Robert and Lynne Pollack Chair
Violinist Richard Amoroso joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1998 after serving as a member of Concerto Soloists (now the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia), Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, and as a substitute violinist with the Orchestra. He also performed with various local music groups, including Pro Musica, the Mendelssohn Club, the Philadelphia Singers, the Academy of Vocal Arts, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia (now Opera Philadelphia). Mr. Amoroso has performed as soloist with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, the North Penn Symphony, and in a trio recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. He returned to Carnegie Hall in 2004 to perform a solo recital. He has also performed Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto with the Helena (MT) Symphony and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic. Most recently, Mr. Amoroso performed Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and the Cairns University Orchestra, and he is scheduled to play it with the Helena Symphony next fall.
Mr. Amoroso’s relationship with The Philadelphia Orchestra began in 1984 at the age of 14, when he won the Orchestra’s Student Competition (now the Albert M. Greenfield Competition) and subsequently performed as a soloist with the Orchestra. A native Philadelphian, he attended Settlement Music School on scholarship and also studied with Philadelphia Orchestra retired Concertmaster Norman Carol, as well as with former Orchestra Co-Concertmaster William dePasquale, Rafael Druian, and former Orchestra Associate Concertmaster David Arben.
Mr. Amoroso holds a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College, from which he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. His instrument is a Nicolò Gagliano from 1765. He is an avid golfer and sports fan. For more information please visit www.richardamoroso.com.
Photo by Jessica Griffin