OUR HISTORY
A cornerstone of cultural arts in Southeast Minnesota
The Rochester Symphony was founded in 1919 as a professional performing arts organization called the Rochester Orchestra. Its earliest ensemble — the Lawler-Dodge Orchestra — was founded in 1912 as a volunteer orchestra motivated by their passion to play, driven by Daisy Plummer, wife of world famous Mayo Clinic physician, Dr. Henry Plummer and directed by Harold Cooke. In early years, the Orchestra appeared in the former Chateau Theatre where they performed background music for silent movies.
2023/2024 CONDUCTORS
Join us for our transformative season.
More than ever before, this season is the time to become a season ticket holder. Not only will our orchestra and chorale present their usual great music, but you will also have the chance to experience for yourself the programming and personality of each of our four talented music director candidates as they conduct the orchestra in a bid to become our next artistic leader.
The voice of the Maestro is very evident in each concert’s selections as they have planned their given concert. I invite you to join us as we narrow our search to one final candidate, officially announced live at our April concert as our new Music Director. I know I speak for our leadership, musicians and supporters when I assure you this is an exciting chance to chime in on the next Rochester Symphony legacy.
–AMY LINDSTROM, PRESIDENT/CEO
After 42 years at the helm of Rochester Symphony, Maestro Jere Lantz retired in December 2022. Rochester Symphony is conducting a search for our next Maestro.
CHORALE DIRECTOR
Pat Anderson
Pat Anderson received her Bachelor of Music degree in Church Music from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. She has been directing choirs of all ages for over 40 years. Anderson became Chorale Director of the Rochester Symphony in 2014 after serving as the Resident Director for a number of years, and has built the group from 50 to 90+ singers.
During her career, Anderson has guided a graded choir school program for ages 4-12, led handbell choirs of 3-5 octaves of bells, and–in addition to weekly participation in worship–has prepared church choirs in works including Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Brahm’s Requiem, and Rutter’s Magnificat and Requiem, accompanied by chamber orchestra and/or organ. Anderson has been Music Director or Vocal Director for community musical theatre productions, including Quilters, Mary Poppins, Bye Bye Birdie, Fiddler on the Roof, and Godspell. Currently, Anderson also teaches private voice lessons utilizing her decades of pedagogical experience.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CHAIR
Jodi Melius
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Amy Lindstrom, President & CEO
Matt Roisum, Treasurer
Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran, Secretary
Brad Krehbiel, Immediate Past Chair
DIRECTORS
Andrew Good
Rafael Jimenez
Mark Neville
Sarah Schaefer Meier, Chorale Representative
Joe Mish, Orchestra Representative