Vermont Philharmonic appoints an assistant conductor

October 14, 2025  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

The Vermont Philharmonic has announced the appointment of a new assistant conductor.

Kyle Casazza, PhD, will work closely with longtime Music Director Lou Kosma on both administrative and artistic duties, including planning programs, interpreting music, musician rehearsals and community outreach.

A veteran performer, teacher, and conductor from Texas now residing in Vermont, Casazza is the Director of Music at the Georgia School in Georgia, Vermont, directing its instrumental and choral music programs. 

Critically acclaimed as a trombonist with Casazza has performed throughout the world. He is currently a trombonist in the Vermont Philharmonic, third trombonist with the Vermont Jazz Ensemble, and a member of the Vermont All-Star Salsa Band, Alma Picante. Prior to coming to Vermont, he spent 17 seasons as second trombonist of the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra and performed for over a decade with the Lone Star Wind Orchestra.
Casazza had teaching roles at both the collegiate and public-school levels in Texas, where his award-winning bands were nationally recognized. His low brass students have regularly been named to the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Bands and Orchestras.
Casazza holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the University of North Texas, where he studied trombone with Tony Baker and Vern Kagarcice, as well as conducting with Eugene Migliaro Corporon and Dennis Fisher. 

While at the University of North Texas, Casazza performed with the internationally celebrated Wind Symphony and can be heard on numerous GIA Publications Windworks and Teaching Music Through Performance in Band recordings. He has claimed top prizes in the International Trombone Association Frank Smith Solo and Lewis Van Haney Tenor Trombone Philharmonic competitions, and the Division III Tenor Trombone Competition in the U.S. Army Band Pershing’s Own Eastern Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C.
Now in its 67th Season, the Vermont Philharmonic consists of more than 60 professional and amateur musicians. It is Vermont’s oldest community orchestra, founded in 1959 by Jon Borowicz, emeritus professor of music at Norwich University. Since 1993, it has been based at the Barre Opera House and Kosma has led the orchestra since 1999. 

The Vermont Philharmonic has concerts scheduled this weekend, Oct.18-19, in Greensboro on Saturday and in Barre on Sunday. Read more here.