Music composition is alive and well in Vermont schools, thanks to an online mentoring program.
Music-COMP is a non-profit service which brings together music teachers and professional mentors to insure that composition is a part of music class curricula.
Concerts are held several times a year which feature student compositions performed by professional musicians.
Music-COMP’s executive director, Sandi MacLeod, speaks with VPR’s Neal Charnoff about the program. The interview includes a clip from "Summer Fanfare", a piece composed by Ethan Foster and Robin McOwen, sixth graders last year at the Grammar School in Putney. The performers are trumpeter Jason Whitcomb and trombonist Wesley Hopper.
A free concert featuring new student compositions performed by professional Vermont musicians will be presented at the Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester Monday, January 7th at 6:30 p.m.