The Vermont Symphony Orchestra has announced that music director, internationally acclaimed violinist Jaime Laredo, will continue to serve as artistic leader of the orchestra though the 2013-2014 season. Laredo has led Vermont’s professional orchestra as music director since 1999.
Laredo, a resident of Guilford, is known as one of the greatest violinists and chamber musicians in the world. Over the last five decades he has excelled in the multiple roles of soloist, conductor, recitalist, chamber musician and teacher. The 2011-2012 season marked Laredo’s 70th birthday and his 35th year with his wife, cellist Sharon Robinson, with the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio.
Over the years, Laredo has drawn world-renowned guest soloists to perform in Vermont, including Yo-Yo Ma,André Watts, Leon Fleisher, Lang Lang and Peter Serkin. In the fall of 2011, Laredo released an album with Sharon Robinson entitled “Triple Doubles,” featuring the VSO with three double concertos dedicated to the Duo.
“I am very happy that I will continue to be with the orchestra,” Laredo said. “The VSO is one of the dearest things in my life and I look forward to many more years of wonderful and adventurous music making.”
“Vermont is so fortunate to have Jaime Laredo as a resident and as our musical ambassador,” says VSO executive director Alan Jordan. “He brings the benefit of his great musical talents, his connections to the international music scene, and his warm personality to share with fellow Vermonters. We hope he will continue to share his time and talent with the VSO for many years to come.”
Throughout the year, the VSO fosters appreciation of music in all its various forms, with emphasis on orchestral, choral and chamber music, bringing more than 40 orchestral concerts to venues around the state. Founded in 1935, the VSO is the oldest state-supported orchestra in the country. During the 2010-2011 season, the VSO presented over 200 concerts and programs, reaching nearly 60,000 people statewide. The popular, multi-facetedSymphonyKids educational program reached more than 30,000 Vermont school children this year through 248 performances for 199 different schools serving 168 towns. The VSO raises the common standard of musical education and enjoyment in Vermont, and provides quality programming at reasonable cost for audiences across the state.