Laying down the baton

After 23 years, Richard Chiarappa retires from West Hartford Symphony Orchestra

By Tracey Weiss

Editor

Photos: submitted

It’s a bittersweet moment for Richard Chiarappa, the co-founder of the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra (WHSO). He has officially retired from his role as conductor, but he’s not done with music. And he, like the rest of the orchestra, is excited by the future of the WHSO.

“As time has gone by, my eyesight and hearing have slipped a bit. I’m 76,” he said. “I’m tired of doing the prep for every concert. I’ve been doing it since 2002. I was involved with everything.”

Richard Chiarappa is the co-founder and conductor of the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra. He’s retired now but plans on continuing to compose and conduct.

Still, he credits his wife, Martha, for so much of the backend work. She is still on the symphony’s board. “I was the face,” he added. “She is the force behind the scenes.

“When I told the board, it took a while to convince them. Last spring, I told them to make plans for the year.

I had second thoughts. I thought, ‘what have I done?’ But it will be okay. “

He said his official goodbyes on May 17, at the annual spring concert, appropriately titled, “A Grand Finale.”

“The concert was about me, but I didn’t want it to be about me,” he said. “It’s still pops.”

The performance included music by John Williams, John Philip Sousa, Henry Mancini, Frank Lehar, Borodin & Korsakoff, Key & Smith, and more. It featured former students of Chiarappa’s, who have sung in WHSO concerts previously.

Now that he’s fully retired, Richard Chiarappa plans on continuing to write music, market his current catalogue, and do some traveling.

The concert also served another purpose: to officially hand the baton to his replacement, Dr. John “Rusty” Koenig. The two conducted the last song of the show, “Stars and Stripes” together.

It’s rather serendipitous how the two met. “I went to Hartt to take a book out,” Chiarappa said. “He was there as a student. We didn’t know each other. We were talking. I asked him, ‘what instrument do you play?’ He said bassoon. I told him we needed a bassoon player. He said, ‘I’d love to play.’”

Koenig is also amazed at the timing and nature of their meeting. “When first I got to Hartt (as a student) I needed to make some money, so I worked at the music library,” he said. “There are two libraries (with Hartt materials). Even more serendipitous, Richard usually goes to the library where I don’t work.”

Chiarappa struck up a conversation with Koenig. “He’s old school and he loves talking to people He can hold a conversation with anyone,” Koenig said.

Koenig spent time in the orchestra before applying and winning the role of conductor. Chiarappa was not on the search committee; indeed, it was some of his fellow orchestra members on the search committee who felt he was the right person for the role.

“It’s going to be a blast,” Koenig said. The orchestra is incredibly excited. I can’t wait to get to work. New ideas are coming, but I’m not changing everything. Knowing that makes it easier. This orchestra has been and will always be, a space for everybody to come. Everybody is welcome. Music is not an exclusive thing. Please don’t be intimated or feel excluded. Engage with us.

“It’s always daunting to take over, but knowing the orchestra has my back and I have that is great. It’s a privilege—they’re fun people to be around: ‘great hangs.’”

He has already learned a lot from Chiarappa. “Richard has reinforced all of the lessons I learned over the years that from my teachers,” Koenig said. “People want the time and respect they deserve. Richard cares about them. It’s easy for a conductor to forget what it’s like to be sitting in the seat.”

According to his website, www.docrusty.com, John R. “Rusty” Koenig holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting and a minor in Music Theory from The University of Hartford, The Hartt School of Music. He completed his master’s degree in Wind Conducting at Western Michigan University, and holds a Bachelor of Music Education, Instrumental, from The Florida State University.  

Dr. John “Rusty” Koenig is the new conductor for the WHSO. He’s played bassoon for the orchestra, previously.

While obtaining his master's degree, Dr. Koenig taught conducting and marching band at Western Michigan University. He is currently adjunct faculty at The Hartt School where he teaches courses in the Music area as well as serves as an accompanist and music director in the Theater department. He is also the orchestra director at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington. 

He has appeared with ensembles across the U.S. and internationally. As a guest conductor, he has performed with The Hartt Wind Ensemble, The Hartt Symphony Band, Foot in the Door Contemporary Ensemble, and the Sofia Philharmonic in Sofia, Bulgaria. An active proponent of new music. Dr. Koenig has premiered over 15 works in the last three years including the world premiere of Joseph Schwantner’s Fast Track: Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble.

For Chiarappa, this is a second retirement. His first was three years ago, after 44 years of teaching music at Kingswood Oxford School. He was the director of the choral program, the jazz band, director of the annual musical, and the director of the string orchestra program.

He was formerly the music director of the Bristol Symphony Orchestra from 1991-2002, as well as former resident conductor of the Scholar-Athlete-Artist Games Orchestra, located in Kingston, RI on the University of Rhode Island campus.

He will continue to focus on his own work—and marketing his original music. “I’ve written so much music in my life,” he said. “Now I’m going to sit back and promote it as much as I can.”That includes letting the world know about the more than 30 compositions he has written that are for sale on JWPepper.com. J.W. Pepper is a 150-year-old seller of sheet music. J.W. Pepper supplies the materials, resources, and services that everyone who makes music, teaches music, or leads an ensemble.

Those who missed the May 17 concert can see him guest conduct one of his original pieces at the America250 celebration concert on July 4.

And he can always guest conduct for the WHSO. “If I write a new tune and want to perform it, I know the conductor,” he joked. WHL

SIDEBAR:

An excerpt from “A Grand Finale,” Maestro Richard Chiarappa’s speech at his final West Hartford Symphony Orchestra performance on May 17, 2026:

“Throughout these years I have had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of wonderful people and was lucky enough to have many of those people become members of our Board of Directors. Raising a symphony orchestra from its very beginning is much like raising a very talented child. I was able to raise this unique orchestral child thanks to the love, enthusiasm and energy of my wonderful wife, Martha, who stood beside me in the background working tirelessly on fundraising events such as Dancing with the Symphony and silent auctions, while doing programs, posters, and so many behind the scenes jobs that go unnoticed but keep the organization going.  I can happily and proudly state that I have learned much about life and music from the members of the WHSO. Now it is time to do what any parent does at a certain point in development, and that is to set their child free to explore the world and find its way and place in that world. Thus, it is with this orchestra. Those talented people you see on the stage give up their Wednesday evenings throughout the academic year to do what they love - playing music. The orchestra members enjoy each-others company and love experiencing and making music for audiences to enjoy. I am most confident that Dr. John “Rusty” Koenig will continue nurturing and shaping this special orchestra as time goes by because its foundation is solid and its potential is unlimited. Our new president, Elizabeth Benton, and our Board of Directors which is now made up of orchestra members and music lovers, are all keenly aware of and deeply committed to the organizational elements that go into running a community orchestra. I am leaving this unique and terrific orchestra at a solid and healthy moment. And so, to the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra, all its members both present and past, the talented guest performers who have delighted our audiences, I say thank you for all you have meant to me, all that you have taught me, and the joy you’ve given me for 23 years. Godspeed.”

It’s a bittersweet moment for Richard Chiarappa, the co-founder of the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra (WHSO). He has officially retired from his role as conductor, but he’s not done with music. And he, like the rest of the orchestra, is excited by the future of the WHSO.

“As time has gone by, my eyesight and hearing have slipped a bit. I’m 76,” he said. “I’m tired of doing the prep for every concert. I’ve been doing it since 2002. I was involved with everything.”

Still, he credits his wife, Martha, for so much of the backend work. She is still on the symphony’s board. “I was the face,” he added. “She is the force behind the scenes.

“When I told the board, it took a while to convince them. Last spring, I told them to make plans for the year.

I had second thoughts. I thought, ‘what have I done?’ But it will be okay. “

He said his official goodbyes on May 17, at the annual spring concert, appropriately titled, “A Grand Finale.”

“The concert was about me, but I didn’t want it to be about me,” he said. “It’s still pops.”

The performance included music by John Williams, John Philip Sousa, Henry Mancini, Frank Lehar, Borodin & Korsakoff, Key & Smith, and more. It featured former students of Chiarappa’s, who have sung in WHSO concerts previously.

The concert also served another purpose: to officially hand the baton to his replacement, Dr. John “Rusty” Koenig. The two conducted the last song of the show, “Stars and Stripes” together.

It’s rather serendipitous how the two met. “I went to Hartt to take a book out,” Chiarappa said. “He was there as a student. We didn’t know each other. We were talking. I asked him, ‘what instrument do you play?’ He said bassoon. I told him we needed a bassoon player. He said, ‘I’d love to play.’”

Koenig is also amazed at the timing and nature of their meeting. “When first I got to Hartt (as a student) I needed to make some money, so I worked at the music library,” he said. “There are two libraries (with Hartt materials). Even more serendipitous, Richard usually goes to the library where I don’t work.”

Chiarappa struck up a conversation with Koenig. “He’s old school and he loves talking to people He can hold a conversation with anyone,” Koenig said.

Koenig spent time in the orchestra before applying and winning the role of conductor. Chiarappa was not on the search committee; indeed, it was some of his fellow orchestra members on the search committee who felt he was the right person for the role.

“It’s going to be a blast,” Koenig said. The orchestra is incredibly excited. I can’t wait to get to work. New ideas are coming, but I’m not changing everything. Knowing that makes it easier. This orchestra has been and will always be, a space for everybody to come. Everybody is welcome. Music is not an exclusive thing. Please don’t be intimated or feel excluded. Engage with us.

“It’s always daunting to take over, but knowing the orchestra has my back and I have that is great. It’s a privilege—they’re fun people to be around: ‘great hangs.’”

He has already learned a lot from Chiarappa. “Richard has reinforced all of the lessons I learned over the years that from my teachers,” Koenig said. “People want the time and respect they deserve. Richard cares about them. It’s easy for a conductor to forget what it’s like to be sitting in the seat.”

According to his website, www.docrusty.com, John R. “Rusty” Koenig holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting and a minor in Music Theory from The University of Hartford, The Hartt School of Music. He completed his master’s degree in Wind Conducting at Western Michigan University, and holds a Bachelor of Music Education, Instrumental, from The Florida State University.  

While obtaining his master's degree, Dr. Koenig taught conducting and marching band at Western Michigan University. He is currently adjunct faculty at The Hartt School where he teaches courses in the Music area as well as serves as an accompanist and music director in the Theater department. He is also the orchestra director at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington. 

He has appeared with ensembles across the U.S. and internationally. As a guest conductor, he has performed with The Hartt Wind Ensemble, The Hartt Symphony Band, Foot in the Door Contemporary Ensemble, and the Sofia Philharmonic in Sofia, Bulgaria. An active proponent of new music. Dr. Koenig has premiered over 15 works in the last three years including the world premiere of Joseph Schwantner’s Fast Track: Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble.

For Chiarappa, this is a second retirement. His first was three years ago, after 44 years of teaching music at Kingswood Oxford School. He was the director of the choral program, the jazz band, director of the annual musical, and the director of the string orchestra program.

He was formerly the music director of the Bristol Symphony Orchestra from 1991-2002, as well as former resident conductor of the Scholar-Athlete-Artist Games Orchestra, located in Kingston, RI on the University of Rhode Island campus.

He will continue to focus on his own work—and marketing his original music. “I’ve written so much music in my life,” he said. “Now I’m going to sit back and promote it as much as I can.”That includes letting the world know about the more than 30 compositions he has written that are for sale on JWPepper.com. J.W. Pepper is a 150-year-old seller of sheet music. J.W. Pepper supplies the materials, resources, and services that everyone who makes music, teaches music, or leads an ensemble.

Those who missed the May 17 concert can see him guest conduct one of his original pieces at the America250 celebration concert on July 4.

And he can always guest conduct for the WHSO. “If I write a new tune and want to perform it, I know the conductor,” he joked. WHL

SIDEBAR:

An excerpt from “A Grand Finale,” Maestro Richard Chiarappa’s speech at his final West Hartford Symphony Orchestra performance on May 17, 2026:

“Throughout these years I have had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of wonderful people and was lucky enough to have many of those people become members of our Board of Directors. Raising a symphony orchestra from its very beginning is much like raising a very talented child. I was able to raise this unique orchestral child thanks to the love, enthusiasm and energy of my wonderful wife, Martha, who stood beside me in the background working tirelessly on fundraising events such as Dancing with the Symphony and silent auctions, while doing programs, posters, and so many behind the scenes jobs that go unnoticed but keep the organization going.  I can happily and proudly state that I have learned much about life and music from the members of the WHSO. Now it is time to do what any parent does at a certain point in development, and that is to set their child free to explore the world and find its way and place in that world. Thus, it is with this orchestra. Those talented people you see on the stage give up their Wednesday evenings throughout the academic year to do what they love - playing music. The orchestra members enjoy each-others company and love experiencing and making music for audiences to enjoy. I am most confident that Dr. John “Rusty” Koenig will continue nurturing and shaping this special orchestra as time goes by because its foundation is solid and its potential is unlimited. Our new president, Elizabeth Benton, and our Board of Directors which is now made up of orchestra members and music lovers, are all keenly aware of and deeply committed to the organizational elements that go into running a community orchestra. I am leaving this unique and terrific orchestra at a solid and healthy moment. And so, to the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra, all its members both present and past, the talented guest performers who have delighted our audiences, I say thank you for all you have meant to me, all that you have taught me, and the joy you’ve given me for 23 years. Godspeed.”