Charity & Sylvia Listening Party / Thu Oct 29 / 6PM

Fall Festival 2026: Our Woven History

Summerland: Charity and Sylvia Listening Party

Thursday, October 29th from 6:00 – 7:30PM.

THE PHOENIX GALLERY & MUSIC HALL

5 Stowe Street, Waterbury

How does MUSIC, LOVE, ART, and BUSINESS fit together?
Join the Vermont Humanities Council and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Special Project Conductor and Artistic Director Matt LaRocca for a very special LISTENING PARTY.
You’ll have a chance to hear a commissioned piece built around a unique story such as the Vermont Reads couple.
The composer Clarice Assad based her work upon the historic story of Weybridge couple Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake, taking inspiration from their story and weaving their letters to one another into the music. The piece was premiered by the Brazilian American at the opening concert of the VSO for the 2026-27 season.
We’ll listen to the recording from our September concert, dive into the score, discuss how real-life events can inspire new art, and take an inside look into the commission and composition process.
  • How is music created around a unique story?
  • What does a commission look like?
The free tickets can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/summerland-charity-and-sylvia-listening-party-tickets-1994021829971?aff=oddtdtcreator

About the Speaker

black and white headshot of Matt LaRocca with a lake in the background

Matt LaRocca is a cross-genre composer, performer, and educator who likes making beautiful sounds – you’re just as likely to see him playing with a rock band as conducting an orchestra. He is the Artistic Advisor and Special Project Conductor for the Vermont Symphony Orchestra where he works with all things non-traditional, a professor of composition/theory at the University of Vermont, and the Music Director of the Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra.

LaRocca holds degrees in chemistry and music from Middlebury College and a doctorate in music composition from Boston University. He lives in Waterbury Center with his wife Heather and their three children.
Learn more about Matt here: https://www.mattlarocca.com/