The Roxborough Orchestra would not exist without the desire and vision of Giuseppe Agnello to found an orchestra for and by the local community. Giuseppe, also known as “Joe”, has since moved from the area after handing the baton to Dr. Fawzi Habboushe, but is still involved in the life of the orchestra.
Following a distinguished career as a Philadelphia-area violinist and music teacher, Mr. Giuseppe Agnello, a Roxborough resident, formed the Roxborough Symphony Orchestra in the summer of 2003. To recruit orchestra members, Mr. Agnello posted notices in the windows of area businesses. He then arranged the orchestra’s first rehearsal in the auditorium of the Salvation Army building on Ridge Avenue. The orchestra held its first concert on January 31, 2004, with Mr. Agnello conducting. Since then, the orchestra has performed concerts at the Roxborough Presbyterian Church, the Worship Center, Leverington Presbyterian Church, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, with conducting assistance by Dr. Fawzi Habboushe. In 2013, Mr. Agnello retired from his position as Conductor and passed the baton to Dr. Habboushe.
2015 was a year that brought even more change to the Roxborough Orchestra with the appointment of Michael Ludwig as Music Director and conductor, and Rachael Ludwig as General Manager. The orchestra, which had previously rehearsed at the Gustine Lake Recreation Center, moved rehearsal venues to The Philadelphia Boys and Girls Choir location on Spring Garden Street, and established residency performing concerts at the Venice Island Performing Arts Center in Manayunk. The orchestra transitioned to putting on full symphony orchestra concerts 3-4 times a year, the board of directors has expanded, and world class artists have performed as soloists with the orchestra, such as Ricardo Morales, Alex Kerr and Meredith Kufchak, and this upcoming season featuring soloists Michael Ludwig and Andres Cardenes. In 2023, the Roxborough Orchestra teamed up with the Katz JCC in Cherry Hill, NJ to perform Peter and the Wolf as a fundraiser for Open Hearts/Open Doors, a special needs inclusion program, with special guest narrator Jim Gardner.
Your community orchestra 