We take Halloween very seriously here at the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association. Each year we try to wow our students with great costumes and decor. This year, the staff chose a Harry Potter theme and really ran with it! Mia, our Operations Assistant, did a fabulous job on the decorations. Her homemade hanging candles really helped transform the building into Hogwarts. All of our faculty and staff put together great costumes! We had Harry & Hedwig, Dumbledore & Fawkes, Professor McGonagall, two Hagrids, Professor Snape, and Mrs. Weasley. Bravi to all involved in making this year’s Harry Potter Halloween our best yet!

See broadcasts of the Vermont Youth Orchestra’s thrilling first installment of “Tchaikovsky in Vermont,” their 2017-2018 exploration of Piotr I. Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. This VYO Fall Concert, the first under the direction of new music director Dr. Benjamin Klemme, was performed at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts on September 24, 2017 and features the world premiere of a new poem by Sydney Lea, former Vermont poet laureate, and a stirring solo flute performance by Israel Patterson. Filming and broadcasting of VYO subscription performances are made possible by the generous media partnership of RETN—please join the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association in thanking them for their support!

*This show will premiere on RETN Channel 16 and BTVHD Channel 216 on Friday, October 20th at 9:00 PM. Additional air times will be posted online as they are scheduled.

In addition, audio of this performance is now available for streaming and download through Instant Encore by clicking here. 

As summer nears its end and another school year approaches, our instrumental and vocal ensembles have been busy kicking off the VYOA’s 54th season. The Elley-Long Music Center is once again filled with the energy and talent of our incredible students, and we invite you to join us for what promises to be a uniquely inspiring year.

There are many ways to get involved with the exciting musical discovery happening at the VYOA: follow us on social media @VYOAorg, visit a rehearsal, attend a concert, volunteer at one of our many events, and—if you play an instrument—plan to join us for a special community-wide play-along of the final movement of Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony on April 29. Thank you for supporting life-changing music learning opportunities for young Vermonters. Without your partnership our programming would not be possible, and we look forward to celebrating our students’ artistic achievements with you throughout the 2017-2018 season.

Billy Ray Poli has been named Conductor of the Vermont Youth Chorale. Billy Ray is currently the Choral/Vocal director at Burlington High School. He conducts the Concert Chorus, Senior Chorus and Vermont Voices, Burlington High School’s select auditioned group. He also teaches Intro level Piano,Theory and AP Music Theory. Billy Ray graduated from the University of Rhode Island as a double major in both vocal performance and music education. During his time in Rhode Island he competed both at the state, and regional level, and performed as a guest performer in many of Opera Providence’s productions. Billy Ray moved to Vermont in summer of 2013 and began his teaching career at Chelsea Public School, where he taught K-12 Music, created and fostered an award winning after school theater program, and also implemented an in school private lesson program under the Steve Ibey Scholarship fund. Since being in Vermont he has been the music director for many different theater companies including; Chandler Music Hall’s Fourth of July Musical, Flynn Teen Summer Musicals, Burlington High School Musicals, South Royalton Players and is looking forward to conducting his first show for the Stowe Theatre Guild in the summer of 2017. He also sits on the board of ACDA as the Chair for Jazz and Show Choirs, and was just named District III Chair. Billy Ray is a frequent adjudicator, clinician, voice teacher and guest conductor at many choral festival in and around the state of Vermont.

Welcome Billy Ray!

Click here to read the May e-newsletter, which celebrates the end of this season and looks forward to next season. We’re especially excited to unveil Prelude! a brand new beginner strings program. Also read up on the success of the online auction, our upcoming annual meeting, vocal programs, and Summer Symphony Camp.