South Shore Symphony

The South Shore Symphony—Long Island’s largest community orchestra—has grown into one of the region’s premier musical ensembles, performing alongside an impressive roster of distinguished guest artists, from world-class dancers to acclaimed opera stars. Supported by the Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts and long-standing partnerships with Molloy University and the Madison Theatre, the orchestra presents over 10 performances each season ranging from a masterworks concert series to opera, pops, musical theatre, opera and much more.

The South Shore Symphony was first organized in Long Island’s Five Towns in 1983.  Soon after, led by President and Principal Cellist Wayne Lipton along with Music Director Paul Rudolf, the orchestra moved to Rockville Centre.  In 1993 the distinguished violinist and conductor Ming Feng Hsin was appointed Music Director, beginning a five-year period of great expansion.  In 1998, conductor Scott Jackson Wiley began a remarkable 25-year tenure as Music Director during which the orchestra roster grew to include professional musicians, gifted high school players, and dedicated amateurs.  In 2023, conductor Adam Glaser became the orchestra’s new Music Director, and Wiley was named Conductor Laureate.  

The parent organization of the South Shore Symphony is the Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization which funds the orchestra through grants and fundraising. The orchestra has enjoyed the generous support of Molloy University and the Madison Theatre, supplying rehearsal space and its first-class performance hall.

As a pillar of the Long Island arts community, the South Shore Symphony has forged long-standing relationships and collaborations with leading institutional partners on Long Island.  With the renowned Leggz Ltd. Dance Company, the orchestra produces annual holiday productions of Tchaikovsky's beloved Nutcracker Ballet, featuring professional dancers and highly skilled amateurs.  With the St. Agnes Cathedral, the orchestras hs performed such major works Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Handel's Messiah, Mahler's Symphony No. 1, 2 and 3 and Saint Saëns Symphony no. 3 (Organ), among others. Its partnership with Long Island Lyric Opera has yielded performed several major opera productions.  And of course, one of its most cherished traditions is the outdoor summer pops concert every year in Rockville Centre's Liberty Park, featuring a spectacular display of Grucci fireworks.  As the resident orchestra of the Madison Theatre, the orchestra accompanies musical productions with the Cap 21 Students of Molloy University.

Updated September 2026