PARMA Recordings is pleased to announce the inaugural PARMA Student Composer Competition, the first in a series of annual competitions for student composers. Ten winners will be selected by an award-winning panel of three independent judges, and the winners' pieces will be published in the digitally-distributed 2012 PARMA Anthology Of Music: Student Edition. One Grand Prize Winner will be selected to have their piece professionally recorded and produced for release by PARMA. All recording, performer, production, and publicity costs will be completely subsidized, and the master will be released on a collection from PARMA to be distributed through industry leader Naxos. There is no fee required for entry into the competition.

Would you like to find out exactly what goes on with the conductor, orchestra musicians and the guest soloist as they prepare for a concert? The Open Rehearsals are for you! There are 4 open rehearsals throughout the 2011-2012 Season – Fridays at 5:30pm. We mike the conductor so you can hear as he directs the orchestra musicians & collaborates with the soloist. Sit wherever you want in the hall anywhere on the main floor or the mezzanine. Stay until 8 for the full rehearsal or leave at the break.

By Julie Ruditzky

The event pays tribute to Rhode Island's best and brightest in the worlds of arts and business.

Providence, RI – March 25, 2010 – The Encore Awards, the signature event of the Arts & Business Council, is back.  The event, postponed last year due to a sluggish economy, has been retooled and will be held at the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School’s Carter Center for Music Education & Performance on April 30 at 6 p.m.