Conceived by Montpelier music educator and Music-COMP board member Hilary Goldblatt, Essential Music for Essential Workers is a project that allows our young composers to honor essential workers in their community and connect with others virtually through music. Our students are writing new pieces to share with essential workers all over Vermont, and additional music will be added to this page as we bring those works to life.
"The idea for this project came in May of 2020, amidst complete lockdown when the phrase "essential worker" was still new. It struck me that there is also something deeply essential for artists: continuing to share their work and uplift others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, school resumed in-person this academic year, and composition is an anchor in my teaching. Over time, students build trust in their own voices and develop skills in writing original music. Montpelier High School orchestra students worked with a professional composer and Music-COMP mentor Erik Nielsen via GoogleMeet to get individualized composition advice. Their task was to honor essential workers through music composition. In November 2020, local professional musicians recorded the new works. In these trying times, my students and I have found music essential and hope you will find joy in "Essential Music for Vermont."
-Hilary Goldblatt, Montpelier VT
Essential Music by Montpelier Students
In the video, you can see each student from Montpelier introduce their new work and then listen to a performance by Alison Cerutti, Elizabeth Reid, Michael Close, and Matt LaRocca.
0:03 Alex Brush
1:37 Callum Robechek
4:31 Chase Ehrlich
8:08 Estherline Carlson
9:37 Helen Cressy
13:11 Jamie Maddox White
16:37 Kassiani Austin
18:47 Lillian Boutin
20:48 Zach Henningsen
Michael Close, Alison Cerutti, Elizabeth Reid, and Matt LaRocca performing new works at Monteverdi Music School