“After a few quiet weeks following the VYO’s return from our Icelandic tour, the VYOA’s 2015-16 season kicked off at the start of August at hyperspeed, filling Elley-Long with fantastic music making, teaching, and community
building. The first week of August featured the launch of our new Discovery Strings day camp for students in Grades 1-5 who have 6 months of experience on their instrument. Under the direction of Kathleen Kono, the fifteen students had a fun and enriching week working with super teachers and VYOA alumni Martha Ellerman and Amanda Milne. We learned that a participant level of fewer than 20 students makes for an ideal learning environment and will make this a feature of the camp going forward.
The following week saw the return of our VYO and VYP students (alongside many new members!), starting with our new two
-day chamber music intensive. Between working with coach Emily Taubl and me, the students received 10 hours of coaching and gave excellent performances of their pieces at the end of the second day. In the future, we’ll be looking to offer these experiences throughout the year. Reveille started on
Wednesday, featuring intensive full rehearsals, sectionals, and activities that help the orchestra members get to know each other and form a strong sense of ensemble identity. The VYO and VYP fall concert weekend is only 5 weeks away, but both ensembles are already well on their way to presenting polished and spirited performances!
This past week has been dedicated to our two -day VYS and VYO Chorus mini-camps, setting up both groups to begin regular rehearsals next month at full speed.
In our efforts to improve our visibility in the
community and increase performance opportunities for our students, we have launched the VYO String Squad, an ad hoc orchestra performing fun and only moderately challenging music; with at least 20 students participating at launch, we expect to have enough players available to field a strong group for each ofthe performing opportunities we’re looking at, including Church Street, the VYOA Autumn Promenade, University Mall, Farmer’s Night, and Wake Robin. Caleb Pillsbury, our new VYOC conductor, is developing similar additional performance events for that group.
Looking forward to seeing you at our 
concerts this year!
Best regards,
Jeff Domoto, Music Director
Vermont Youth Orchestra Association”
Online Auction Preview!
/by VYOA StaffSpring Concert Weekend
/by VYOA StaffSPRING CONCERT WEEKEND IS ALMOST UPON US!
Come to any (or all!) of these upcoming concerts that we are proud to present.
Admission at the door, cash or check only please.
Jeff Domoto to Step Down as Vermont Youth Orchestra Association Music Director
/by VYOA StaffColchester, VT – After five years of service, Jeffrey Domoto will step down as the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association’s (VYOA) Music Director and conductor of its flagship orchestra, the Vermont Youth Orchestra (VYO) following its May 1st concert to pursue other interests in the music field.
Read more →
January Concert at the Flynn Center
/by VYOA StaffJoin us on January 31st at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
Concert sponsor: Langrock, Sperry, & Wool, LLP
“The winter concert includes some of the most popular works found in the symphony orchestra repertoire. The exciting rhythms and well-known melodies of Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to West Side Story opens the concert. Continuing this season’s theme of great Russian masterpieces, the VYO performs the Suite from Igor Stravinsky’s Firebird. Finally, hear the VYO joined by a massed choir of the VYO Chorus and area high school choruses performing Antonin Dvorak’s Te Deum, Op. 103, a spectacular work that marks the beginning of Dvorak’s musical period influenced by American music. Joining the massed choir are soloists Sarah Cullins, soprano, and Erik Kroncke, bass.”
What are you doing New Year’s Eve?
/by VYOA Staff3:00 pm, No charge
Followed by pie social!
Elley-Long Music Center at Saint Michael’s College
Join us for a very special free concert at the Elley-Long Music Center featuring VYO senior soloist Elliot Lowe performing Pakhmutova’s Trumpet Concerto. Other works include Gershwin’s all-time favorite An American in Paris suite and Strauss’ beloved Blue Danube Waltz. The VYO Chorus joins the VYO for other favorites.
This event will be immediately followed by a pie social!
Mid Year Auditions!
/by VYOA StaffFinally feel ready? Only just found out about us? It’s not too late!
Mid-year auditions for our orchestras and choruses are being held in December!
Please contact auditions@vyo.org to schedule an audition. Financial aid is available.
Click here for the auditions information page!
University Mall Auditions for Vermont Youth Concert Chorale!
/by VYOA StaffVermont Youth Orchestra Association 5k Fun Run/Walk on Oct. 4th
/by VYOA StaffThe Jake Kahn 5k Fun Run/Walk is on Sunday Oct 4th at 10:00am to benefit the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association’s School Tour program. This is the 5th annual event to raise money for this valuable outreach program which brings VYOA orchestras and choruses to schools around the state. These annual school tours are a great opportunity for VYOA musicians to share their artistry with school children in our region and to get them excited about music, learning an instrument, and performing music with their peers. Each year the VYOA’s three orchestras and two choruses perform 8 school concerts for nearly 2,500 school children. This fundraiser helps offset the travel costs of bringing our students to schools in our region.
This annual 5k Fun Run/Walk was organized by VYO trumpeter Jake Kahn in 2011 who is now a senior at CVU. It starts at the Elley-Long Music Center, home of the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association, located at 223 Ethan Allen Avenue in Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester.
Area businesses in support of the VYOA and Jake Kahn have donated some fantastic prizes. Notable large prizes this year include a “Flyboard Vermont” session and a Bash Badge at Smugglers’ Notch.
Fleet Feet Sports in Essex Junction has provided $10 coupons to all participants to partially or fully offset the cost of registration.
Registration fees go directly to the VYOA to support this program and are tax deductible.
When:
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Registration at 9:00am
Race Start at 10:00am
Where:
Elley-Long Music Center
223 Ethan Allen Avenue
Colchester, VT 05446
Cost:
Adults: $15
Youth -Age 17: $10
Maximum per family: $40
Please visit vyoafunrun.webs.com to register, to make a donation, or to view prizes and the route
A note from Music Director Jeff Domoto
/by VYOA Staff“After a few quiet weeks following the VYO’s return from our Icelandic tour, the VYOA’s 2015-16 season kicked off at the start of August at hyperspeed, filling Elley-Long with fantastic music making, teaching, and community
building. The first week of August featured the launch of our new Discovery Strings day camp for students in Grades 1-5 who have 6 months of experience on their instrument. Under the direction of Kathleen Kono, the fifteen students had a fun and enriching week working with super teachers and VYOA alumni Martha Ellerman and Amanda Milne. We learned that a participant level of fewer than 20 students makes for an ideal learning environment and will make this a feature of the camp going forward.
The following week saw the return of our VYO and VYP students (alongside many new members!), starting with our new two
-day chamber music intensive. Between working with coach Emily Taubl and me, the students received 10 hours of coaching and gave excellent performances of their pieces at the end of the second day. In the future, we’ll be looking to offer these experiences throughout the year. Reveille started on
Wednesday, featuring intensive full rehearsals, sectionals, and activities that help the orchestra members get to know each other and form a strong sense of ensemble identity. The VYO and VYP fall concert weekend is only 5 weeks away, but both ensembles are already well on their way to presenting polished and spirited performances!
This past week has been dedicated to our two -day VYS and VYO Chorus mini-camps, setting up both groups to begin regular rehearsals next month at full speed.
In our efforts to improve our visibility in the
community and increase performance opportunities for our students, we have launched the VYO String Squad, an ad hoc orchestra performing fun and only moderately challenging music; with at least 20 students participating at launch, we expect to have enough players available to field a strong group for each ofthe performing opportunities we’re looking at, including Church Street, the VYOA Autumn Promenade, University Mall, Farmer’s Night, and Wake Robin. Caleb Pillsbury, our new VYOC conductor, is developing similar additional performance events for that group.
Looking forward to seeing you at our
concerts this year!
Best regards,
Jeff Domoto, Music Director
Vermont Youth Orchestra Association”
The VYO Iceland Tour, an Essay.
/by VYOA StaffVYO alumnus Jacob Morton-Black joined the VYO Iceland Tour this summer and wrote about it for the VYOA Alumni Newsletter.
(Photo: Jacob Morton-Black)
This summer I was lucky enough to be able to go on the VYOA Tour of Iceland. After spending 6 years in the VYOA, this was my first time traveling abroad with the organization. Traveling to Iceland and performing with my peers was a life-changing experience, and I will be forever grateful to the organization for letting me come with them as an alumni.
As soon as the plane Read more →