Waltzes and Tangos, Minuets and Gavottes – the Vermont Philharmonic’s annual Family Concert at 2 pm on Sunday March 8th is a Journey through Dance, with music by J.S. Bach, Offenbach, Prokofiev, Handel, Tchaikovsky, and more. Conducted by Lou Kosma, the concert at the Barre Opera House is a family favorite. Audiences will happily recognize Offenbach’s Can-Can, Khachaturian’s Masquerade Waltz, and Angel Villoldo’s Kiss of Fire tango among others.

In addition to the dances, old and new, the program features two special new works. Michael Close’s North Star was written for virtuoso violist Elizabeth Reid, who will be performing the work at the concert. Michael is a cellist and music educator living in Worcester VT, and the senior composer-mentor at Music-Comp, encouraging and supporting students in composing and arranging music. Grayson Eley, a multi-talented freshman at Harwood Union, has enjoyed his participation in Music-Comp for three years. He wrote Homecoming to celebrate that special place of physical or mental welcome we call “home.”

The Vermont Philharmonic is celebrating its sixty-seventh year of making beautiful music in Central Vermont. The concert is sponsored by Passumpsic Bank of St Johnsbury. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, $5 for students. Tickets and information are available at vermontphilharmonic.com or at the door.