Dr. Joseph Conte was a renowned music director who had a long and eventful career as a concertmaster, conductor, bandmaster, violinist, and teacher. He was concertmaster of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra for twenty-one years. Conte was the founder and conducted The Young People’s Symphony of Rhode Island for sixteen years. He also served as Rhode Island’s Musician’s Union President beginning in 1971. He was a faculty member and music director at St. Xavier Academy for thirty-four years, and a recipient of several citations from Rhode Island Governors, legislative bodies, and organizations.