By James Kent
RUTLAND — Students at three Rutland-area schools will get a firsthand look—and listen—at the joy of live music when the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s Musicians in Schools program visits Rutland Northeast Primary School, Rutland Northwest Primary School, and Rutland Intermediate School on Friday, April 18.
These special performances will feature the VSO’s brass trio as part of the orchestra’s statewide education outreach program designed to inspire young learners through the power of music. Each show blends musical performance, instrument demonstrations, audience participation, and narration that ties directly into STEM principles—offering a fun, educational experience designed especially for students in grades K-6.
“It’s an educational program that mixes musical performance with how instruments work,” said Elise Brunelle, executive director of the VSO. “The focus is on combining the science of music to highlight STEM principles, like physics and math.”
Brunelle, who joined the VSO in 2020 after 17 years as managing director of Cape Town Opera in South Africa, will lead the VSO in celebrating its 90th anniversary this May. Under her direction, the Musicians in Schools program has expanded to reach more than 2,500 students annually and will grow even further in 2025.
The VSO sends out three different ensembles—brass, woodwinds, and strings—each joined by a narrator or actor who helps tie the music into fun storytelling. April’s Rutland visit will feature the brass trio, including trombonist Bear Irwin, trumpeter Glendon Ingalls, and French horn player Ron Wold.
“We call it brass, but lip reed is the real name,” said Irwin, who retired from teaching music in Vermont public schools in 2015 and now enjoys bringing his expertise into school gymnasiums and cafeterias across the state. “There’s a lot of STEM designed into it, how the vibrations work, and the change of tone and pitch.”
Irwin, who once served as band director at Rutland Town School, emphasizes the sincerity and enthusiasm he sees in young audiences. “The students are so genuine. There is no pretense there,” he said. “I don’t think one could be reasonably successful in education in public schools without having a good time with young people.”
Students can expect to hear familiar tunes like “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “Amazing Grace,” “Over the Rainbow,” and the “Star Wars” cantina band theme while learning about the mechanics of instruments and how sound is created.
Brunelle said the most rewarding part of these visits is watching children light up with curiosity. “A lot of them have never seen these instruments up close,” she said. “How a flute works or a trombone works—their eyes light up. That’s what I love. And with music programs getting cut at schools, kids don’t always get to experience these instruments. I feel a deep responsibility to share that.”
In addition to the Musicians in Schools program, the VSO provides free concerts for seniors and operates multiple chamber groups like the Jukebox Quartet. “Between concerts and educational programs, we have 90 other events,” Brunelle added. “It’s a good and busy time to be in Rutland County.”
For more information about the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and its education programs, visit: vso.org.
