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About
What is Rites of Spring Music Festival?
Rites of Spring has quickly become the premier classical and contemporary music festival on the North Fork and East End of Long Island. In this sixth edition the festival is devoted to contemporary sounds in a setting that engages the community and invites the listener to participate on many levels. We believe great music works best in a unique environment. We invite you to join us. |
We combine classical and contemporary music with great local food & wine, in historical and natural setting and inspiring talks by artists.
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Support for Rites of Spring Music Festival is fully tax deductible 501(c)(3) |

Letter from the Founder & Artistic Director
A Gift of Music
Please consider sending a donation to continue to support our artists and deliver exceptional live music to the North Fork and East End of Long Island. You can donate by PayPal or credit card using the button below or you can mail a check made payable to Rites of Spring Music Fest, PO Box 41, Southold 11971 NY. If you have questions or proposals, feel free to send an email to info@ritesmusic.org. We’d love to hear from you.
Enjoy the music!
Paolo Bartolani
Founder, Artistic & Executive Director
Paolo Bartolani, pianist, Founder and Artistic Director of Rites of Spring Music Festival
Paolo Bartolani is a pianist, musicologist and music manager, working in both classical and contemporary music. He graduated in 1989 from the Santa Cecilia Music Conservatory in Rome (Italy). He studied with Eduardo Hubert, and after graduation, with Charles Rosen, György Sándor and Andor Foldes. He also studied French piano repertoire with Germaine Mounier at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris. In 1994, he received his Master in Musicology of the 20th century degree under the direction of Hugues Dufourt at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales in collaboration with IRCAM / Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. Paolo performs as a soloist and also as a member of chamber ensembles in Europe and United States.
He writes articles for the musicology journals Sonus-Materials for Contemporary Music and Music/Reality. In 2006, he created a Master Degree Program in Cultural Enterprise Administration at the University of Perugia, where he also teaches.
At the Venice Biennale, from 2008 to 2012, Paolo was the General Coordinator of ENPARTS - European Network of Performing Arts, which promotes the creation of new works in dance, music and theater by young artists. From 2009 to 2014 he was the Director of the Résonnance Italy, a nonprofit organization based in Switzerland, where he was responsible for its artistic and humanitarian program, "bringing music to places where it is not heard." The members of the organization – singers, instrumentalists, conductors – have performed more than two hundred concerts in hospitals, nursing homes and prisons in order to promote musical sensibilities and share the joy of music.
He has been the General Coordinator of Music Up Close Network at Santa Cecilia National Academy in Rome. The Network includes seven European orchestras who promote new orchestral works and support a new generation of musicians to connect with young audiences.
He founded the Rites of Spring Music Fest in 2016 to promote classical and contemporary music on the North Fork of Long Island, and to combine music, history and the natural environment. The Festival currently is a non-profit organization 501c3 and he is the Artistic Director and Responsible for developing the Festival’s program.
A Gift of Music
Please consider sending a donation to continue to support our artists and deliver exceptional live music to the North Fork and East End of Long Island. You can donate by PayPal or credit card using the button below or you can mail a check made payable to Rites of Spring Music Fest, PO Box 41, Southold 11971 NY. If you have questions or proposals, feel free to send an email to info@ritesmusic.org. We’d love to hear from you.
Enjoy the music!
Paolo Bartolani
Founder, Artistic & Executive Director
Paolo Bartolani, pianist, Founder and Artistic Director of Rites of Spring Music Festival
Paolo Bartolani is a pianist, musicologist and music manager, working in both classical and contemporary music. He graduated in 1989 from the Santa Cecilia Music Conservatory in Rome (Italy). He studied with Eduardo Hubert, and after graduation, with Charles Rosen, György Sándor and Andor Foldes. He also studied French piano repertoire with Germaine Mounier at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris. In 1994, he received his Master in Musicology of the 20th century degree under the direction of Hugues Dufourt at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales in collaboration with IRCAM / Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. Paolo performs as a soloist and also as a member of chamber ensembles in Europe and United States.
He writes articles for the musicology journals Sonus-Materials for Contemporary Music and Music/Reality. In 2006, he created a Master Degree Program in Cultural Enterprise Administration at the University of Perugia, where he also teaches.
At the Venice Biennale, from 2008 to 2012, Paolo was the General Coordinator of ENPARTS - European Network of Performing Arts, which promotes the creation of new works in dance, music and theater by young artists. From 2009 to 2014 he was the Director of the Résonnance Italy, a nonprofit organization based in Switzerland, where he was responsible for its artistic and humanitarian program, "bringing music to places where it is not heard." The members of the organization – singers, instrumentalists, conductors – have performed more than two hundred concerts in hospitals, nursing homes and prisons in order to promote musical sensibilities and share the joy of music.
He has been the General Coordinator of Music Up Close Network at Santa Cecilia National Academy in Rome. The Network includes seven European orchestras who promote new orchestral works and support a new generation of musicians to connect with young audiences.
He founded the Rites of Spring Music Fest in 2016 to promote classical and contemporary music on the North Fork of Long Island, and to combine music, history and the natural environment. The Festival currently is a non-profit organization 501c3 and he is the Artistic Director and Responsible for developing the Festival’s program.
Vision Statement
Music is a vital force for developing a participatory attitude to the arts which in turn leads to a vibrant and progressive community.
The vision of the organization is to involve, enrich and inspire the community and audiences by providing exceptional classical and contemporary music events in unconventional and stunning venues which permit site-specific creative experiences and educational outreach activities combining music, natural landscapes and historic sites.
To accomplish this the Festival will establish and maintain core values of excellence, relationship and relevance that enrich the cultural, economic and social vitality of the community and region.
Music is a vital force for developing a participatory attitude to the arts which in turn leads to a vibrant and progressive community.
The vision of the organization is to involve, enrich and inspire the community and audiences by providing exceptional classical and contemporary music events in unconventional and stunning venues which permit site-specific creative experiences and educational outreach activities combining music, natural landscapes and historic sites.
To accomplish this the Festival will establish and maintain core values of excellence, relationship and relevance that enrich the cultural, economic and social vitality of the community and region.
Our Core Values
- We value the opportunity for communities and audiences to discover, explore and appreciate classical music and arts through music events, conversations, music workshops and cultural and educational activities.
- We value the opportunity to participate in music and art programs as a means to bring people together and to encourage creative and personal expression and development.
- We value the ability to maintain outstanding programs which are affordable and accessible to ensure such opportunity.
- We value commitment to quality and programs that focus listeners in new ways offering a new perspective on the interplay between music, art, history, architecture and landscape.
- We value the contribution that young professional talents make to music and art.
- We value collaboration with individuals and organizations that share our goals.
- We value cultural independence and artistic experimentation.
- We value the opportunity for communities and audiences to discover, explore and appreciate classical music and arts through music events, conversations, music workshops and cultural and educational activities.
- We value the opportunity to participate in music and art programs as a means to bring people together and to encourage creative and personal expression and development.
- We value the ability to maintain outstanding programs which are affordable and accessible to ensure such opportunity.
- We value commitment to quality and programs that focus listeners in new ways offering a new perspective on the interplay between music, art, history, architecture and landscape.
- We value the contribution that young professional talents make to music and art.
- We value collaboration with individuals and organizations that share our goals.
- We value cultural independence and artistic experimentation.
Our Mission
The mission of the Festival is to offer the best young professional musicians as well as international chamber music ensembles and soloists, to provide audiences of all ages, in particular young people, with a stimulating introduction to the performing arts, and to reach out to those with limited opportunities to experience the arts.
The Festival is dedicated to providing accessible and affordable chamber music performances in informal venues. Concert programs are innovative and seek a balance between old and new music. The Festival endeavors to provide an unmatched experience for those who attend. We focus on growing a reputation around the positive, welcoming atmosphere found at large scale festivals.
The Festival’s innovative approach for musicians and audiences is to foster a participatory creative culture through music concerts, interdisciplinary arts programs, experiential learning and volunteer opportunities for all ages, especially young people.
The mission of the Festival is to offer the best young professional musicians as well as international chamber music ensembles and soloists, to provide audiences of all ages, in particular young people, with a stimulating introduction to the performing arts, and to reach out to those with limited opportunities to experience the arts.
The Festival is dedicated to providing accessible and affordable chamber music performances in informal venues. Concert programs are innovative and seek a balance between old and new music. The Festival endeavors to provide an unmatched experience for those who attend. We focus on growing a reputation around the positive, welcoming atmosphere found at large scale festivals.
The Festival’s innovative approach for musicians and audiences is to foster a participatory creative culture through music concerts, interdisciplinary arts programs, experiential learning and volunteer opportunities for all ages, especially young people.
Board & Committees
Founder
Paolo Bartolani
Artistic & Executive Director
Paolo Bartolani
Executive Board
Joan H. Bischoff - Chairman of the Board
Lauren McCall - Secretary
Giovanni Borghese - Treasurer
Paolo Bartolani - President, Board Member
Marina deConciliis - Board Member
Staff
Steve Benthal - Webmaster
Maria Mullaly – Bookkeeper
Ronald Farnworth – CPA Accountant
Gary Osborne - courteously artworks by Gary Osborne
Development Advisory Committee
Gene Boxer, General Counsel, CoStar
Terrance Nolan, Former General Counsel and Secretary of New York University
Cheryl Feld, entrepreneur, owner of Impulse Boutique
Advisory Artistic Committee
Perry Goldstein, Professor and Chair Department of Music Stony Brook University
Christopher Lyndon – Gee, Music Conductor and Associate professor at Adelphi University
Christopher Cerrone, composer and teacher of electronic music and composition at Yale College
Circle of Friends of Rites of Spring | Music Festival
Jonathan Allen
Stephen Bard
Gail Galvani Bell
Jan Benzel
Gene Boxer & Molly MacDermot
Rick & Eleanor Coffey
Debra & George Coritsidis
Nancy Cuccaro
Christina DIbona
Carol Edwards
Larry & Sheila Fay
Alison Guest
Dan Generosa
Peter & Christina Gianopulos
Perry & Dawn Goldstein
Suzy Goodspeed & Ray Anderson
Rainer Gross
Christa Hildebrand
Don & Sharmini Jayamaha
Anne Howard & Morton Cogen
Denise Kalland
Nate & Mary Motto Kalich
Meryl Kramer
Nyla Lamm
Lois Leonard
Alfred Levitt
Christopher Magyar
Deborah Martinez
Jonathan McCann
Mary Byrne McDonnell & John McAuliff
Anne McElroy
Lauren McCall & Robert Pearre
Donna Miness
John Munzel
Jan Nicholson
Terrance Nolan
Lynne Normandia (In memory of “Sug” Heitzig who sang at NY City Opera)
Cheryl Feld & Thomas W Kozal
Michelle Roussan
Viola Rouhani
Carolyn Schultheis
Sheila Scharfman
Jeffrey Schwartz & Jean Calender
Thomas Sirmons
Karl and Aurora Szekielda
Leslie Thompson
Michael Tillman
Marie Wade
David Warren
Deborah & Steven Wick
Richard & Nancy Wines
Gene & Fred Andrews
Carrie Blair
Matilde Busana
Tomaso Cenci
Nancy Chandler
Marcello Crecco
Polly Dixon
Anne & Sten Evenhouse
Lori Feilen
Fred Friedberg
Peter & Christine Gianopulos
Suzy Goodspeed & Ray Anderson
Charmaine Henderson
Melanie & Aldo Majorana
Patricia Matos-Puente
Joan Ohlson
Gary Osborne
Nick Planamento
Wendy Prellwitz
Judith & Roberto Scattone
Jennifer & David Sinclair
William Smith
Nancy & Robert Stellato
Marilyn Stern
Matko Tomicic
Nancy & Daniel Torchio
William White White
Concerts
13 |
Attendees
900 |
Locations
10 |
Contact Us
Rites of Spring Music Festival, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit.
Tax identification number 82-3695345 . Donations may be mailed to the Festival’s address or made online through PayPal and are fully tax deductible. Email:
info@ritesmusic.org Address: Rites of Spring Music Festival, Inc. P.O. Box 41, Southold, NY 11971 |
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