Vermont Philharmonic presents ‘Heritage in Harmony’ Feb. 21-22; family concert March 8
February 10, 2026 | By Waterbury RoundaboutFeb. 16: This post was updated with information about the March 8 Family Concert, “Journey Through Dance.”
Gwyneth Walker. Photo courtesy of Vermont Philharmonic
The powerful influence of folk tunes and stories takes center stage with the Vermont Philharmonic’s upcoming “Heritage in Harmony” concerts Feb. 21-22 in Colchester and Barre.
The performances are Saturday, Feb. 21, at 4 p.m. at the Elley-Long Music Center at St Michael’s College, and Sunday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. at the Barre Opera House.
Conductor and music director Lou Kosma will lead the orchestra as it performs the New England premiere of “America 250!” The three-movement suite was composed by Gwynneth Walker as part of this year’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Walker took inspiration for this composition from songs depicting colorful and adventurous episodes in American history.
Walker is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music with multiple degrees, including a doctorate in music composition. A former faculty member of the Oberlin College Conservatory, she has pursued a full-time career as a composer since 1982. Walker has more than 400 commissioned works in her catalog across a broad array of genres for orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments, chorus, and solo voice. She received the 2000 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Vermont Arts Council and the 2018 Alfred Nash Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award from Choral Arts New England. Now residing in New Canaan, Connecticut, Walker previously lived for nearly 30 years in Braintree, Vermont.
Felix Haskins. Photo courtesy of Vermont Philharmonic
The ‘Heritage in Harmony’ concert program opens with Antonín Dvořák’s “Bagatelles, op 47,” in an arrangement for winds, cello and bass. Hungarian folk tales are the backdrop of Zoltan Kodaly’s “Hary Janos Suite” from his opera of that name.
The concerts will also feature young cellist Felix Haskins of Westport, New York. The winner of the 2026 Jon Borowicz Memorial Scholarship Competition, Haskins will perform Saint-Seans’ “Cello Concerto No.1, op. 33.”
At age 15, Haskins is already the assistant principal of the Vermont Youth Orchestra. Haskins began improvising on a variety of instruments from a very young age, and he’s participated in programs with the Depot Theatre in Westport as both an actor and a pit musician. He studied chamber music intensively at the Kinhaven Music School’s inaugural Fall 2025 program.
Tickets: Adults, $25; seniors, $20 for seniors; free for students, thanks to a sponsor’s donation. Get advance tickets online at vermontphilharmonic.com or at the door.
The Vermont Philharmonic is celebrating its 67th season of sharing classical music in Northern and Central Vermont.
March 8: Family Concert, ‘Journey Through Dance’
Waltzes and tangos, minuets and gavottes – the Vermont Philharmonic’s annual Family Concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, presents “Journey through Dance,” with music by J.S. Bach, Offenbach, Prokofiev, Handel, Tchaikovsky, and more.
Conducted by Lou Kosma, the annual concert at the Barre Opera House is a family favorite. Audiences will recognize Offenbach’s “Can-Can,” Khachaturian’s “Masquerade Waltz,” and Angel Villoldo’s “Kiss of Fire” tango, among others.
Harwood freshman musician Grayson Eley. Courtesy photo
The program also two special new works. Composer Michael Close wrote “North Star” for virtuoso violist Elizabeth Reid, who will be performing it at the concert. Close is a cellist and music educator living in Worcester and the senior composer-mentor at Music-Comp, the nonprofit that works with Vermont music students and professional musicians in composing and arranging music.
Harwood Union High School freshman Grayson Eley has enjoyed participating in Music-Comp for three years. His piece titled “Homecoming,” celebrating that special place of physical or mental welcome called “home,” is on the concert program.
Tickets: $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $5 for students; available online at vermontphilharmonic.com or at the door. Sponsored by Passumpsic Bank of St. Johnsbury.