Virginia-Gene Rittenhouse, 88, a noted Adventist musician who founded and directed the New England Youth Ensemble, died at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center near her home in Sterling.

Rittenhouse, a conductor, pianist and violinist, founded the ensemble in 1969 with five students and directed it for decades. Her New England Youth Ensemble Carnegie Scholars Program mentored ensemble members, many of whom took the stage at Carnegie Hall, a renowned New York City concert venue.

The ensemble, which now numbers 45, regularly travels to perform worldwide. Since 1994, the group has served as church-run Washington Adventist University's resident orchestra, where it continues to earn critical acclaim.

Rittenhouse spent years teaching music in Seventh-day Adventist institutions such as Washington Adventist University and Atlantic Union College, where she taught violin and piano until the early 1950s.

Rittenhouse was born in Alberta, Canada on October 15, 1922, and raised in South Africa. At age 10, her debut performance of her own composition was aired over a South African national radio broadcast. At 13, she won a music scholarship to study at the University of South Africa. She later received degrees from the University of Washington, Boston University and the Peabody Conservatory.

"The Washington Adventist University family is deeply saddened at the passing of a true pioneer in Seventh-day Adventist education," WAU President Weymouth Spence said in a statement yesterday. "She was a driving innovative force with the orchestra and the programs she began," he said.

Rittenhouse is survived by her husband of 61 years, Harvey, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.