Member News

A Downtown Definitely Series Event

Rochester, New York, July 3, 2024 – The City of Rochester's RPO Under the Stars is back for the third year in a row as a part of the Downtown Definitely Events series. The free concert is Friday, July 12 on Parcel 5, 285 E Main St, Rochester, featuring the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) led by Conductor, Jherrard Hardeman.

The concert will feature songs from iconic films spanning various genres including thrillers, romance, action, comedy, and outer space.

No tickets are required. Bring a blanket and chairs. Grounds open at 6 p.m. with food and drinks available for purchase from Dar’s Delights Homemade Ice Cream, Eat Greek Truck, Living Roots Wine and Company, Mr. Squeeze Lemonade, The Meatball Truck, Sammies n Sweets, Rohrbach Brewing Company and Uncle Buck's Catering.

Sidewalk astronomy will be set up with telescopes for anyone to use to look up at the night sky courtesy of the Rochester Museum and Science Center.

RPO Under the Stars is presented by the City of Rochester in partnership with Downtown Definitely Events.

The evening of music starts at 6:45 p.m. with the Flower City Pride Band, followed by the RPO at 8 p.m.

RPO Assistant Conductor Jherrard Hardeman says getting out of Kodak Hall and performing for Rochesterians in their own neighborhoods is thrilling, as many in attendance have never experienced an RPO concert before.

“To know that we are always playing for new audiences, it really shows that the RPO is trying to live into this mission that our music director Andreas Delfs is trying to put forth," Hardeman explains. "We're giving everyone a place to belong with the orchestra and bringing music to every corner of our community."

"The RPO Under the Stars concert offers an opportunity for families and neighbors to experience free, world-class music right in the heart of Downtown,” said Mayor Malik D. Evans. “I’m proud of the City’s continued partnership with the RPO to provide free outdoor concerts our residents can enjoy around the city. I’d also like to thank Downtown Definetly Events for their collaboration once again on this fantastic event."

Galin Brooks, president and CEO of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC) said, “We're delighted to partner once more with the City of Rochester to invite music enthusiasts of all ages to enjoy an evening of free music in the heart of our city. We look forward to hearing the talented RPO musicians perform a mix of familiar cinematic favorites. Offering a free outdoor summer concert provides a chance to bring people from downtown and all across the region and connect them with the incredible cultural treasures right in our own backyard.”

The City of Rochester's RPO Under the Stars concert is part of the third annual Downtown Definitely Events series of 14 free downtown Rochester events. All events are free to attend, including eight Midday Bashes, three Movies with a Downtown View, RPO Under the Stars, Play Day on the Riverway and Fall Fest.

Downtown Definitely Events are produced for RDDC by Rochester’s Bella Events Group.

About Conductor Jherrard Hardeman

Jherrard Hardeman joined the RPO in 2023 as Assistant Conductor (The Louise and Henry Epstein Family Education and Community Engagement Chair) and serves as Music Director of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (RPYO).

A rising star in the symphonic- and chamber-music worlds, Hardeman leads the RPO’s signature OrKIDStra family series, education concerts at Kodak Hall, concerts for the community and beyond, and RPO Outdoors (the RPO's July summer series).

By his mid-teens, the Detroit native was already attracting national attention as a classical conductor, composer, and violinist. He studied orchestral conducting under internationally renowned conductor David Robertson at The Juilliard School. Hardeman notes he cannot overstate the importance of mentorships by conductors Mei-Ann Chen, Music Director of the Chicago Sinfonietta, and Kevin Noe, Executive Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble.

Hardeman has appeared with the Seattle Symphony, Grosse Pointe Symphony, Juilliard Orchestra, Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Baldwin Wallace Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, and the Longy Conservatory Orchestra. An innate leader, he has also formed and/or conducted orchestras at such prestigious institutions as the New England Conservatory of Music, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and the AVANTI Summer MusicFest.

About the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) has been committed to enriching and inspiring our community through the art of music since its origins in 1922. The RPO presents approximately 150 concerts and broadcasts a year, serving up to 170,000 through ticketed events, education and community engagement activities, and concerts in schools and community centers throughout the region. Andreas Delfs was named music director in 2021, following notable RPO music directors Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman, Mark Elder, and Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman. Principal Pops Conductor Jeff Tyzik, now starting his 31st season, has earned a national reputation for excellence in pops programming during his tenure with the RPO. The RPO reaches more than 15,000 children through its specific education programs.

To learn more and download the official event flyer please visit: rochesterdowntown.com/rpounderthestars

About Downtown Definitely Events
Downtown Definitely Events is a series of free events and activities founded in 2022 and produced by the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC). Downtown Definitely Events take place in downtown Rochester from June through September 2024 and include food, festivals, music, movies, and more shining the light on downtown to create great new experiences and help bring the community together again. Downtown Definitely is a joint initiative of NYS Empire State Development, ROC2025 and Greater ROC, Rochester Downtown Development Corporation, Partnership for Downtown Rochester, and the City of Rochester. Their shared mission is to grow economic vitality in downtown Rochester by bringing the community together and improving its street-level and riverfront experience.

About Rochester Downtown Development Corporation (RDDC)
RDDC is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization founded in 1977 whose mission is to drive economic vitality in Downtown Rochester. RDDC accelerates downtown development by positioning and marketing the assets that attract businesses and investment, and it catalyzes innovative ideas that make downtown a more vibrant and inclusive community. In 2020, RDDC built The Commissary, the region’s first and only food business incubator and shared kitchen.

About the Partnership for Downtown Rochester (PDR)
Established in 2021, the Partnership for Downtown Rochester (PDR) is a public-private partnership between Empire State Development, the City of Rochester, RDDC, and ROC2025. The Partnership was created to facilitate placemaking efforts, coordinate marketing and programming, and lead the promotion of activities throughout downtown Rochester and along the Genesee Riverway.