The UVM Program in Music is enriched by the extensive professional activities of its faculty beyond the university. Faculty members are actively engaged in performing ensembles, research, and creative projects at the regional, national, and international levels, bringing real-world artistic practice and scholarly work directly into the life of the program.
Faculty Music Ensembles
the Awakening Orchestra
Kyle Saulnier
A dynamic New York-based ensemble that blends avant-garde jazz, classical music, and indie rock into a ‘post-modern third stream’ sound lauded by Downbeat as “a great American songbook of another order.” The ensemble has released three albums to date.
The Burlington Film and Stage Music Orchestra
Yutaka Kono, Music Director
The Burlington Film and Stage Music Orchestra is a community-based ensemble dedicated to performing music from film, television, video games, and the stage. Bringing together passionate local musicians, the orchestra presents engaging, high-quality concerts that celebrate the power of music in visual storytelling.
Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra
Matt LaRocca, Music Director
A community orchestra that is the resident orchestra of the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. The CPO performs regularly in Middlebury and Rutland.
The Champlain Trio
Emily Taubl, cello
The Champlain Trio is a professional piano trio based in Vermont, known for its dynamic performances and commitment to chamber music education and outreach. Active throughout New England and beyond, the ensemble presents innovative programs that connect classical repertoire with underrepresented voices and contemporary audiences.
Freeway Clyde
Matt LaRocca, Electric Viola
Michael Chorney’s Freeway Clyde is an electric, omni-genre, seven-piece ensemble that creates something fresh — soundtracks for films that have never been made. Vintage synthesizers, electric strings, horns, viola and deep rhythm combine for a timeless sound that is a universe of collective improvisation and infinite soundscapes.
Jazz Generation
Robert Duguay, Chief Operating Officer
Jazz Generation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to high-quality arts in diverse neighborhoods. Through its three core programs, Jazz Generation works to keep musicians employed regularly with more equitable pay, while cultivating the next generation of musicians and audiences.
MetalWerx
Yutaka Kono, Tuba
MetalWerx is a tuba/euphonium quartet founded in 2013. The quartet seeks to expand the repertoire and reputation of tuba/euphonium literature by commissioning new works, arranging existing music for this instrumentation, and collaborating with common but unusual instrumentalists and singers. They seek to expose and educate the general public about the wide range of sonorities possible with this instrumentation.
the Mischievists,
Kyle Saulnier and Andy Gagnon (UVM Alumnus)
the Mischievists, are drummer Andy Gagnon and multi-instrumentalist Kyle Saulnier, stirring up groove-forward, jazz-adjacent chaos with a rotating crew of co-conspirators. Bold, spontaneous, and a little mischievous – this is improvised music that plays hard and colors way outside the lines.
Music Explorers
Robert Duguay, Host and Leader
Music Explorers is a weekly family program in New York City. Held every Sunday, the series invites “kids ages 0–100” to discover the wonders of jazz and its many styles in an engaging, welcoming environment.
The Orchestra of Central Tokyo
Yutaka Kono, Music Director
The Orchestra of Central Tokyo is a professional symphony orchestra bringing together accomplished musicians from across the Tokyo area. The ensemble is dedicated to presenting works by American composers, with a special focus on those from Vermont, alongside standard repertoire, fostering cultural exchange through high-level performances and international collaboration.
thèriot
Kyle Saulnier, Matt LaRocca and Dan Ryan (UVM alumnus)
thèriot is the alter-ego of composer and musician Kyle Saulnier, leading an eclectic ensemble performing a jazz-adjacent combination of intricate arrangements with free-flow improvisation and soundscape. The project’s first album, the Other., will be released in Summer 2026.
Skylark
Jane Kittredge, violin, with Ana Ruesink, viola
Skylark is an eclectic contemporary string ensemble based in northern Vermont. With decades of experience in the professional music community, Skylark’s sound and repertoire challenge the boundaries between the classical and folk traditions, creating innovative and original works for all audiences. Influenced by the Nordic, Celtic and American regions, Skylark’s music is melody-driven with unique energy, irresistible flair and undeniable beauty.
soft rocks
Kyle Saulnier, Matt LaRocca, and Julian Barnett (dance)
soft rocks is an experimental, improvisation-based movement and sound collective, blending live music with dance and performing in unique indoor and outdoor spaces in Vermont for an immersive experience.
Songevity
Robert Duguay, Leader and Bass
Songevity is an ensemble dedicated to creating lasting live musical experiences with the public. The group recently performed in Mexico City, presenting a special program featuring an expanded lineup with added string players.
Vermont Symphony Orchestra
Jane Kittridge, Violin
Yutaka Kono, Member of the Board of Directors
Matt LaRocca, Artistic Advisor and Special Projects Conductor
Ana Ruesink, Viola
D. Thomas Toner, Principal Percussion
The Vermont Symphony Orchestra (est. 1934) is one of nation’s oldest state-assisted orchestras with 40-50 annual performances statewide in concert halls, beautiful natural settings, and other more non-traditional venues such as breweries.
The Vermont Youth Philharmonia
Yutaka Kono, Conductor
A part of the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association (VYOA), Vermont Youth Philharmonia offers young musicians their first full symphony orchestra experience. Performing a diverse range of orchestral repertoire, the ensemble provides comprehensive training with winds, brass, and percussion, preparing students for musical growth and advancement within VYOA.
Faculty Projects and Research
Andrea Maas
At a Breaking Point: The Impact of Workload on Mental Health in Music Education Majors
This IRB-approved original research study, currently in the data analysis stage, examines the relationship between workload and wellness among undergraduate music education majors at NASM-accredited institutions. Conducted in collaboration with colleagues from Washington State University and the University of Southern Mississippi, the study builds on Maas et al. (2023), with findings to be disseminated through national and international conferences and peer-reviewed publications.