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Kinhaven Music School is thrilled to announce the launch of its inaugural Semester Program, our newest innovative program for high school students, created in collaboration with Burr and Burton Academy (BBA).
From August 25 to December 19, 2025, eight exceptional high school string students from all over the New England and Mid-Atlantic Region will gather at Kinhaven to live, perform, and study with each other and the Trillium String Quartet, with additional artistic leadership by violinist and Kinhaven Co-Executive Director Deborah Buck.
The first of its kind in the nation, the Semester Program combines high-level academics with rigorous musical training. A week in the life of a student consists of academic courses in the mornings at BBA, followed by intensive coachings, lessons, and masterclasses during the afternoons and evenings at Kinhaven with our faculty.
Artistic Mentorship and Community Concert Series
Not only will the Semester Program provide high school students the opportunity to expand their academic and musical education through its uniquely immersive approach, it will also offer intensive artistic mentorship alongside training in community engagement and audience development practices through the development of a new community concert series across the region.
With Kinhaven's newly renovated Barn and Concert Hall able to support the extension of activities beyond the summer, Kinhaven is excited to embark on presenting a major expansion to its community concert series and building partnerships with organizations throughout southern Vermont, including specially selected venues in Weston, Manchester, Chester, Rutland, Bellows Falls, and more! From September to December 2025, this series of up to twelve concerts — two curated by Deborah Buck with special guests and the remainder by faculty and students — will feature performances by Deborah Buck, specially invited guest artists, faculty and students. The Semester Program concert series schedule will be available later this summer on the concerts page and announced in future newsletters.
Press about the Semester Program
We invite you to join us for this exciting new chapter. For more information about Kinhaven Music School and its programs, visit www.kinhaven.org.
About the Semester Program Faculty and Staff:
Deborah Buck, Artistic Leader and Faculty Mentor
Deborah Buck has had a full and varied career as the first violinist of the Lark Quartet, Concertmaster of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and as an Assistant Professor of Violin at SUNY Purchase. She was educated at The Juilliard School as Starling Scholar of Dorothy DeLay and at U.S.C. as a pupil of Robert Lipsett where she received the Jascha Heifetz Violin Scholarship. She has been a featured recitalist at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum, Phillips Collection in Washington DC, Dame Myra Hess series in Chicago, and has been a featured soloist with the Brooklyn Philharmonic and the Little Orchestra Society at Alice Tully Hall. Deborah has recorded extensively for Bridge, Koch Endeavor, and Arabesque Records, as well as for major motion picture and television. Visit Deborah Buck's website
Trillium String Quartet, Artistic Faculty
Comprised of violinists Sommer Altier and Judith Kim, violist Sydney Link and cellist Amelia Smerz, the Trillium String Quartet formed in September 2022. Trillium is the Graduate Quartet in Residence at Montclair State University and members of the group hold performance degrees from renowned music schools including the Cleveland Institute of Music, Mannes School of Music, and McGill University. As a quartet, Trillium has worked with both Calidore and Attacca Quartet, as well as received masterclasses and coaching from members of Emerson, Brentano, Lark, Aizuri, and Harlem Quartets. The Quartet has also had the privilege of performing in concert alongside artists such as the Attacca Quartet and Bela Fleck. TSQ is passionate about performing music in our communities, valuing education and outreach as a foundation for increasing access to the arts. The quartet seeks out frequent opportunities to perform outreach and education in the surrounding communities of New Jersey and New York by presenting masterclasses, free concerts and presentations through its various partnerships with Empire State Youth Orchestra (ESYO), Music for All Seasons and private studios. Above all, TSQ seeks to form genuine connections with their music and their audiences.
The members of the Quartet shared: "We can't wait to meet and work with our students this fall! We're looking forward to the opportunity to introduce our students to the inherent intimacy of playing in string quartet that directly led us to pursue this career. We're excited about building new programs for the community and putting together exciting performances that we've been imagining since we came together as a group." Visit the Trillium String Quartet website
Billy Hughes, Dean of Students
In addition to his role as Senior Session Director, Billy Hughes will bring his dedicated leadership to support the students, faculty and staff participating in the Semester Program. A member of the Kinhaven community since 2008, Billy has experienced multiple Kinhaven programs in varied capacities: as a student (Tuba; Senior Session, 2008), young artist (Young Artist Seminar, 2013) and staff member (Junior Session Activities, 2014; Senior Session Activities, 2012-2015, 2019; Senior Session Administrative, 2023-2024).
Billy is a musician and educator who has spent the past fifteen years working in a wide array of learning environments. His work as a freelance musician and educator has brought him all across the East Coast. He is dedicated to enriching the lives of the students he works with. Currently, he works at the Center School and the Miracle Project, both serving the special needs population.
Annie Eaton, Campus Administrator & BBA Liaison
Annie is thrilled to be joining the team for the Semester Program. She has experienced Kinhaven throughout multiple sessions and roles, including Senior Session (Student 2016-2017, Activities Staff 2021, Campus Administrator 2022-2025) and Young Artist Seminar (2019).
In addition to her work as an administrator, Annie is a freelance musician throughout the southeast. She received her Bachelor's degree in Flute Performance from the University of South Carolina with Dr. Jennifer Parker-Harley, and a certificate of study with Trevor Wye.
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