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 33rd 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 Stewart 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 Philharmonic became the official resident orchestra for the Nassau BOCES Arts in Education program beginning with the 2007-08 school year when the Board of Cooperative Educational Services of Nassau County (Nassau BOCES) and the Long Island Philharmonic announced the formation of the Orchestra’s residency, Long Island Philharmonic Performance Partners. The Philharmonic is the only professional resident orchestra to serve Nassau County communities and BOCES is pleased to be taking full advantage of its presence and purpose to bring the highest quality of music education to our students. Currently, five districts, East Williston, Hempstead, Jericho, Uniondale and Westbury participate in this unique mentoring and training program.

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 Stewart 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.

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, sectional rehearsals, Master Classes, the Young Artist Competition, and Orchestra at Work. 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.

Artists in Schools | Lincoln Center Institute | Tilles School Partnership
Long Island Philharmonic | ArtPartners | Art/Music Professional Development Seminars