Former students of The Hochstein School – some traveling from as far away as Los Angeles, Stanford, and Berlin, Germany – return to Rochester to present a free orchestral concert, marking the 10th anniversary of the Hochstein Alumni Orchestra (HAO).

This is also just the first in a series of events to commemorate the School’s 100th anniversary in 2020. Founded in 1920 to commemorate the genius of the late David Hochstein – an acclaimed violinist who was killed in action in World War I – the School opened in the Hochstein family home on Joseph Avenue to 250 eager students on January 2, 1920.

Directed by Evan Meccarello, the 70-member Hochstein Alumni Orchestra performs Brahms’ Tragic Overture, the dramatic overture to Ferdinand Herold’s opera Zampa, and Haydn’s technically challenging Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major with Hochstein alum Annie Jacobs-Perkins. A newly commissioned work, Fifteen, by Hochstein alum Cyrus Reynolds, will have its world premiere. It is a modern re-imagination of Edward Elgar’s classic Enigma Variations, drawing its name from both an implied 15th variation (Elgar ended his masterwork at 14) and Cyrus’s age when he first performed the Elgar variations as a member of the HYSO. In addition, a Cello Choir and a Flute Choir made up of Hochstein alumni will perform.

Created in 2010 as a reunion of musicians with connections to Hochstein, the Hochstein Alumni Orchestra has reunited each year to present free, high-quality concerts. Members of the HAO have gone on to win international contests, have received mention by music critic Alex Ross in The New Yorker magazine, and earned opportunities to play in professional orchestras including the Detroit Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, Buffalo Philharmonic, and Fort Worth Symphony.

The concert is open to the public, with donations accepted to benefit Hochstein. A reception follows the concert.

This event is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Thank you to Wegmans Food Markets for their support of our community events.