Colchester, VT — The Vermont Youth Orchestra Association will hold annual auditions for their orchestras and choruses from April 30-May 24 at the Elley-Long Music Center at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester. New students interested in playing music or singing with one of the VYOA orchestras or choruses are encouraged to audition at this time.

Colchester, VT – The Vermont Youth Orchestra, Vermont Youth Philharmonia, Vermont Youth Sinfonia, Vermont Youth Strings and the VYO Chorus will “hit the road” during the months of March and April as a part of the highly anticipated School Tour program. Cut several years ago due to a lack of funding, the popular 30-year old program has been on hiatus until last May when VYO trumpet player and Williston resident Jake Kahn took it upon himself to organize a 5K Fun Run, which enough money to send one orchestra on a full day’s tour. The VYOA received additional funding from a Vermont Arts Council grant to fully instate the program this year, much to the delight of the VYOA student body.

Colchester, Vermont - The Vermont Youth Orchestra Association is holding two, FREE events in April open to all interested families with prospective young musicians, students, instructors and community members. Saturday, April 1, 3:00-5:00 pm Orchestral Petting Zoo for young children. An up-close look at the instruments in our orchestras! An opportunity for young students to meet VYOA musicians, try out one of their instruments and visit a VYOA rehearsal. Open to young students, parents and the community!

PARMA Recordings is pleased to announce the inaugural PARMA Student Composer Competition, the first in a series of annual competitions for student composers. Ten winners will be selected by an award-winning panel of three independent judges, and the winners' pieces will be published in the digitally-distributed 2012 PARMA Anthology Of Music: Student Edition. One Grand Prize Winner will be selected to have their piece professionally recorded and produced for release by PARMA. All recording, performer, production, and publicity costs will be completely subsidized, and the master will be released on a collection from PARMA to be distributed through industry leader Naxos. There is no fee required for entry into the competition.