Vermont Philharmonic winter concerts feature star musicians Feb. 11-12

Jan. 26, 2022  | By Waterbury Roundabout 

The Vermont Philharmonic celebrates Vermont musical talent in a pair of concerts entitled “Stars of Winter '' on Feb. 11-12 at St. Michael’s College and the Barre Opera House. 

The performances feature a gifted young Burlington pianist and a celebrated trio with conductor and music director Lou Kosma. 

Pianist and Burlington High School senior Laura Zhou-Hackett pianist and Burlington High School senior Laura Zhou-Hackett,

Performing with the orchestra is pianist and Burlington High School senior Laura Zhou-Hackett, who won the 2023 Jon Borowicz Memorial Scholarship Competition. She will perform the lyrical “Adiago” from Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto in D minor, op.40.

Laura studies with Paul Orgel and is active in the Vermont Youth Orchestra, the St. Paul's Cathedral Young Artist Recital, and the Vermont All-State Music Festival. She also plays piano for the Faith United Methodist Church in South Burlington.

The second half of the program is devoted to Beethoven’s spectacular Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano, Opus 56 – referred to as the “Triple Concerto” – and performed by the Vermont Philharmonic with the world-class Champlain Trio. Philharmonic audiences know the trio’s violinist Letitia Quante as the orchestra’s inspiring concertmaster and may remember cellist Emily Taubl’s remarkable performance of Dvorak’s Cello Concerto in 2019. Fans of Vermont chamber music will recognize pianist Hiromi Fukuda who is an artist-faculty member of the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival. 

Violinist Letitia Quante, cellist Emily Taubl, and pianist Hiromi Fukuda perform as the Champlain Trio with the Vermont Philharmonic Feb. 11-12. Courtesy photo

All three musicians have earned degrees from distinguished conservatories and are involved with musical institutions such as the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Amherst College, and the University of Vermont.

The program opens with Aaron’s Copland’s colorful “Outdoor Overture,” followed by “Serenade for Winds” by Richard Strauss. 

Performances are Saturday, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Elley-Long Music Center at St. Michael’s College; and Sunday, Feb.12, at 2 p.m. at the Barre Opera House. Tickets: $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $5 for students. Purchase in advance online at vermontphilharmonic.com or at the door.  

Vermont’s oldest community orchestra, the Vermont Philharmonic is in its 64th season, making music since 1959.  

Correction: This post was updated with the corrected name of the piece Zhou-Hackett will perform.