Andrew Cassano

Audiences exceeded 8,000 people, said Andrew Cassano, director of artistic operations for the orchestra.

The barge will be moored where the concrete landing tapers into the walkway.The new location presents some challenges, including engineering the sound system so the concert can be heard on both sides of the river (though spectators on the east bank won't get a good view of the musicians).

The orchestra will perform the Star Wars theme, some Motown hits, selections from the RPO's new Portraits of America CD and songs from the Mambo Kings' latest album.

Cassano often is asked what will happen if the barge somehow breaks loose and floats away.

"Well, we'll become the Albany Symphony Orchestra," he joked.

Send resume and contact information to Andy Cassano, Director of Artistic Operations at 108 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14604, fax 585.325.4905, email acassano@rpo.org.

Posted 1-24-07

J. Andrew Cassano - Director of Artistic Operations

Judges included choral conductor and vocal educator Harold McAulliffe; RPO Director of Artistic Operations Andy Cassano; RPO cellist Polly Hunsburger; RPO violinist Ellen Rathjen; RPO hornist Stephanie Zimmerman; guitarist and City Newspaper music editor Frank DeBlase; and Jeff Tyzik.

In addition to the presentation of the awards, the program for the evening, entitled "Back-Stage Stories," will feature Andrew Cassano, the RPO's new Director of Artistic Operations.He will be discussing the process involved in programming and producing a concert, as well as sharing what it's like to work with artists both on and off stage.

"They won't be wearing life jackets, but we will be roping off the edges to make sure we don't have an ‘incident' with any of the instruments," says the RPO's Director of Artistic Operations, Andrew Cassano.