Friday, July 24, 2009

Farewell, Adieu, Auf Wiedersehen, Goodbye!

<---(final bows at the VYO "bon voyage" concert on July 3rd, at the Flynn)

When the Elley-Long Music Center opens its doors tomorrow afternoon, it will be for an occasion that actually marks a closure of sorts.

Troy Peters has been the Vermont Youth Orchestra's Music Director for the last 14 years. In that time he's also earned a solid reputation for himself as a composer, worked with the Vermont Mozart Festival and the Opera Company of Middlebury, and he's led the Middlebury College Orchestra in several successful seasons of music.

The VYO recently completed their tour of Québec City and France on a somewhat bittersweet note, knowing that the end of the tour also meant the end of Troy's chapter with them. If you followed the group's tour progress on the VYO blog (or if you're one of Troy's 900+ facebook friends!) you probably enjoyed the frequent - and frequently funny! - updates as much as I did. They also give some insight to the great care he brings to his work.

Apart from his deep professional roots in the community, Troy has also become a good friend through his work here as VPR Classical's alternate opera host.

We spent many Saturday afternoons together during opera fundraisers, sharing stories and anecdotes about favorite performers and recordings. Last March when Troy's 40th birthday happened to fall during the winter fundraiser, we celebrated with a glorious, giant, lit-up cookie. All of the phone volunteers joined in the "happy birthday" chorus for Troy at the end of the day!

Most of all, Troy has shared with me and the rest of the staff a deep, personal appreciation for the art of music and the public radio that makes it available for everyone to enjoy. We'll miss that.

Tomorrow's farewell reception at Elley-Long is an open event, I hope to see you there.

In any case please join me on behalf of us all at VPR in wishing Troy, Anne, Max and Sophie the very best with their new lives as they move on to San Antonio in a couple of weeks...y'all!

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What: Farewell Reception for VYOA Music Director Troy Peters
When: Saturday, July 25 from 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Where: Elley-Long Music Center at Saint Michael’s College
Live music, light refreshments, photos from the VYO’s tour of Québec & France.
Free, casual, family-friendly.
Information: 802-655-5030 or VYO.org

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