Some may find it ironic that one of Alan Aurelia's personal interests is visual arts, given his celebrated reputation for spreading joy with the sounds of music.

Aurelia is music director of the Richmond County Orchestra (RCO), which he founded, and holds other musical posts in an array of different genres, including: founder, artistic director and conductor of the Riverside Opera Company (ROC); music director and conductor of the New American Youth Ballet Orchestra; and guest conductor for the Festival Sinfonicao di Massa in Italy.