When Monteverdi Music School (MMS) was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1994, would the founders have imagined such a fine gathering of musicians for a 25th anniversary faculty recital? On Sunday, April 28th at 3:00 p.m. at least 20 professional musicians will gather to present "Music for an April Afternoon." This concert will benefit Montpelier's local arts nonprofit which actually has roots stretching back 35 years. The concert will be held at the Unitarian Church at 130 Main Street and will highlight not only Monteverdi's talented faculty but will also feature Counterpoint, Vermont's professional vocal ensemble, which calls MMS at the Center for Arts and Learning its home base for rehearsals. With such a diverse representation of faculty members performing there will be something for everyone on the program.

Karen Songhurst, board president, says "This concert is key to helping fund our annual fund as well as our scholarship program. We strive to make music education accessible to everyone in the community. We hope the local community will turn out to support their local community music nonprofit's 25 years and celebrate the immense talent in our area." A sample of the faculty on the program include Eliza Thomas playing a Schubert piano Impromptu and Doug Perkins playing a Bach Sonata on guitar. Clarinetist Joni McCraw, pianist Luke Rackers and mezzo soprano Lindsey Warren will perform a selection from VT composer Erik Nielsen's "Until Time Itself…" Guitarist Daniel Gaviria will play La Catedral by Agustin Barrios Mangore.

In addition to the teaching faculty, Counterpoint, directed by Nathaniel Lew, will present selections from their Six Degrees program which is an educational project and musical panorama about the threat of climate change locally and worldwide. The title Six Degrees refers both to the cataclysmic result of the warming of the planet by six degrees Celsius, which would effectively end life on our planet, as well as to the "six degrees of separation" that connect all of humanity.

This year's faculty concert will also have a special reception in honor of the organization's 25th anniversary and to honor Joni McCraw, who is retiring from teaching after 30 years at Monteverdi. Tickets are $20 at the door, $15 for students & seniors, and kids 10 and under are free. MMS is grateful to its sponsor Utton's Automotive for making this concert possible. More information about lessons, events, and space rental can be found at monteverdimusic.org

Dec 20, 2024, 7 to 9 PM

Dec 20, 2024, 8 PM

Dec 21, 2024, 5 to 8 PM