With an overflow crowd of supporters inside the Gleason Auditorium at the Central Library on Thursday night, embattled Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director Arild Remmereit acknowledged that "...this is a time of trouble for many in the RPO community", but avoided discussing his contract dispute with the orchestra.
Remmereit entered the auditorium to a standing ovation, read a 4-minute speech and then left the event; organized by a group called "RPO Community Supporters". In his speech, Remmereit talked about moving his family from Vienna to Rochester, being met with "open arms" by the community and using Rochester's heritage as the inspiration for concert programming. He referenced highlighting women composers in a nod to suffragette Susan B. Anthony, and mentioned the RPO's February program inspired by Fredrick Douglass and the City of Rochester's African-American legacy.
While Remmereit made no mention of his contract termination by the RPO board of directors, other supporters gave their opinions on the board's decision, including former board members.
Gwen Sterns recalled meeting Remmereit, with her husband; before he was chosen as music director.
"His energy and enthusiasm were refreshing, and we hoped that he would be selected," she said.
"I have been on the RPO board for nearly a decade and was proud to be a member. This past year, the joy I experienced in the concert hall was shattered by discord in the board room. For reasons I could never understand, the board leadership did not share the maestro's vision, and did not appreciate his obvious talent."
But the ' maestro's vision' was why the RPO board chose Remmereit as their music director according to Mark Berry, the RPO's Vice President of Marketing and Communications.
"That was why we brought him on as our music director," he said.
"Certainly the RPO is committed to continuing innovative programming and to finding a new music director who's going to take us in new directions."
Even with the push by the RPO Community Supporters, the RPO board has already made their decision to terminate Remmereit's contract at the end of the year.
Board Chair Elizabeth Rice mentioned that Remmereit would not return to the RPO next season during a December 7, 2012 appearance on 'Need To Know Rochester'.
Berry echoed those remarks, stating, "The board voted to terminate his contract effective August 31, we're sticking to that."
While trying to reinstate Remmereit as music director, the RPO Community Supporters are also trying to send a message of their intention to replace the entire RPO board of directors.
With one-third of the board up for election each year, the RPO Community Supporters looking to place their supporters on the ballot every year - including 2013 - during the RPO's annual meeting on January 23rd.
When event moderator Eileen Buholtz was asked the question: "What if everyone in this room writes a letter to [RPO President & CEO Charles] Ownes and [Elizabeth] Rice saying that they will not resubscribe and/or not be a benefactor? Buholtz replied: "You could do that, but I think it's more effective to change the board."
