Philharmonic Performance Partners, will provide band and orchestra mentoring and training programs. The charter school districts for 2007-08 are East Williston, Jericho and Westbury. This is the first time that the Philharmonic will function in this designated role.

The Long Island Philharmonic Performance Partners residency programs are offered to school orchestras, bands and choruses in which works of music are chosen jointly by music teachers and Philharmonic Music Director David Wiley for: sectional rehearsals, 10 hours of intense coaching and personal interaction with professional musicians, a conductor’s rehearsal, a dress rehearsal, and a public side-by-side concert with the Long Island Philharmonic for parents, students and the community. The program is designed to help students develop a lifelong interest in music and open their minds to the opportunities available to them through music.

Kelly J. Good, Supervisor of the Nassau BOCES Arts in Education Program said, “We are all very pleased to engage the Long Island Philharmonic as our partner for the in-school music programs. The Philharmonic is the only professional resident orchestra to serve our Nassau County communities. Now we are taking full advantage of its presence and purpose to bring the highest quality of music education to our students.”

Stephen Belth, Executive Director of the Long Philharmonic, added, “The Philharmonic thanks Nassau BOCES for hiring our musicians to join in this very necessary component of children’s education. The Philharmonic’s mission goes well beyond performing great concerts for our regular audiences. We believe that just as we must cultivate new audiences to ensure symphonic music will survive in the future, we also have to inspire our young to learn to play music at the highest level if we are to guarantee that we will have a next generation of world class musicians. Working with Nassau BOCES, we feel we are doing our part to give our children a superior education.”

The Long Island Philharmonic maintains an extensive Arts in Education program, under the name Music LIvz. Among the programs the Philharmonic offers are Youth Concerts, In-school performances, Master Classes, the Young Artist Competition, Orchestra at Work and Random For additional information about the Long Island Philharmonic and the Long Island Philharmonic Performance Partners, please contact Nassau BOCES or visit the Long Island Philharmonic website at www.liphilharmonic.org.