VSO Made in Vermont Music Festival To Tour the State

Vermont - The Vermont Symphony Orchestra goes on tour again this fall, presenting the annual Made in Vermont Music Festival in eight villages and towns across Vermont. From September 21 to October 1, the 18th annual VSO tour will offer brilliant music to go along with Vermont’s brilliant foliage season.   The program includes a sparkling work by Haydn’s younger brother, Michael; a world premiere by University of Vermont composer David Feurzeig; a darkly appealing piece for string orchestra by Dmitri Shostakovich; and Schubert’s richly melodic Symphony No. 5 with Anthony Princiotti conducting.

     In keeping with the VSO tradition of commissioning a new piece every year, the program features a new work by David Feurzeig of Williston.   His piece, High Water, is a three part impression of Hurricane Irene.  It begins with “Rain,” with gentle falling figures representing the storm’s deceptively mild onset, soon overpowered by the inexorable rise and destruction of Vermont’s rivers.  The central section, “Silt,” the emotional heart of the piece, begins with brooding string chords suggesting the feeling of paralysis as people struggled to dig out.  A haunting refrain from “Goodnight Irene” links to the final section, “Grit,” and celebrates the communal resolve of Vermonters following Irene’s devastation.

     David Feurzeig joined the faculty of UVM in 2008.  His music has been performed throughout the United States and in New Zealand, Asia, and Europe.  He is a pianist as well as composer, and specializes in eclectic lecture-recitals featuring music from the classics to stride piano, jazz and new music.  He received a DMA in Composition from Cornell University and a BA from Harvard College.

     The tour includes the following locations:  

Friday, September 21, 7:30 p.m., Dibden Center, Johnson State College, Johnson  
Saturday, September 22, 7:30 p.m., Vergennes Opera House, Vergennes
Sunday, September 23, 4:00 p.m., Haskell Opera House, Derby Line
Thursday, September 27, 7:30 p.m., Alexander Twilight Theater, Lyndon State College
Friday, September 28, 7:30 p.m., Bellows Falls Opera House, Bellows Falls
    (Co-presented with Bellows Falls Opera House)
Saturday, September 29, 7:30 p.m., Chandler Music Hall, Randolph
     (Co-presented with the Chandler Music Hall)
Sunday, September 30, 3:00 p.m., BFA Center for Performing Arts, St. Albans
    (Presented by The Saint Albans Society for the Performing Arts)
Monday, October 1, 7:00 p.m., Castleton State College Fine Arts Center, Castleton

     The statewide Made in Vermont Music Festival tour is co-sponsored by Merchants Bank and Vermont State Colleges.  Additional support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Vermont Arts Council, and the Lintilhac Foundation.

     Tickets will be available in late August.  They will cost $26 for adults, $22 for seniors age 65 and older, $13 for Vermont State College faculty and staff, $13 for students, and $6 for Vermont State College students.  For additional information or to purchase tickets, please contact the Flynn Regional Box Office at 802-863-5966 or visit online at www.flynntix.org.  Tickets will also be available at local outlets.  For details, please visit the VSO website at www.vso.org or call 800-876-9293, ext. 10.