Grand Island County Music Festival

Island Arts is pleased to once again support this musical gathering, which now will be held on May 14th and 15th at the Alburgh Community Education Center.  Students in fifth through 8th grade from South Hero, Grand Isle, North Hero and Alburgh will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday of that week to rehearse choral and band music, presenting a concert open to the public on Wednesday, May 15th at 5:30 at the Alburgh school. 

The Festival will take place thanks to the efforts of local music teachers Marissa Jedziniak of Folsom in South Hero, Maddie Gibbons of North Hero and Grand Isle, and Julian Cunningham of Alburgh.

The guest director for the band is Cassandra Heleba who is in her second year at Eden Central School and Waterville Elementary school. The Festival Chorus will be directed by Daniel Leonard. Daniel is the choral director and music teacher at Colchester Middle School.  The accompanist for the chorus will be Patty Jacob.

This is a wonderful opportunity for these young students from the Islands to come together with other singers and band members in the county. Island Arts is delighted to sponsor the guest directors and accompanist and provide snacks for the hungry young musicians.

The “Middle School band participates in the Island County Music Festival, joining musicians from all five of the Island Towns. The Select Band, called the Raz MaTazz has also performed on Church Street in FY17 in Burlington’s Jazz Festival”.

— Quote from Act 46 Alternative Governance Proposal for South Hero, Vermont.

Photo: High School Honors Music Festival. Courtesy of Castleton University Music Department, Castleton, VT