Craftsbury
Vermont
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Craftsbury Chamber Players
Our History
In 1966 a small number of summer vacationers who summered in Craftsbury and Greensboro wondered wither the talents of several professional musicians who also summered here could be mustered to form a performance ensemble group. So these music lovers 'experimented' with a chamber music concert at Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, which was so successful that the concept was accepted immediately, and an eight-concert season was begun. Later, with the introduction of children’s concerts the number was reduced to six evening concerts per season plus the six children’s ones. At the end of the first season a volunteer board of directors was formed and the new Craftsbury Chamber Players was born. It was incorporated in 1967 and became a not-for-profit, charitable arts organization relying mainly on ticket sales and a few contributions from patrons and friends to fund musicians’ stipends and the project in general.
The high artistic quality of the artists was recognized in the Burlington area and the group received an invitation in the early 1980’s to present their entire season at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Several seasons saw the CCP giving concerts at the Champlain College auditorium. Finally, due to growing audiences, the group moved to the University of Vermont Recital Hall, where they continue to this day.
One of the longest continually-running music festivals
The Craftsbury Chamber Players is now one of the longest, continuously running music festivals in the country and gives us the better of two worlds: the beauty of world-class music in the serenity of our northern Vermont setting. The group features programs for stringed and wind instruments, piano, voice, and harpsichord, giving six weekly evening concerts in both Burlington and Hardwick and in the afternoons of those days, mini-concerts for children. Each concert features the talents of nine (9) performers (on average), meaning that the eight, nine, or ten musicians who play in the evening also perform at the children’s concerts that afternoon. CCP also performs a free pre-season annual concert on the village green in Craftsbury Common in early July. Besides it regular season concerts, CCP has also, in the past, been invited to perform contract concerts in Burke, Waterbury, and Montgomery Center. The enclosed program will indicate the wide variety of musical offerings.
Bringing Music to the Young
CCP has, early on, felt strongly that it should bring musical experience to young people, and free of charge. In addition to children’s concerts, the four-year-old Summer Youth Music Program gives children studying music the rare opportunity to play in an ensemble situation. Some of the young people in our audiences are now becoming musicians in their own right and are setting examples for other children and their parents who wish to broaden their children’s knowledge.
Mini-concerts are an abbreviated version of the regular evening concert, along with instruction appropriate to the age level of those attending. This is a unique way of introducing youngsters to quality music and of involving them in the process. They learn about various instruments, come to know the musicians, and actively participate through a question-and-answer period. The children come to understand recurring themes and learn about different composers.
In 1966 a small number of summer vacationers who summered in Craftsbury and Greensboro wondered wither the talents of several professional musicians who also summered here could be mustered to form a performance ensemble group. So these music lovers 'experimented' with a chamber music concert at Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, which was so successful that the concept was accepted immediately, and an eight-concert season was begun. Later, with the introduction of children’s concerts the number was reduced to six evening concerts per season plus the six children’s ones. At the end of the first season a volunteer board of directors was formed and the new Craftsbury Chamber Players was born. It was incorporated in 1967 and became a not-for-profit, charitable arts organization relying mainly on ticket sales and a few contributions from patrons and friends to fund musicians’ stipends and the project in general.
The high artistic quality of the artists was recognized in the Burlington area and the group received an invitation in the early 1980’s to present their entire season at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Several seasons saw the CCP giving concerts at the Champlain College auditorium. Finally, due to growing audiences, the group moved to the University of Vermont Recital Hall, where they continue to this day.
One of the longest continually-running music festivals
The Craftsbury Chamber Players is now one of the longest, continuously running music festivals in the country and gives us the better of two worlds: the beauty of world-class music in the serenity of our northern Vermont setting. The group features programs for stringed and wind instruments, piano, voice, and harpsichord, giving six weekly evening concerts in both Burlington and Hardwick and in the afternoons of those days, mini-concerts for children. Each concert features the talents of nine (9) performers (on average), meaning that the eight, nine, or ten musicians who play in the evening also perform at the children’s concerts that afternoon. CCP also performs a free pre-season annual concert on the village green in Craftsbury Common in early July. Besides it regular season concerts, CCP has also, in the past, been invited to perform contract concerts in Burke, Waterbury, and Montgomery Center. The enclosed program will indicate the wide variety of musical offerings.
Bringing Music to the Young
CCP has, early on, felt strongly that it should bring musical experience to young people, and free of charge. In addition to children’s concerts, the four-year-old Summer Youth Music Program gives children studying music the rare opportunity to play in an ensemble situation. Some of the young people in our audiences are now becoming musicians in their own right and are setting examples for other children and their parents who wish to broaden their children’s knowledge.
Mini-concerts are an abbreviated version of the regular evening concert, along with instruction appropriate to the age level of those attending. This is a unique way of introducing youngsters to quality music and of involving them in the process. They learn about various instruments, come to know the musicians, and actively participate through a question-and-answer period. The children come to understand recurring themes and learn about different composers.