New Look for the VYOA Newsletter and Website!

Welcome to our newly redesigned newsletter! We at the VYOA hope that our updated newsletter style makes your reading experience enjoyable. For additional news, concert updates, and a current calendar of events please bookmark our website: www.vyo.org.

VYO Performs for Chinese Ambassador to the United States

The Vermont Youth Orchestra will give a special performance for the honorable Zhou Wenzhong, Chinese Ambassador to the United States on Wednesday, November 29 at the Wyndham Hotel in Burlington. Led by Music Director Troy Peters, the VYO will perform selections from their fall concert program, including the Brahms Hungarian Dances, Nos. 5 & 6.

The VYO’s performance for Ambassador Zhou is part of "China and Vermont: A Search for Collaboration", an event presented by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce and the Vermont Council on World Affairs. The VYO performance emphasizes the value of the arts as a catalyst for continuing to forge strong cultural and economic ties with China.

Tickets to attend the Arts & Cultural breakfast are $30 per person and are available by contacting the Vermont Chamber of commerce online at www.vtchamber.com or by calling 802-223-0924.

Vermont Youth Chamber Winds Winter Concert

Join the ensembles of the Vermont Youth Chamber Winds on Saturday, December 9 at 1:00 pm in the Elley-Long Music Center at Saint Michael’s College for their annual Winter Concert. The concert features a diverse program for woodwind ensembles, led by coach Berta Frank. Free and Open to the public. Information: 655-5030

Presto Winter Concert

Led by Conductor Asiat ("Ace") Ali, the VYOA’s youngest string players present their annual Presto Winter Concert at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 16 at the Elley Long Music Center at Saint Michael’s College. The concert features a diverse program of music for beginning string ensemble. Free and open to the public. Information: 655-5030

Orchestrapalooza II

The Vermont Youth Orchestra Association presents its second Orchestrapalooza on Sunday, December 17 at 4:00 p.m. at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.

Orchestrapalooza brings together over two hundred and fifty student musicians, performing under the direction of three unique conductors: The Vermont Youth Strings, conducted by David Gusakov; the Vermont Youth Sinfonia, conducted by Troy Peters; the Vermont Youth Philharmonia, conducted by Anne Decker; and the Vermont Youth Orchestra, also conducted by Troy Peters. The program finale will feature more than one hundred and thirty students of various ages and abilities sitting side-by-side to perform a holiday medley entitled Christmas Music for Orchestra by Emmy award-winning television composer, John Cacavas.

Other program highlights include the Vermont Youth Strings performing Mozart’s Rondo from Symphony No. 23, the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, by J.S. Bach and James Grant’s mountain climbing composition, The Summit. The Vermont Youth Sinfonia will present Colchester Overture, a work commissioned from composer Michael Hopkins by the VYOA in 2003, Strauss’ Chit Chat Polka, Buxtehude’s Chaconne, and a selection from Haydn's Surprise Symphony No. 94. The Vermont Youth Philharmonia will play Dvorák’s New World Symphony and also selections by Vaclav Nelhybel. The Vermont Youth Orchestra will perform Gabriel Fauré’s expressive Elégie for Cello and Orchestra featuring Essex High School senior soloist, Amanda LaCroix.

Ticket prices: Adults/Seniors: $10 & Students: $5. All tickets are available through the Flynn Box Office. To purchase tickets call 802-86-FLYNN or visit www.flynntix.org.
This concert is sponsored by Hoff Curtis.

Vermont Youth Orchestra performs First Night Concerts

A VYO tradition continues as Music Director Troy Peters leads the orchestra in their annual holiday concerts on December 31. This year’s program features a collaboration with singer/songwriter Elisabeth von Trapp, the Lieberman Piccolo Concerto performed by VYO senior Armando Veve and the world premiere of a new composition written by a Vermont MIDI Project student. Ring in the New Year with the VYO!

Two Performances! 12:00 noon & 7:30 pm at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts Information: 863-6005 or www.firstnightburlington.com

Vermont Youth Orchestra Winter Concert

Join the VYO on January 28, 2007 at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts for "The Force of Destiny". Tchaikovsky’s towering Fourth Symphony and Verdi’s "Force of Destiny Overture" offer compositional variations on a similar theme: Man’s struggle with Fate. The Grøndahl Concert features James Box, the amazing principal trombonist from the Montreal Symphony.

Ticket prices: Adults/Seniors $15, $12, $10 & Students: $12, $10, $6. All tickets are available through the Flynn Box Office. To purchase tickets call 802-86-FLYNN or visit www.flynntix.org.
This concert is supported by the Vermont Community Foundation

Tour of China Update

As many of you are now aware, the VYO will embark upon an ambitious fifteen-day concert and cultural tour of China in July 2007. The tour will include performances in Beijing, Shanghai, Hanghzou and Hong Kong of selections from both Eastern and Western repertoires. Orchestra exchange and educational activities are also planned with Chinese youth orchestras in both Shanghai and Beijing. Raising funds for the tour is in high gear as the staff and students prepare for this exciting adventure.

Vermont Violins/Burlington Violin Shop Holiday Sponsorship

Our good friends at Vermont Violins and the Burlington Violin Shop are a sponsor of the VYO Tour of China. From November 20-December 24th, Vermont Violins will donate 5% of instrument sales from the Burlington Violin Shop to the musicians of the VYO. All proceeds will benefit the upcoming China Tour. Visit the store in one of their three locations (Main Street in Burlington, Main Street in Montpelier or the Powerhouse Mall in West Lebanon, NH) or visit them online at www.vermontviolins.com. Thank you, Vermont Violins and Burlington Violin Shop!

Musical Chairs

The Vermont Youth Orchestra Association seeks artists of all ages to submit specially created works of art for a unique fundraising event entitled "Musical Chairs". How can you get involved? Re-create, re-imagine or fabricate a one-of-a-kind chair design into a work of art in any medium over the course of the next two months. All art chairs donated to the VYOA will be sold by silent auction at the fabulous "Musical Chairs" party to be held on Friday, February 2, 2007 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Sanctuary Artsite at Jager DiPaola Kemp Design, 47 Maple Street in Burlington. Artists interested in participating in "Musical Chairs" should contact VYOA Marketing Director, Lisamarie Charlesworth, at 655-5030 or lisamarie@vyo.org. All proceeds from the "Musical Chairs" silent auction will directly benefit the programs of the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association.
Chairs for this event are generously donated by Recycle North. Additional support provided by Jager DiPaola Kemp Design.

Make a Gift to the VYOA

The 2006-07 Annual Fund Campaign is underway with an ambitious goal of $180,000. The VYOA Board of Directors is 100% financially committed to this fundraising effort, and now we are asking for your support. For more information on how to contribute to the VYOA, visit www.vyo.org. Thank you, in advance, for your support!