The applause was deafening and the audience was jumping up and down by the end, demanding encore after encore." By this time the orchestra featured more than 80 musicians. On 28 November 1994 RAO celebrated its 25th Silver Jubilee with an "Elgar Concert". The local press previewed the concert, reporting poignantly that "It will be one of the last concerts conducted by James Clinch who feels it is time to hand over the baton to a younger man." 20 May 1995 saw founder-conductor James Clinch's final concert. This was reported by a local paper under the heading: "Conductor lays down baton" alongside a photograph of a beaming "Jimmy" seated at the podium during a break in rehearsals in the Central Hall. He had just conducted RAO's ninety-ninth concert. Warwick Potter took over from James Clinch, and held the position for five years. During this time he conducted a memorable series of concerts featuring Rachmaninov's 2nd and 3rd Symphonies and Symphonic Dances. In 2002 the membership voted overwhelmingly in favour of changing the orchestra's name to the City of Rochester Symphony Orchestra. The twenty-first century began with a concert sponsored by the Friends, including Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante. During this season the Friends awarded Honorary Membership to Dr. Andrew Ashbee in appreciation of the pre-concert talks and concert programme notes delivered during many years. In 2000 Harry Curtis was appointed as the orchestra's new conductor. The following year a symphonic work was commissioned from composer Tom Armstrong based on maritime themes and the Historic Dockyard. Pupils from Cliffe Woods School took part in workshops with Tom, as part of the orchestra's continuing education outreach work, composing a piece for percussion and recorders which they performed in the concert.  2002 was a year sadly marked by the sudden death of Terry Hill, writer of the previous orchestra history, and long-term playing member. CRSO welcomed the winner of the Haverhill Competition for the first time on 1 March 03, pianist Marisa Gupta. An important milestone in the continuing development of CRSO was the appointment of Michael Thompson as Principal Conductor in 2003. The summer saw a successful joint concert with Medway Youth Orchestra. However CRSO was sad to hear news of the death of their much admired President, Jack Brymer, and the untimely death of Maureen Harrison, principal cellist for most of the orchestra's life and, with husband Paul, a very active member of the Friends.