VYOA Blog

Congratulations are in order for three VYOA students who were all recognized recently with awards and scholarships.

St. Johnsbury Academy senior Perry Emerson was awarded the 2012 Hermance Prize at the VYO Spring Concert on Sunday. The flutist and VYO member presented a beautiful performance of the Sonatine for Flute and Piano by Henri Dutilleux at the Hermance Prize Recital on May 1st. Perry plans to attend the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY next fall, where he will major in flute performance.

Colchester High School senior Nikolas Kaim was presented with the Weathers Music Scholarship at the VYO Spring Concert on Sunday. A charter member of the VYO Chorus since its’ inception 5 years ago, Nikolas plans to pursue musical theater and voice at Ithaca College next fall. He hopes to continue to study voice and vocal technique, and to teach voice studies at a university level one day.

Vermont Youth Philharmonia violinist Basundhara Mukherjee was presented with the Aaron Xue Friendship Award at the VYP Spring Concert on April 1. Established by the Xue family in memory of Aaron, a VYP cellist who died in 2009, the annual award recognizes a student who is a supportive colleague, role model, and true friend to their peers in Vermont Youth Philharmonia. A tenth grade student at South Burlington High School, Basundhara has played the violin since the age of 7. A highlight of the season for her was performing selections from Carmina Burana with the VYO Chorus this past winter at Orchestrapalooza.