“Sensational isn’t a word I like to toss around. But in a very clear way, the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra delivered a sensational all-Puccini program.”

¾Carlton Wilkinson, Asbury Park Press, February 10, 2010

“A memorable and impassioned performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony...Gussman's interpretation was full-blooded and keenly successful.”

¾Carlton Wilkinson, Asbury Park Press, February 23, 2009

“Overall, this rarely played [Sibelius] work was done with ardor and understanding, a full, juicy reading.”

¾Carlton Wilkinson, Asbury Park Press, January 29, 2008

“Gussman...managed just the right balance of passion and precision from the ensemble...powerful and effective...the Prokofiev was enormously satisfying, a strong performance.”

¾Carlton Wilkinson, Asbury Park Press, October, 2004

“The ensemble is semi-pro, but for this piece the "pro" was far and away the predominant feature. Robust yet nuanced, careful yet not overly cautious, this was true music-making.”

¾Paul Somers, Classical New Jersey, January 8, 2004

Now in his twentieth season as Music Director of the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra, Roy Gussman is one of the area's most accomplished conductors. Whether he's conducting classical, Broadway, or popular music, Roy communicates his love of music in a unique and exciting way to musicians and audiences alike. A graduate of Jersey City State College and the New England Conservatory of Music, where he was a conducting student of Richard Pittmann and a clarinet student of Joe Allard, Roy is also in his ninth season as conductor of the New Jersey State Senior Youth Orchestra, and he serves as a trustee of the Monmouth Conservatory of Music. In addition to conducting, he is an active freelance clarinetist, and has been the principal clarinet with the Orchestra of Saint Peter by the Sea for the last twenty-four years. He has also been very active as a chamber musician, performing with the Red Bank Chamber Music Society and many other chamber music groups throughout the tri-state area. In addition, he is a much sought-after adjudicator for festivals and arts groups throughout the state.

Assistant Conductor
Lucian Rinando

“I marveled at flutist Lucian Rinando's performance, a brilliant display of control of his instrument and breath, producing the high pitched "coloratura" notes, the sweetness of sustained lower notes, trills that were perfection¾a virtuoso performance that elicited an outpouring of applause from the audience."

¾Helene Kylen, Atlantic Highlands Herald, April 4, 2009

“Warm, sumptuous performances...Rinando's gestures seemed graceful and confident in his interpretation."

¾Carlton Wilkinson, Asbury Park Press, April 3, 2009

“Rinando was completely at ease with the orchestra. His interpretation was right on target, and the ensemble played extremely well.”

¾Carlton Wilkinson, Asbury Park Press, April 3, 2008

Flutist and conductor Lucian Rinando has delighted audiences and critics alike as he has explored different cultures during MSO’s past four seasons, from Russia’s Kalinnikov to France’s Chausson and Pierne to Germany’s Classical Beethoven and then last year to Hungary’s Dohnányi. This season Mr. Rinando turns his attention to the Romantic music of Germany’s Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Lucian Rinando graduated from Duquesne University as a pupil of flutist Bernard Goldberg and then received conducting training from the Conductors Institute at Bard College. Mr. Rinando has had flute engagements with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, Cantori New York, NYC Opera National Touring Company, and Broadway shows. Mr. Rinando has also held the Principal Flute position with the Garden State Philharmonic since 2001. This season, he was a participant in the New York Chamber Music Festival at Symphony Space in New York. He regularly performs chamber music at the New York Public Library Concert Series with his award-winning chamber ensemble Elysian. He also is a longtime instructor of flute at the Monmouth Conservatory.