Vermont Fiddle Orchestra Celebrates 20 Years by Honoring Current and Past Directors

On December 2 the VFO will perform its 20th Anniversary Concert at the Barre Opera House at 7 pm. Traditional music that makes you want to dance and sing is uplifting and uniting, especially in times of hardship. Admission is by donation with proceeds going to Barre and Montpelier Flood Relief.

Sarah Hotchkiss, who started the VFO, the first statewide fiddle orchestra, will be the guest soloist. She will be accompanied by her husband, John Mowad, who composed the tunes they will play with the orchestra, including "Veefer Swing #2" which he wrote for the orchestra's 10th anniversary. John and Sarah are now semi-retired and continue to teach private lessons at their home in Winooski.

The orchestra will also honor its previous director, David Kaynor, by performing several of his tunes. David took over when Sarah retired in 2013, helping to grow the orchestra to approximately 50 active musicians at any one time and developed members' interests in Swedish music and in playing by ear. Susan Reid joined the orchestra soon after David, her friend and mentor, became the orchestra's musical director. When his health made it harder for David to always lead the orchestra, Susan stepped up as Assistant Music Director, making it possible for the VFO to continue benefitting from David's amazing musicianship and mentorship until the end of 2019. The concert will feature 3 lively tunes composed by Susan as well, including an aptly named walking tune "Warm in Winter".

Peter Macfarlane was so appreciated as the VFO guest artist in 2019 that he was asked to be the Music Director in 2020. His good humor and technical abilities with zoom kept the orchestra together virtually during the Covid pandemic until we could play together again. The orchestra has honed its repertoire of English Country Dance and Scottish tunes under his leadership. Peter teaches fiddle from his home in Addison County and drives to Montpelier weekly to lead rehearsals at the Grange. He plays in Atlantic Crossing and builds and paddles wooden canoes! The orchestra will play several of Peter's compositions and he has written a Rag for the orchestra's 20th Anniversary Concert entitled "To Twenty More".

For more information visit: www.vermontfiddleorchestra.org.

Event Info

Sep 9, 2024, 6 PM

Sep 14, 2024, 10 to 11 AM

Sep 14, 2024, 10 AM to 3 PM