Vermont Fiddle Orchestra performs Dec. 4 at Barre Opera House

Nov. 23, 2021  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

The Vermont Fiddle Orchestra rehearses at the Barre Opera House ahead of its 2019 spring concert. The orchestra returns to the BOH stage with a performance Dec. 4. Courtesy photo

The Vermont Fiddle Orchestra will present its first live concert in two years Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Barre Opera House. 

The orchestra will perform a variety of Northeast American and Northern European traditional tunes starting at 7 p.m. before a live audience. 

The concert marks the debut of director Peter MacFarlane, who has been musical director for the past two years. The orchestra will share music learned virtually at home over the past two years as MacFarlane from his studio in Vergennes has conducted rehearsals via Zoom with more than 50 musicians. Recent rehearsals have moved to in-person at the Capital City Grange in Montpelier.

The concert program features a waltz written by MacFarlane as well as two pieces written by the orchestra’s previous director, David Kaynor, who recently passed away from ALS. 

The Dec. 4 concert will have COVID-19 precautions in place. Concertgoers will need to show proof of vaccination, wear masks, and be seated in pods. The Barre Opera House also has a new ventilation system that was installed as part of recent renovations. 

Orchestra members are looking forward to sharing music together in person with an audience.  

Admission is by donation. More information is online at vermontfiddleorchestra.org; or email info@vermontfiddleorchestra.org.