Rochester Music Hall of Fame

Rochester, New York is known as the “flower city”, a city along the Genesee River, the home of Kodak and the George Eastman House, and the site of the world renowned Eastman School of Music. But Rochester is known for something more – the music.

On April 30 Rochester launched the Rochester Music Hall of Fame. A list of 23 potential Hall of Fame members has been released and from that list eight to 10 will be the initial class inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Rochester natives and residents who have been nominated for the Rochester Music Hall of Fame are:

David Hochstein who was a violin virtuoso. The Hochstein School of Music and Dance has been named after David Hochstein

Emily Sibley Watson was a big arts and music supporter in the area and was a driving force behind the creation of the Hochstein School of Music

George Eastman was the founder of the Eastman Kodak Company and the Eastman House Museum is named after him and was a music aficionado.

Howard Hanson was the director of the Eastman School of Music for 40 years from 1924 to 1964.

Cab Calloway was a Rochester native who went on to be the first jazz artist to sell one million records. The former bandleader is a member of the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame. Calloway died of a stroke at the age of 83.

Mitch Miller was not only born in Rochester, he graduated from the Eastman School of Music. Miller was known for his “Sing Along with Mitch” collections.

Alexander Courage was a graduate of the Eastman School of Music. A founding member of the Composers and Lyricists Guild of America, Courage composed music for television and movies including the theme for the original “star Trek” series.

William Warfield who was a concert and Broadway performer who attended the Eastman School of Music. Warfield is best known for his role in the 1951 production of “Show Boat” performing “Old Man River”. Warfield’s nephew Thomas Warfield is a talented performer in his own right who lives and teaches in Rochester.

Doriot Anthony Dwyer was a flute virtuoso who graduated from the Eastman School of Music and was the first woman to be named principal chair for a major orchestra.

Charles Strouse is a Grammy and Tony Award winning composer and songwriter who attended the Eastman School of Music. Strouse is also a member of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame.

Paul Hoeffler is a photograher who graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is known for photographing jazz musicians.

Ron Carter graduated from the Eastman School of Music who is a jazz bass player and cellist. Carter is also a member of the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.

Chuck Mangione is a multi platinum Grammy Award winning flugelhorn player who was born in Rochester and still has a home in the area.

Gene Cornish is the founding member of “The Young Rascals”.

Steve Gadd is a Rochester native who also attended the Eastman School of Music. The contemporary drummer is also amember of the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.

Joe English is a Rochester native who as a musician has appeared on four albums by Paul McCartney and Wings.

Lou Gramm was born Louis Andrew Grammatico in Rochester; he is a multi platinum selling artist and the founder of the rock band Foreigner.

Jeff Tyzik attended the Eastman School of Music and for the past 16 years has been the principal Pops conductor for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

Renee Fleming is a member of the Metropolitan Opera and Grammy Award winning artist who was raised in Rochester and earned her graduate degree from the Eastman School of Music

Charlie Lowell is a keyboard player and one of the founding members of the Grammy Award winning Christian rock group Jars of Clay.

Matt Odmark is a childhood friend of Charlie Lowell and a guitarist for the Christian rock group Jars of Clay.

Although no longer there, Corinthian Hall was built in 1849. It was located at Corinthian and State Street.

The performances in 1851 of “The Swedish Nightingale” by Jenny Lind.

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