Music on the Hill is Welcoming Its Own

EAST GREENWICH – Music On The Hill is excited to announce a move in a new direction. In late June, the Board of Directors appointed a new slate of officers. There is a rich history of "The Hill" having long been a home for music. During the late 1800’s frequent concerts were held at the Greenwich Academy, famous nationwide for its courses in music. Next door to the Academy stands St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, well known then and now as a beautiful concert setting. It was fitting historically that in 1974 St. Luke’s Music Director, Priscilla Rigg, initiated the concept of a chamber music series as the natural outgrowth of an active church music program.

Music On The Hill was born and soon expanded its outreach to the RI community at large. For 33 years Music On The Hill has been offering chamber music concerts by well known classical artists to Ocean State audiences. When a group of RI-born professional musicians proposed their ideas for continuing Music On The Hill with some new concepts, Priscilla Rigg and the other 2006/2007 Officers and Board Members enthusiastically endorsed a transfer.

Now, in the early 21^st century, a number of classically trained professional musicians want to return to the people of their home state chamber music that is accessible, innovative and exciting. These RI natives, Kristen Pellegrino (violin, currently earning her PhD from the University of Michigan), Elisa Kohanski (cello, principal of the Wheeling Symphony), Christina Breindel (piano, Rhode Island College), Anne Marie Gabriele (oboe, Los Angeles Philharmonic), John Mark Pellegrino (bass, assistant principal of the Columbus Symphony), Paul Kushious (cello, Cleveland Orchestra), Deborah Tien Price (violin, New Century Chamber Orchestra, San Fransisco), Jason Hardink (piano, Utah Symphony), Roland Pandolfi (horn, former principal of the St. Louis Symphony, now Professor of horn at Oberlin College), and Ron Leonard (cello, former principal of the Los Angeles Philharmonic) will make up the core ensemble of returning Rhode Islanders participating in Music On The Hill. The roster will also include some current RI artists as well as friends who think of Rhode Island as their second home. Announcements of Music On The Hill’s new schedule and format will be published in the near future.