Elaine Rinaldi, Founder and Artistic Director of Orchestra Miami, is a Miami native who has chosen to return home and reinvest in her community. Under her artistic supervision and direction, Orchestra Miami has performed high quality classical music concerts to literally thousands of people through its annual Free Outdoor Concerts and introduced over 30,000 school children to classical music through its collaboration with the MDCPS Cultural Passport Program, In-School Performances & Carnegie Hall Link Up Education Concerts.

 

As Founder and Artistic Director of Orchestra Miami, Rinaldi has brought a new level of professionalism and quality to the local arts scene. Of  her work with Orchestra Miami, Daniel Fernandez of El Nuevo Herald writes, “In just two years, Rinaldi has created an orchestra which is clearly of a high caliber”, and Lawrence A. Johnson of The Miami Herald writes, “the orchestra's playing was consistently energized, polished and responsive to Rinaldi over the 2 ½-hour program, showing some of the fire and excitement of the [former Florida] Philharmonic on its best nights”.

 

In addition to her work with Orchestra Miami, Rinaldi is much in demand as an opera conductor. Her recent guest conducting engagements have included Caldara's Il Giuoco del Quadriglio and Pergolesi's La Serva Padrona at the Vocal Acadamy in Bodrum, Turkiye, Mozart's The Magic Flute at Opera in the Ozarks, L'incoronazione di Poppea and Die Zauberflöte for the Miami Music Festival, debuts at Opera Orlando with Don Giovanni, Mezzano Romantico Summer Festival (Fiera di Primiero, Italy) for

Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi and at the Tri-Cities Opera leading sold-out performances of Don Giovanni. She was the Principal Guest Conductor at the Dicapo Opera Theatre from 2001-2006 and from 1997-2000, she was the Resident Associate Conductor/Chorus Master at the Florida Grand Opera.

 

Her awards have included First Prize in the American Prize's Ernst Bacon Award (American Music Performance), Professional Division,  the Agnis Varis/Intercities Performing Arts grant, the League of American Orchestra’s mentorship with Joann Faletta, Finalist for the American Prize for Orchestral Conducting and Orchestra Performance and the Newton Swift Prize for Accompanying at the Mannes College of Music.  In addition to her work with Orchestra Miami, Ms. Rinaldi maintains an active presence on the stage as a chamber musician and recital accompanist, and works with some of the most recognizable names in the world of opera in her private coaching studio in New York City.

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