Musica Dolce Chamber Orchestra

The Musica Dolce Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1992 by a core group of thirty-one musicians from Rhode Island and Connecticut. Since its "premiere" concert at the Westerly Public Library in April 1992, Musica Dolce has given hundreds of performances around the region. Its repertoire consists of classical music from the baroque period to the present, and includes several compositions specially commissioned from its assistant conductor, pianist/conductor Paul Rosenbloom. While some of its concerts involve the entire orchestra, others feature smaller groups such as string quartets and wind trios. The orchestra’s venues include locations in Westerly, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, Narrangansett, and Mystic.

In addition to its regular concerts open to the public, Musica Dolce has developed a highly innovative program of music for children. Starting with special free performances for children at the Chorus of Westerly Performance Hall, the orchestra has made presentations in local schools a regular part of each season. In 2004-2005, the orchestra gave ten school programs, reaching an overall audience of about 3,000 children. School administrators, teachers, and students have responded very enthusiastically to this opportunity to experience chamber music, which is otherwise almost totally neglected in the schools.

The Musica Dolce Youth String Ensemble, formed in 1995, is a 35- to 45-member group of string players aged ten to seventeen who rehearse weekly under direction of Musica Dolce’s Kathleen Monroe. They give regular concerts in schools and other local venues, as well as performing at the highly successful annual Hallowe’en party at the Armory, with both musicians and audience in full costume.