Karen Pelczarski has been elected to serve a two-year term as president of the board for the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School. Pelczarski is a partner at the law firm of Blish & Cavanagh. She serves on the board of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, is a member of President’s Council at Providence College and former president of the Providence Maritime Heritage Foundation.
PBN: You are a co-founder of the Music School and served on the board of the Rhode Island Philharmonic since it merged with the Music School in 2001. What are the organization’s current goals?
PELCZARSKI: Our primary goal is to increase visibility throughout the Rhode Island-southeastern New England region. We offer so much, but relatively few people are aware of us. We have a state-of-the-art music school facility with an outstanding faculty. Fourteen years ago, we invested in a world-renowned conductor, Larry Rachleff, who has built the philharmonic into one of the finest regional orchestras in the country. We are the only organization in the entire country with a dual-mission orchestra and music school. Every time I speak with representatives of other orchestras or music schools across the country, they are keenly aware of our accomplishments. But relatively few people know about us in our own back yard. So, increasing our visibility is our No. 1 goal.
PBN: What are you looking forward to during your tenure?
PELCZARSKI: Our orchestra musicians, Music School faculty and board of directors are a vibrant and forward-thinking group who share a profound passion for bringing music education and performance to as many individuals as possible – irrespective of age, socio-economic background, musical knowledge and amateur or professional aspirations. I am looking forward to working with all of them in a collective effort to make certain we reach as many people in Rhode Island and its surrounding communities.
PBN: From your experience, how do you think music can play a role in the positive development of young people?
PELCZARSKI: Music provides a means by which young people can express themselves. It can also provide a healthy, positive way to keep them occupied and entertained. When children hear a live performance, or learn to play a musical instrument, typically those experiences will stay with them in one form or another for the rest of their lives, and the impact is virtually always positive. •
