MEETING THE CHALLENGES POSED BY COVID-19 TO RIPO&MS AND OUR COMMUNITY ... and learning from them 

The mission of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School (RIPO&MS) is to enrich and transform our state and region through great performances and education programs. The challenges posed to our mission by the pandemic forced us to adopt principles to guide our actions, as we sought to preserve this mission and serve this region:

RIPO&MS GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR ADDRESSING THE PANDEMIC
1. PROTECT everyone in our community by meeting or exceeding

public health guidance;
2. ADAPT existing programs to make them safe;
3. SAFEGUARD the financial viability of the organization;
4. ADVOCATE for AND SECURE SUPPORT for the organization,

our employees and partners;
5. INNOVATE in ways that will leave us stronger;
6. COMMUNICATE with and empower all constituencies to achieve 1-5.

The pandemic is not over, and while our execution has not been perfect, we have succeeded in staying true to these principles to-date. We have maintained access to live performances and to music education programs of the highest quality throughout the pandemic. Last season the RI Philharmonic Orchestra gave more live performances of symphonic music to in-person and at-home audiences than all but one other professional orchestras in the United States. The RI Philharmonic Music School closed for only two weeks, quickly pivoting most programs online.

We have continued to bring joy and inspiration to one another through this time, due to the extraordinary dedication of performers and audience members, teachers and students, staff and volunteers, donors and government officials. As we look forward to emerging from the pandemic soon, we have learned a lot about how to serve our mission and each other. We have developed the capacity to livestream performances and have wired studios at the Music School for online instruction. We will continue to use these tools to serve our existing audience and students, as well as reach new ones. We have also expanded our efforts to improve equity within our field and our community.



Thank you for working with us to keep the music going. In the weeks and months ahead, we will continue to work with all of you to protect, adapt, safeguard, advocate, innovate and communicate in order to make live music and music education more accessible, equitable and sustainable than ever before.