Neighbor News
Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra Welcomes New Music Director
Eric Mahl becomes RSO's new artistic leader.
The organization’s board of directors is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Mahl as Music Director of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra (RSO). The appointment is effective immediately. Mr. Mahl, who has programmed and conducted the three most recent RSO concerts, was previously hired to lead the full 2024/25 season. He will now complete the season under the title of Music Director. Mr. Mahl assumed the baton of the orchestra following six seasons under the leadership of previous Music Director Yuga Cohler.
Known for his contagious energy and passion, Mr. Mahl has solidified his place as one of the most exciting conductors of his generation. His performances captivate audiences, and through these unique musical experiences, he unleashes music’s immense power to bring positive change to the world. Mr. Mahl is dedicated to bringing music to life for everyone, believing that it is a necessary part of a joyous and fulfilling existence.
Along with his position with the RSO, Mr. Mahl is the Music Director of the Northport Symphony Orchestra, Geneva Light Opera Company, and the Philharmonia Orchestra at Third Street, as well as Orchestra Director of the Charles Ives Music Festival. He is also the Founder and Music Director of Orchestra One, a NYC based 501c3, a community involvement and participation-based organization. Additionally, Mr. Mahl is the Music Director of the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra based in Ridgefield, CT, a position he has held for ten years and that has given him the opportunity to spend a great deal of time in our community.
With a broad range of musical interest from traditional to contemporary, Mr. Mahl is a fervent supporter of new works and emerging composers. He frequently conducts various new music ensembles in the Greater NYC area, including more than twenty world premieres and has commissioned nine pieces for full orchestra, as well as premieres of fully-staged operas, ballet, and countless small and large ensemble pieces of all genres and instrumentations. Along with concerts featuring the staples of the classical repertoire, Mr. Mahl looks forward to working on exciting new creative initiatives with the outstanding musicians of the RSO in the coming seasons.
This busy musician also can be heard in unique music lecture series, library workshop series, inter-active children and family concerts, outreach programs, and concerts that explore the history and culture of a particular communities. As a passionate educator, Mr. Mahl has personally taught all ages and instruments at public and private schools throughout the five boroughs of New York City, and frequently works with student musicians from under-served communities.
Mr. Mahl received his Bachelor of Music Degree from Ithaca College, and continued his studies at Universite de Montreal and the State University of New York at Fredonia. He has studied with some of the foremost conducting pedagogues in the country including Marin Alsop, James Ross, Harold Farberman, and Larry Rachleff, and has participated in workshops in the United States, Canada and Europe. Mr. Mahl plays trumpet and piano, and in his very limited free time continues to play in orchestral and chamber music programs.
The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra welcomes Mr. Mahl and looks forward to his successful and inspiring tenure as Music Director. Maestro Mahl will next be on the podium for the RSO on Saturday, February 8th for the upcoming concert Prowess & Passion featuring Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Danse Nègre and Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2, as well as Grammy-winning violinist Jennifer Koh performing Tchaikovsky's Concerto for Violin with the orchestra.
Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra is a nonprofit professional orchestra with the mission to enrich the cultural lives of the citizens of Ridgefield and surrounding communities by presenting musical performances of the highest artistic quality. The RSO also strives to increase the appreciation for music through active community involvement and innovative educational programs. https://ridgefieldsymphony.org
