Last May Chandler presented an NPR "From the Top" lookalike program which featured the talent of outstanding high school age classical musicians from all over the state. It turned out to be such a success that it has now become a staple in the Chandler season.

On Friday evening, May 21 at 7:30 the program "The Next Generation" will showcase the artistry of twenty one young classical musicians from high schools all over the Champlain valley (including New York State), Central Vermont, and the Upper Valley.

On the program will be opera arias and art songs, solo piano works, a piano trio, a string quartet, and solo works for each a flute, a cello, and a violin. The composers represented range from the High Baroque to the 21st century, including Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Schubert, Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, Scriabin, Jules Mouquet, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Mark Summers, and Jason Robert Brown.

The response to calls for auditions brought these talented twenty one teenagers from all over the region, and the Chandler staff decided to present each and every one.

The performing artists will be pianists Abra Atwood of South Royalton, Greg Tyler of Essex Junction, Julian Marohnic of Cornwall, Mitchell Goff of Plattsburg, New York, Aaron Gould- Kavet of Montpelier, Sarah McAndrew of Hanover, New Hampshire, Kang-Li Cheng of West Lebanon, New Hampshire, and Robert Gill of Middlebury; vocal soloists (performing also as a vocal trio) Merrill Cameron of West Hartford, and Eric Mead and Amy Waters both of Hanover, New Hampshire; solo violinists Sophia Pellegrino of Bethel and Chris Stork of Plainfield; solo cellist Matthew Goff of Plattsburg, New York; solo flutist Perry Emerson of Lyndon; a piano trio of Aaron Gould-Kavet with cellist Kennah McMahon of Essex Junction and violinist Anna Landell of Richmond; and the Bragg Hill Quartet with first violinist Molly Finlayson and violist Rachel Finlayson of Etna, New Hampshire, second violinist Alexandra Burkot of Norwich, and cellist Rebecca Haynes of Hanover, New Hampshire.

The classical radio station WCVT at 101.7 fm will feature several of the musicians on the Sunday morning program, "Vermont Notes," hosted by Linda Radtke, on May 16 beginning at 10:00.

Tickets for this concert are available through the Chandler Music Hall box office at (802) 728-6464 and online at www.chandler-arts.org. Reserved seating tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students 18 years and under.

There will be a greet the artists reception following the concert. This performance is presented by Chandler Center for the Arts and sponsored by First Light Studios of Randolph and Ultramotive Corporation. Chandler Music Hall is fully wheelchair accessible.