Meet The Orchestra

Music Director and Conductor Long Island Symphony Orchestra Dr. Eric R. Stewart

Music Director and Conductor

Dr. Eric R. Stewart

Dr. Eric R. Stewart currently serves as the music director of the Long Island Symphonic Choral Association, and formerly an adjunct professor at the John C. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. He has conducted at such venues as Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall) and the Four Seasons Centre of the Canadian Opera Company (Bradshaw Amphitheatre), and has been broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC). Eric served as the assistant conductor of the Argento Ensemble, the gamUT Contemporary Ensemble, and as cover conductor of the the Harbor Opera Company, the Peabody Renaissance Ensemble/Baltimore Baroque Band, and the 92Y Orchestra.

As a composer, Eric’s music has been performed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. He was a finalist for the Antonin Dvorak International Composition Award and the ASCAP Morton Gould Award. He has received scholarships from the Aspen Music Festival, the Peabody Conservatory- where he earned his BM and MM in composition, and the University of Toronto – where he earned his DMA in composition. His teachers included Michael Hersch, Chris Theofanidis, and Sam Adler.

Maurice Barbash J.S. Bach Competition. Photos of the Island Symphony Orchestra and Rachell Ellen Wong, Violinist. Photography by id Unleashed.

Meet The Orchestra

2023 Orchestra Roster

CONDUCTOR
Eric Stewart

ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR
Susan Rydzeski

VIOLIN
Anne Mandaro– Concertmaster
Darlene Abbate Struss
Donna Geiger
Robin Maddox
Dawn Martin
Cynthia Pacini
Susan Rydzeski
Lora Kuykendall – Principal Second
Cathy Chiarelli
Cynthia Elias
Tova Harris
Cecelia Hecht
Ray Keogh
Maricela McGrath
Kaye Suchmann
Florence Sulkin

VIOLA
Lisa Brieff – Principal
Carlande Gabrielle
Allyson Koehler
Nancy Maia
Wendy Rothkopf
Drew Vella
Florence Hengeveld

CELLO
Richard Gotlib – Principal
Susan Barbash
John Benstock
Carol Purdy
James Ryan
Irene When

BASS
Andy Rubin – Principal
Kathlym Salinas
James White

FLUTE
Leslie Strait – Principal
Laura Gustavson

OBOE
Mark Flanzraich
Suanne Stein

ENGLISH HORN
Judith Budd-Walsh

CLARINET
John Eyre – Principal
Nathan Garfinkel

BASSOON
Karen Miller – Principal
Edward Kurpis

HORN
Lou Denaro – Principal
Rachel Golder
Dr. James Hampson
Phyllis Manville
David Stevens

PICCOLO
Allan Sperber

TRUMPET
Kevin Cordone
Douglas Mole
Colin Richardson

TROMBONE
Paul Sulkin – Principal
Kevin Delargy
Burt Klayman

TUBA
George Martin
Beth Lodel

TYMPANI
Kevin Twigg

PERCUSSION
Robert Aretakis
Ray Kruse
Max Herzlich
Steve Rivera
Trinity Lennerd

Meet The Orchestra

2021-2022 Board of Directors

Dr. Eric R. Stewart
Music Director and Conductor

Paul Little
Assistant Conductor & Concertmaster

Darlene Abbate-Struss
President

Susan Barbash
Vice-President

Lisa Brieff
Recording Secretary and Grantwriter

Edward Kurpis
Treasurer

Nancy Maia
Symphony Librarian and Archivist

Paul Little
Publicity & Concert Programs

Maricela McGrath
Corresponding Secretary

Mark Flanzraich
Technical Director & Stage Manager

Lora Kuykendall
Personnel Manager

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