Touring Group Winter Update
Living Traditions, YTV Eliza West Living Traditions, YTV Eliza West

Touring Group Winter Update

The Young Tradition Touring Group wrapped up rehearsals at the Montpelier Performing Arts Hub in January, grateful for such a welcoming space.  Beyond learning the repertoire, rehearsal highlights included a basement sing-along of holiday favorites, many improvisational moves on the dance floor, frisbee out on the lawn, and a hilarious full-group game of rock paper scissors evolution-style. Think crouching like an egg, flapping like a chicken, and making T-Rex dino arms—sadly there is no photographic evidence!

Read More
Touring Group Fall Update
Living Traditions, YTV Eliza West Living Traditions, YTV Eliza West

Touring Group Fall Update

Beginning in September and continuing through December, one Saturday a month Touring Group musicians travelled to the Montpelier Performing Arts Hub to make music and friends while rehearsing this season’s repertoire.  A lucky few aren’t traveling far this fall as they live right in the Montpelier area, but some come from quite a ways to participate - from Brattleboro to Burlington and as far away as Maine.  That’s a lot of mountains crossed to get to rehearsals!  Group members are ages twelve to eighteen and play fiddle, 5-string banjo, harp, ukulele, guitar, and keyboard.  They all sing, too!    

Read More
Touring Group Fall Update!
Living Traditions Eliza West Living Traditions Eliza West

Touring Group Fall Update!

The 2023-2024 Touring Group had two terrific rehearsals this fall, spending time together learning new tunes, singing in French, and getting to know each other.  Artist Leader Pascal Gemme taught a tune, Le Brandy, and a song, De terre en vigne (la voilà la jolie vigne!) and the Youth Artist Leaders have introduced their sets. 

Read More
Scenes from Trad Camp
Living Traditions Eliza West Living Traditions Eliza West

Scenes from Trad Camp

We had a fabulous time running Trad Camp the last week in July! The camp, which is a longstanding Young Tradition Vermont program, took place in downtown Burlington with three dozen camper an many fabulous instructors and guest artists! Below are some scenes from each day of camp!

Read More
2023 Touring Group Auditions
Living Traditions Eliza West Living Traditions Eliza West

2023 Touring Group Auditions

Auditions are now open for the the Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group’s 2023-24 season. This year, the Touring Group season begins in September with an online orientation, followed by regular in-person rehearsals and performances in Vermont, and ends in June 2024 with a tour to Quebec.  Touring Group members learn from and are supported by artist leaders and guest expert musicians and dancers throughout the season, as well as sharing in musical exchanges with expert artists and young musicians and dancers while on tour. 

Read More
A hello from Ian, New YTV Director 
Living Traditions Eliza West Living Traditions Eliza West

A hello from Ian, New YTV Director 

To all invested in Young Tradition Vermont,

I’m Ian Drury and I have been hired as the Director of Young Tradition Vermont at Vermont Folklife. I am honored to be working alongside Mark Sustic for the next 5 months as I learn from the master-of-all-things YTV to ensure the continued success and growth of Young Tradition Vermont. I have known Mark for most of my life, having worked with him on education related projects and playing music with him at our family's soirees from when I was a kid through today.

Read More