EAST PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School today named David Beauchesne, previously the director of education and community partnerships, to serve as its executive director.
He replaces David M. Wax, who left the Rhode Island Philarmonic early this year after seven years as executive director (READ MORE).
“After a national search it became apparent that the very best candidate for the executive director position was right here in the house,” Almon Hall, president of the Philharmonic’s board of directors, said in a statement this afternoon.
“David’s proven leadership, [his] passion for the Philharmonic institution and his accomplishments with us already made him the logical choice.”
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One of his greatest responsibilities in his first two years with the Philharmonic has been overseeing the planning and creation of the orchestra and music school’s new headquarters, in the former Meeting Street School facility on Waterman Avenue in East Providence.
The Philharmonic’s administrative staff moved into the building’s office wing in January 2007, thanks in part to a challenge grant from the Carter Family Charitable Trust. The rest of the project is slated for completion by this September, thanks partly to a bequest from Bonanza Bus Lines’ founder, the late George M. Sage (READ MORE).
“I am honored by the board’s decision and excited by the work that lies ahead,” Beauchesne said today.
“Rhode Island has a thriving performing arts and education community, and the Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School plays an important and expanding role. We have a dedicated staff, an incredible music school faculty and a world-class orchestra under the leadership of Music Director Larry Rachleff,” he said.
“The Carter Center for Music Education will be the only facility in the history of the state dedicated solely to music education and performance and to help us begin a new era at the Philharmonic. It will allow us to expand our offerings to children, youth and adults, including those from underserved communities,” Beauchesne continued.
“Through the center; our partnerships with public, private, charter schools and community service organizations; [and] our performances at VMA, PPAC and around the state, we will fulfill our vision to become the most community-engaged professional orchestra in the nation.”
Before joining the Philharmonic staff in 2006, Beauchesne served as associate director of the Center for Educational Partnerships in Music at Georgia State University in Atlanta. He previously held administrative and teaching positions at both the Georgia State and the Eastman School of Music at Rochester University. He also has performed professionally as a trombonist with groups including the Montreal and Chautauqua Symphony Orchestras.
A music graduate of the Eastman School of Music, where he also went on to earn a Master of Music Education degree, Beauchesne has completed the coursework for a Ph.D. in music education from Georgia State.
The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School was formed by the 2000 merger of the symphonic orchestra with the music school. Besides private instruction in voice and instruments, and educational performances and instruction at local schools, community center and social service agencies, the Philharmonic’s education and community partnerships department fields a number of performance education ensembles, including the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestras, Wind Ensembles and Junior Providence Singers. www.ri-philharmonic.org.
