Jill and the Beanstalk

Holiday Pops: Fun and Games is our festive three-concert tour to Barre, Burlington, and Rutland, December 9-11. The program -- in addition to pieces showcasing the youthful side of the season -- features a composition by a Vermont student. Her name is Eileen Kocherlakota (pictured) and her piece is a musical fractured fairy tale, Jill and the Beanstalk. Keep reading for a full description of the piece, Eileen's bio, and the complete tour schedule.

Eileen Kocherlakota is 14 years old, and a freshman at Burlington High School. Music has been a big part of her life ever since she started playing violin when she was 5 years old. Currently she studies violin with Evelyn Read and plays in the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association (VYOA). She started composing with the Vermont MIDI Project (VMP) when she was in fourth grade. She recently took music theory lessons with Erik Nielson and completed the theory courses offered by VYOA. She would like to thank Ms. Greene and Ms. Nolan, her music teachers in elementary and middle school, who fostered her interest in composition. She thanks Erik Nielsen, Matt Podd, and Zach Sheets, all composer mentors with the Vermont MIDI Project and Sandi MacLeod, Executive Director of VMP. She especially thanks her family for supporting her all the way.

The Vermont MIDI Project is a non-profit organization supporting young composers through a variety of technology tools. VMP enlists professional composers to provide feedback to students in an online mentoring website and supports teachers in music composition. Live performance opportunities of student compositions are offered through the Opus concerts and with organizations such as the VSO. Visit the website for more information.

Jill and the Beanstalk is a fractured fairy tale based on “Jack and the Beanstalk.” This updated rendition is told through music with narration throughout the piece. It is like another piece Eileen Kocherlakota wrote, based on the fairytale, ”Cinderella,” which was for a small ensemble of brass, piano and percussion. In Jill and the Beanstalk, similar to Peter and the Wolf, different instruments representing different characters. Jill’s theme is played by clarinets, the witch trading beans is represented by violins 1 and 2, the giantess’ dancing is numbly highlighted with flutes and a piccolo, and the giant comes to life with timpani and low brass. Please enjoy!

2011 Holiday Pops I: "Fun & Games"
The National Life Group Holiday Pops Concert
Friday, December 9, 2011, 7:30 p.m.
Barre Opera House, Barre
Anthony Princiotti, conductor
Visit the event page


2011 Holiday Pops II: "Fun & Games"
Saturday, December 10, 2011, 7:30 p.m.
Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington
Anthony Princiotti, conductor
Visit the event page


2011/2012 Sunday Matinee Series I/2011 Holiday Pops III
Sunday, December 11, 2011, 3:00 p.m.
Paramount Theatre, Rutland
Anthony Princiotti, conductor
Holiday Pops: Fun and Games
Visit the event page Keep reading!

2011 Holiday Pops: Fun and Games

Apart from the eggnog…Christmas IS for kids! Celebrate Christmas 2011 with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra as we take a look at the youthful side of the holiday. Music that reflects a child’s sense of wonder and delight includes Bizet’s “Children’s Games,” the March of the Toys from Babes in Toyland, excerpts from Hansel & Gretel, and of course the Little Drummer Boy. After the Nutcracker’s Mouse King does battle with the tin soldiers, we debut a fractured fairy tale composed by a Vermont teenager. “Sleighride” and an audience singalong are musical stocking stuffers! Keep reading for the program, complete schedule and links to the individual events. Happy Holidays from the VSO!

Anthony Princiotti, conductor

ANDERSON Sleighride
BIZET Jeux d’enfants (Children’s Games)
EILEEN KOCHERLAKOTA Jill and the Beanstalk
TCHAIKOVSKY Excerpts from The Nutcracker
HUMPERDINCK Hansel and Gretel
DAVIS, arr. Wright Little Drummer Boy (Carol of the Drum)
TRADITIONAL Christmas Pop Singalong
SOUSA, arr. Smith Jingle Bells Forever

2011 Holiday Pops I: "Fun & Games"
The National Life Group Holiday Pops Concert
Friday, December 9, 2011, 7:30 p.m.
Barre Opera House, Barre
Anthony Princiotti, conductor
Visit the event page


2011 Holiday Pops II: "Fun & Games"
Saturday, December 10, 2011, 7:30 p.m.
Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington
Anthony Princiotti, conductor
Visit the event page


2011/2012 Sunday Matinee Series I/2011 Holiday Pops III
Sunday, December 11, 2011, 3:00 p.m.
Paramount Theatre, Rutland
Anthony Princiotti, conductor
Holiday Pops: Fun and Games
Visit the event page Keep reading!

Special ticket deal for the Burlington Holiday Pops concert this Saturday

Special e-deal for groups of friends and families!! Purchase a group of three or more tickets for the VSO's Holiday Pops concert on Saturday, December 11 at the Flynn Center in Burlington and pay only $15 for each ticket. This deal must be redeemed at the Flynn Box Office in person on Main Street in Burlington or by calling (802) 86-FLYNN. You must use the following code: "FAMILYRUSH." Gather your family and friends for this festive holiday concert!!

Visit the event page.

Keep reading for complete program information.


Robert De Cormier, conductor
VSO Chorus
Susanne Peck, soprano
Amy Frostman, alto

VIVALDI Gloria
GERMAN King Henry VIII: Three Dances
ANDERSON, arr. Brymer Sleigh Ride
DE CORMIER, arr. Joy to the World
DE CORMIER, arr. Hayo Haya
DE CORMIER, arr. Light One Candle
BASS Gloria
DE CORMIER, arr. O Come All Ye Faithful
MENOTTI Introduction, March, and Shepherd’s Dance from Amahl and the Night Visitors
DE CORMIER, arr. Mary Had a Baby
DE CORMIER, arr. Jehovah Hallelujah
DE CORMIER, arr. Shout for Joy
HANDEL Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah
AUDIENCE SINGALONG Keep reading!

Holiday Pops: Glory Hallelujah this weekend

This weekend, join the VSO under Robert De Cormier, soprano Susanne Peck, alto Amy Frostman, and the VSO Chorus for our annual festive favorite: Holiday Pops. The theater will ring with two Glorias, two Hallelujahs, three spirituals, music from the court of King Henry VIII, excerpts from “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” and (of course!) an audience singalong. We will be visiting the Barre Opera House on Friday, the Flynn Center in Burlington on Saturday, and the Paramount Theatre in Rutland for a matinee on Sunday. Tickets are going fast, so visit the event pages for information on ticket outlets.

Click to visit the Barre Opera House event on Friday, December 10.

Click to visit the Flynn Center event on Saturday, December 11.

Click to visit the Paramount Theatre event on Sunday, December 12.

Keep reading for the complete program information.


Robert De Cormier, conductor
VSO Chorus
Susanne Peck, soprano
Amy Frostman, alto

VIVALDI Gloria
GERMAN King Henry VIII: Three Dances
ANDERSON, arr. Brymer Sleigh Ride
DE CORMIER, arr. Joy to the World
DE CORMIER, arr. Hayo Haya
DE CORMIER, arr. Light One Candle
BASS Gloria
DE CORMIER, arr. O Come All Ye Faithful
MENOTTI Introduction, March, and Shepherd’s Dance from Amahl and the Night Visitors
DE CORMIER, arr. Mary Had a Baby
DE CORMIER, arr. Jehovah Hallelujah
DE CORMIER, arr. Shout for Joy
HANDEL Hallelujah Chorus from Messiah
AUDIENCE SINGALONG Keep reading!

2008 Holiday concerts around the state

Is it possible that Thanksgiving is next week?! Time flies when you're immersed in music! To bring spirit to your holiday season, the VSO presents three Holiday Pops concerts around the state and four intimate concerts featuring the VSO Brass Quintet alongside Counterpoint, Robert De Cormier's twelve-member chorus. Read on for dates, program, and ticket information.

Holiday Pops: Rejoice!
Robert De Cormier and Dawn Willis, conductors
Indra Thomas, soprano
Peter Hamlin, narrator
VSO Chorus

Friday, December 12, 7:30 p.m.
Barre Opera House, Barre
Tickets through the Barre Opera House online, in person, or by calling (802) 476-8188

Saturday, December 13, 7:30 p.m.
Flynn Center, Burlington
Tickets through the Flynn Regional Box Office online, in person, or by calling (802) 86-FLYNN

Sunday, December 14, 3:00 p.m.
Paramount Theatre, Rutland
Part of the Sunday Matinee Series
Tickets through the Paramount Theatre online, in person, or by calling (802) 775-0903

No choice but to rejoice at the wonderful collection of holiday fare in store on the program! Audiences can look forward to Indra Thomas' gorgeous soprano voice, several of Robert De Cormier's own seasonal arrangements, "Rejoice" by Braintree's Gwyneth Walker, Peter Hamlin's comic narration of "Christmas with Mr. Grump," excerpts from Handel's Messiah, and much more.

DE CORMIER, arr. Glory and Honor
STOOKEY/DE CORMIER, arr. O Come O Come Emmanuel
ANDERSON/PARSHLEY, arr. Three Carols for Brass
JOHN JACOB NILES/DE CORMIER, arr. I Wonder as I Wander
PETER HAMLIN Christmas with Mr. Grump
WILCOX, arr. Carol Sing Along
GWYNETH WALKER Rejoice
J.S. PIERPOINT/PUNWAR, arr. Tintinabulations
DONALD FRASER The Christmas Symphony
HANDEL Excerpts from Messiah


VSO Holiday Brass Quintet with Counterpoint
Roger Grow, conductor

Thursday, December 18, 7:30 p.m.
Warren United Church, Warren
Tickets are free, but required for entry. They will be available beginning December 1 at the Bradley House in Warren.

Friday, December 19, 7:30 p.m.
Brandon Congregational Church, Brandon
Tickets are available beginning December 1 at the Briggs Carriage Bookstore in Brandon. Adults $18; Seniors, students and AARP members $15

Saturday, December 20, 5:00 p.m.
The White Church, Grafton
Tickets are free, but required for entry. They will be available beginning December 1 at the Grafton Grocery Market in Grafton.

Sunday, December 21, 4:00 p.m.
First Congregational Church, Manchester
Tickets are available beginning December 1 at Northshire Bookstore in Manchester. Adults $18; Seniors, students and AARP members $15

For more information on these or any of our concerts, please call the VSO Office at (800) VSO-9293, x 10, or visit www.vso.org.
Keep reading!

The VSO and the Young Writers Project...a dream come true

This past weekend, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra toured with its annual Holiday Pops concert to three communities around the state: Barre, Burlington, and Rutland. "Suite Dreams" was the program theme this year and, among the holiday classics we all know and love, it explored music inspired by dreams. In conjunction with the Young Writers Project, shephered by Geoff Gevalt, poems were solicited from young writers that evoked winter imagery, namely that of ice skating, to lead into a performance of Waldteufel's "The Skater's Waltz."

Here are the six winning poems:

“Skater’s Waltz”
by Kestrel Grevatt
Charlotte Central School, Grade 6

Skating fast,
Up,
Then down,
Revolving,
Spiraling,
On the spot.
My dream goes
On,
And on,
And on.
Skating in circles,
Stopping,
Starting,
Whirling,
Twirling,
On ice.
My dream goes
On,
And on,
And on.
Gathering speed,
Slowing,
Leaping,
Turning,
Jumping
Grazing the ice.
My dream goes
On,
And on,
And on.
I am skating,
Jumping,
Spinning,
In air,
On ice,
In my
Dream.


"The Skater's Waltz"
by Hannah Domas
Rochester High School, Grade 9

"Sweet dreams Mom," I say.
"Sweet dreams," she answers back.
I lie in my bed,
with the covers tucked around me tight.
Slowly, I look around my room--
At the ceiling,
with the small chip in it,
right above my bed,
At the old white desk in the corner.
Then I look out the window.
The dark, cloudy night sky
drapes everything in shadow.
Just then, the gray clouds part
and the moon is revealed,
The face scarred with craters,
like an old battle-worn soldier.
A glistening shine catches my eye:
The willow pond,
with its frozen surface,
dazzles in the moonlight.
And suddenly I'm not in my cozy bed,
but out on the ice,
with snowflakes whirling around me.
I look down and find that I have skates on my feet,
their sharp blades shining brightly.
I do a few laps,
just to warm up.
Then I take my pose,
in the middle of the ice.
I hold my breath, waiting.
The music starts.
The French horn sounds slowly,
Four long notes,
and still I wait.
Then the flutes come in,
going up the scale,
like twittering birds.
And the violins answer,
going down the scale.
Then the violins and flutes repeat,
getting faster and faster,
until the two are merged.
They abruptly end,
the drum and cymbal crashing together.
And I'm off as the French horn sounds again,
Gliding to the long, deep, crisp notes,
I'm barely touching the ice at all,
floating above the surface.


“Weightless”
by Eleanor Blake
Charlotte Central School, Grade 5

You are weightless,
gliding along
glasslike
delicacy.
Your body has
drifted to an
abandoned path--
just your soul
is left.
The world around you
is wearing a coat,
a white blanket,
that seems to be
worth gold.
A feeling is thrust
upon you--
Thousands of
pounds of joy.
Bells sing,
harmonies melt.
The world
has stopped.
But the beat
of your heart
is fast,
so alive.
Finally
your skates are off
your body
was found
the world has started again.
You are left
abandoned,
abandoned
without your skates
any more.


“The Skating Pond”
by Bethany Sullivan
Mt. Mansfield Union H.S., Grade 11

Snowflakes melt into droplets
Suspended on the wool fibers
Of red mittens.
Stinging fingers buried inside
Grasp at another mittened hand.
A blue glove pats the girl’s back--
She’s never been skating before.
But the boy strides backwards,
Arm extending as he tugs her after him,
Coaxing, a laugh in every syllable.

She follows, catches on,
And soon stands on sturdy legs,
Taking ambitious strokes.
Snowflakes pirouette from a young, gray sky;
The sun seeps behind the mountains,
Pooling on the horizon
Like melted butter
On Christmas morning pancakes;
Snow, like confectioner’s sugar,
Collecting in the boy’s hair
As he skates in strong strokes,
Both laughing out
Gingerbread-house laughs,
Breath misty on the lively, crisp air.

Carnival colors, captive
In strings of lights,
Twine around the pond,
Glowing like candles,
Flames of joy vibrant
Against the twilight sky
Sprinkling forth its dusting of flakes,
Tumbling past eyelashes
And rosy cheeks,
Past tight-bound, sharp skates
Cutting into smooth ice,
Leaving a trail of shavings.

Red mitten releases blue glove
As the girl attempts a spin
But tumbles, coming down hard
To the smooth, shining surface,
Cold through her pants.
As she sings out with laughter
He gives his hand
And they skate on
Through the sparkle of the evening
Light
As the soaring pair,
In close-wrapped scarves
Knit by grandmothers in far-off rocking chairs,
Light as the joyful chimes
In a bright winter waltz,
Clear like sharp January stars
Light
As bursts of happy color
Clustered in the patterns
Of warm sweaters,
And spread through the evergreens
Delicately laced with snow.
Floating like a feather
In soft chickadee shades
It drifts gently,
Close to home,
But not quite touching
Earth.


“Skater’s Dream”
by Colleen Shouldice
Mount St. Joesph’s Academy, Grade 9

My window is open.
I wake up smelling the clean crisp air all around me.
I put on my sweat pants and sweatshirt,
Grab my skates and I am out the door.
I run to the pond,
I lace up my skates--
Making sure they do not break--
I race all around till I am warm,
I grab my stick.
All of a sudden the pond turns into an arena,
Fans cheering!
Crowd-pleasing,
I feel great.
Then I hear a ringing.
I think to myself, oh, it’s time for the zamboni.
Then I hear, “Colleen, time to get up!”
I realize it was only a dream.


Among Stars
by Cally Braun
Charlotte Central School, Grade 6

My skates
Glide over
The ice,
Weaving patterns.
Twirl, twist, turn.
I am lifted into
The air.
My feet,
Still dancing,
Dashing through
The swirling clouds.
Blades flashing silver,
I catch a glimpse
Of white wings
Flying majestically
Through the night.
Twirl, twist, turn.
Melodies ride
On the wind.
Humming,
I am spinning
Through time
Among the stars
Sprinkled
Across the sky.
Twirl, twist, turn.
I have
Unlocked
The door
To happiness--
I am skating.
Twirl, twist, turn.

Keep reading!

The VSO asks its Holiday Pops guests five questions

“Suite Dreams” is the title of this year’s holiday program, hosted by VSO chorus member and psychiatrist John Helzer. A tongue-in-cheek look at dreams and music inspired by dreams includes excerpts from Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kije, the Nutcracker, and more. Katie Jordan, French horn, is the featured youth soloist, and Anthony Princiotti conducts. Here are interviews with John and Katie.

Dr. Helzer is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont School of Medicine and is Director of the Health Behavior Research Center. His early career was at Washington University in St. Louis, but he loves the mountains and has a passion for skiing, so the marriage to Missouri didn’t last. His other non-academic interests include food and wine, tennis, and music. He sings with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus and other local choral groups, and is a member of the VSO’s Champlain Valley Board of Trustees. He lives in Charlotte.

VSO: What is something your colleagues don't know about you?
JH: That I own Switzerland.
VSO: Do you have a pre-performance ritual? How do you deal with nerves?
JH: As a singer, my only rituals are to hydrate like crazy (resulting in frequent trips to the men's room) and bring a pocketful of Halls Mentholyptus to the performance. The way I deal with nerves is to perform only in ensembles rather than solo so that nerves aren't a problem. When I played trumpet in school I got terrific performance anxiety before solo recitals resulting in dry mouth making it very hard to play the trumpet! I greatly admire Katie Jordan playing her concerto on stage, but I wouldn't trade places with her for anything! Granted, the VSO Pops will be a solo narration but I'm only reading, and I will have Vermont's best back-up band.
VSO: If you could be Maestro for a day, what would you program?
JH: Dawn Upshaw doing a concert of music by Osvaldo Golilov and staged by Peter Sellars. (One can always afford to THINK big.)
VSO: If you had pursued your love of music as a profession, what do you think you would be doing?
JH: I often have a dream that I get born again but with an adult perspective and a mature love of music. How would I conduct my life? First I'd start violin lessons on a small violin then as my fingers got big enough would start piano lessons. I'd start vocal lessons early and sing in a children's choir. As I got larger, I'd take serious lessons on the cello and continue the piano. If my voice made it through the transition into adulthood, I'd work to become an opera singer. If not, I'd work to become a conductor. If I didn't turn out to be good enough to have an international career, I'd go to medical school. (You said I could have 9 lives, right?)
VSO: What is on your holiday wish list this year?
JH: It's a special gift for my wife, but I can't tell you what it is because she might read this.

Katie Jordan began playing the French horn in 4th grade at Mater Christi School in Burlington, where she studied with Barbara Heath. She has been involved with the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association for seven years, and is currently principal horn in the VYO. Since fall of 1999, she has studied privately horn with Alan Parshley and piano with Paul Orgel.

In September 2007, Katie appeared as a soloist with the Vermont Youth Orchestra, and on NPR’s “From the Top,” which was recorded in Randolph for a December 2007 broadcast. She participated in the 2007 MENC Eastern Division Honors Band in Hartford, Connecticut. She has been the principal horn of the New England Music Festival Orchestra for two years and Vermont All-State Music Festival orchestras for three years. Katie won second place at this year’s Vermont Young Musicians Award Competition in Waitsfield. She also won scholarships at the 2005 and 2006 Vermont All-State Festivals, and won the Northeastern Horn Workshop High School competition in March 2006. For the past two summers, she has been invited to participate in the National Symphony Orchestra’s Summer Music Institute at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. During the summer of 2005, she participated in the Atlantic Brass Quintet Seminar at Boston College.

A high honors student, Katie is a senior at Vergennes Union High School where she participates in concert, marching and jazz bands, under the leadership of Susan O'Daniel, and the chorus and select chorus, under the direction of Karen Jordan. She also accompanies the middle and high school choruses. Katie performed the roles of Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance and the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz. She is the daughter of Alan and Karen Jordan, and lives with them and her brother, Christopher, in Charlotte, VT.

VSO: Have you experienced a funny, memorable, or shocking concert experience? What happened?
KJ: My most memorable concert experience occurred my freshman year of high school. The Vermont Youth Orchestra traveled to New York City and performed in Carnegie Hall. I had the chance to play principal for the concert.
VSO: Do you have a pre-performance ritual? How do you deal with nerves?
KJ: I try to complete breathing exercises before a performance and avoid eating anything. The nerves recede after a while.
VSO: If you could be Maestro for a day, what would you program?
KJ: I'd program a reading session of the Strauss tone poems...of course we'd have to switch out musicians due to the taxing nature of the pieces.
VSO: If you weren't on the road to becoming a professional musician, what do you think you'd be doing?
KJ: I'd probably be reading novels and acting in plays. I love to perform in musicals.
VSO: What is on your holiday wish list?
KJ: I haven't composed my wish list yet, however, I imagine it will include some lovely Hetman lubricants for my instrument. Keep reading!

Win this dollhouse for as little as $1!

Don't miss our special holiday raffle! Win this beautiful Victorian-style dollhouse crafted by Dr. Jim Stackpole of Burlington. Valued at $1,000, it could be yours this holiday season for as little as $1. It's the perfect gift to bring magic into your special little one's holiday this year. Tickets will ONLY be sold during three VSO presentations: the Saturday, December 1 Masterworks concert at the Flynn Center in Burlington, the Friday, December 7 Holiday Pops concert at the Barre Opera House, and the Saturday, December 8 Holiday Pops concert at the Flynn Center in Burlington. Raffle tickets are only $1 or get 6 tickets for $5. Good luck and happy holidays from all of us here at the VSO! Keep reading!