¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý is independent, community-supported media, serving Vermont with trusted, relevant and essential information. We share stories that bring people together, from every corner of our region. New to ¿ªÔÆÌåÓý? Start here.

© 2025 ¿ªÔÆÌåÓý | 365 Troy Ave. Colchester, VT 05446

Public Files:
· · · ·
· · · ·
· · · ·
· ·

For assistance accessing our public files, please contact [email protected] or call 802-655-9451.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

VPR Classical Revives its Student Composer Showcase with Grace Carlomagno's "Traffic Lights"

Student Composer Grace Carlomagno watches a rehearsal of her piece, "Traffic Lights," written when she was a sophomore at Montpelier High School
Student Composer Grace Carlomagno watches a rehearsal of her piece, "Traffic Lights," written when she was a sophomore at Montpelier High School

VPR Classical is reviving its Student Composer Showcase, presented in collaboration with and . Each month we’ll highlight student composers from around the state, bringing you performances of their original compositions.

The (Music-COMP) is a Vermont non-profit started in 1995 that teaches students in grades 3-12 how to compose original music. Students are paired with professional composers as mentors, and over 50 works are premiered each year with professional musicians.

This month, we feature a work written in 2017 by then-sophomore at Montpelier High School, Grace Carlomagno. Here she speaks about why she writes music, and introduces her piece titled, “Traffic Lights.�

Letitia Quante & Jane Kittredge, violins
Elizabeth Reid, viola
Michael Close, cello

Opus 32 presented by Music-COMP
May 15, 2017
Elley Long Music Center at St. Michael's College

Next week Music-COMP will present its first showcase in two years, Opus 36, with a performance featuring 25 young composers from around the state. Tuesday, April 26 at 6:30pm at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Burlington. The concert is free and open to the public. Learn more at .

Production support for the Student Composer Showcase is provided by , a community media center serving eight towns in Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties, providing a free forum for expression, and a link to local government and training. More at

Helen Lyons serves as the Music Manager and host of ¿ªÔÆÌåÓý Classical’s Monday-Saturday morning program. She grew up in Williston, Vermont, and holds a BA in Music from Wellesley College and Artist Diplomas from the Royal Academy of Music in London, and College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. She has enjoyed an international singing career spanning three continents, performing in Europe, China, The Philippines and the USA.