Long Island Philharmonic
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Classical music orchestra |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Harry Chapin, Christopher Keene, and Long Island business and community leaders |
| Defunct | 2016-02-08 |
| Headquarters | Melville, New York , United States |
Key people | Christopher Keene (Founding Director), Marin Alsop (Conductor), David Lockington (Conductor), David Wiley (Conductor) |
| Products | Orchestral concerts, choral performances, arts education programs |
The Long Island Philharmonic, headquartered in Melville, New York, was established in 1979 through the efforts of folk musician Harry Chapin, Maestro Christopher Keene, and prominent business and community figures from Long Island. On February 8, 2016, the orchestra declared its permanent closure.
Founding
After relocating to Long Island in 1972, Harry Chapin utilized his public profile to champion local causes. Motivated by Chapin’s influence, regional business leaders provided financial backing for the orchestra’s creation, naming Maestro Keene as the musical director and Chapin as Chairman of the Board. The Philharmonic’s inaugural performances took place from November 16 to 18, 1979. From the beginning, the ensemble attracted leading musicians from the New York metropolitan area and incorporated a full chorus composed of committed amateur vocalists.
The Keene years
Under Maestro Keene’s direction, there was a strong focus on contemporary compositions and collaborations with internationally acclaimed solo artists. The Philharmonic commissioned and premiered notable works including Jay Reise's Symphony No. 3 titled “Awakening to Memory.”
The Alsop years
After Keene’s tenure ended, Marin Alsop was appointed conductor following her victories in the Stokowski Conducting Competition and Koussevitzky Conducting Prize. Her leadership ushered in a period of renewed fiscal health and artistic development for the orchestra.
Recent history
In 2004, as it reached its 25th year, the orchestra faced near closure. Due to financial difficulties, the last two concerts of the 2003/2004 season were canceled. Support from Sen. Hillary Clinton and State Senator Carl Marcellino helped secure federal and state funding. Additionally, UBS provided a five-year challenge grant totaling $250,000, which was matched by contributions from donors such as Charles Dolan, David Lerner, Marvin Sussman, and Billy Joel.
The Long Island Philharmonic sustained a comprehensive Arts in Education initiative called "Music LIvz," which included Youth Concerts, In-school performances, Master Classes, a Young Artist Competition, and Orchestra at Work programs.
Beginning in 2011, the Philharmonic discontinued its regular subscription concerts and limited its activities to the New Years Gala, educational events, and summer concerts held in parks. On February 8, 2016, it announced it would permanently disband. Factors contributing to its decline included bank mergers that disrupted funding sources, economic changes on Long Island, and competition for donor support from well-established arts organizations based in New York City. Some musicians continue to run educational programs within schools.
Community acceptance
Although intended to deliver world-class performances to Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island, the Philharmonic faced challenges due to its proximity to New York City’s cultural institutions. The large geographic area of Long Island also complicated audience outreach; frequently, concert programs were repeated across various venues to engage diverse communities. Principal performance locations included the 2,242-seat Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at Long Island University in Nassau County and the Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University in Suffolk County. During the 1990-91 season under Marin Alsop’s leadership, the orchestra expanded its presence into western Suffolk County with concerts at Eugene Orloff Auditorium in Dix Hills and eventually established a permanent residency at Stony Brook’s Staller Center.
Long Island Philharmonic Chorus
Since its establishment in 1979, the Long Island Philharmonic incorporated a choral division. Conductor Keene recruited Frances Roberts, a local vocal coach and accompanist, to organize the chorus. This ensemble, consisting of 100 to 150 singers—both amateurs and professionals, including music educators and vocal instructors—was a regular fixture in the Philharmonic's concerts and often earned praise from critics. Each season, the orchestra usually presented at least one piece featuring choral elements.
Legacy
Throughout his career, Maestro Keene held positions as Music Director and subsequently General Director at the New York City Opera. Maestra Alsop rose to international prominence as a pioneering female conductor, leading ensembles such as the Bournemouth Symphony and notably becoming the first woman appointed as full-time conductor of a major American orchestra with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.
List of conductors / music directors
- Christopher Keene, Founding Director, 1979–1989
- Marin Alsop, 1990–1995
- David Lockington, 1996–2000
- David Wiley, 2001–2016
Awards and honors
- Recognized by New York State as a Primary Arts Organization
- Entered into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 15, 2006