Rock Infused Orchestra (R) LLC Since 1999

Never heard of Rock Infused Orchestra™ ? Think string orchestra meets rock band. RIO was founded in 1999 by Andrew Hutchinson. Andy, an Oshkosh WI native has been playing the violin for years. His passion is driven through education of music.  Andy studied music education at UW-Oshkosh and Lawrence University.  He can be seen actively performing many genres of music with the Arlington String Quartet or rockin’ electric violin with Symphony on the Rocks with Vic Ferrari.   Andy started RIO with just a couple of young violinists that were looking for something more than just the regular classical music they were learning in school.  “Rock music is fun and challenging, the student musicians connect with it and really learn a lot about rhythm and playing with a group” Andy says. “RIO is a great outlet for school musicians to play and practice in the summer; it keeps their skills sharp! In the beginning, the group consisted of about 5 members who practiced in a small back room at a local music store and held a small concert at Riverside Park in Neenah. Since that time, the group has continued to grow. This year’s RIO includes over 170 members led by 15+ professional musicians playing violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar and percussion. Rock Infused Orchestra welcomes musicians of all ages and all skill level. RIO is comprised of three ensembles to accommodate all levels of rockers. The ensembles practice every Thursday from mid June to early August at Neenah High School to hone their skills with a  team of passionate, professional musicians.