Al Di Meola, one of the greatest guitarists of all time, will perform in a benefit house concert for the Rockland Symphony Orchestra (RSO) on May 31. This fundraiser, hosted in a local home, also includes a trio of classical musicians from the orchestra playing while guests enjoy tasty bites and an open bar.
Three years ago, the RSO re-instituted its Children’s Concerts in conjunction with ArtsRock. Children’s Concerts were a big part of the RSO when conductor Ed Simons was alive. After he passed and after COVID shut down the orchestra, the organization grappled with finding a new conductor and creating programming for new seasons — and it succeeded. After 40 years without a space to call home for rehearsals and concerts, it now has a continuing presence for concerts at The Angel Nyack.
The first Children’s Concert was produced in 2024 when the RSO was back to performing with Elliott Forrest of WQXR radio and the director of ArtsRock narrating a children’s piece he had commissioned called “The Babbling Orchestra” by Michael Shapiro along with “Peter and the Wolf” by Prokofiev. The concert in 2025 was “The Wild Symphony,” with the story and music composed by Dan Brown, author of “The Da Vinci Code” and narrated by Didi Conn, who played Frenchie in the play “Grease” and appeared in “Shining Time Station.” The third concert, held on March 8, 2026, at The Angel Nyack, premiered a new interactive work by RSO conductor and music director Nicole Peragine called “Once More With Feeling” and a shadow puppet play performance of the “Emperor Has No Clothes.”
Collaborations with other organizations make concerts such as these possible. Public funding for this programming is not available and tickets sales never cover all costs. Funds from county and state sources have dried up. This has an effect on many arts and nonprofit organizations in Rockland County, including ArtsRock, The Angel Nyack, and the RSO.
Come see the incredible Al Di Meola and support the work of the Rockland Symphony Orchestra. Buy tickets ($75) here.
Sunday, May 31, 2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
At the home of Janice and Thomas Falcicchio
274 South Blvd., Nyack