Champlain Philharmonic

Champlain Philharmonic Our mission is to engage and inspire musicians and audiences with orchestra concerts and community projects that create transcendent experiences.

MISSION

To engage and inspire musicians and audiences with orchestra concerts and community projects that create transcendent experiences. CORE VALUES – WHAT WE APPLY TO ALL OF OUR WORK ALL OF THE TIME

Community Engagement – Creating collaborative opportunities to lead audiences of all ages to interact with and be inspired by our music

Nurturing – Creating a supportive culture that takes pride

in strengthening the self-worth of each individual we serve

Commitment – Demonstrating personal dedication and consistently striving for peak performance

Creativity – Seeking imaginative and unexpected ways to present and engage with our work


IDEOLOGY – WHAT WE BELIEVE

The experience the CPO seeks to provide combines inspiring concerts and community engagement projects with a nurturing environment for amateur and semi-professional musicians to perform great orchestral music. Our work is designed to honor the heritage of orchestral music while ensuring its future. We act with integrity, authenticity and trustworthiness at all times. CPO is an important part of, and contributor to, the cultural landscape of the Champlain Valley.

03/02/2026

Address

Middlebury, VT

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Champlain Philharmonic posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Champlain Philharmonic:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Our Story

MISSION To engage and inspire musicians and audiences with orchestra concerts and community projects that create transcendent experiences. CORE VALUES – WHAT WE APPLY TO ALL OF OUR WORK ALL OF THE TIME Community Engagement – Creating collaborative opportunities to lead audiences of all ages to interact with and be inspired by our music Nurturing – Creating a supportive culture that takes pride in strengthening the self-worth of each individual we serve Commitment – Demonstrating personal dedication and consistently striving for peak performance Creativity – Seeking imaginative and unexpected ways to present and engage with our work IDEOLOGY – WHAT WE BELIEVE The experience the CPO seeks to provide combines inspiring concerts and community engagement projects with a nurturing environment for amateur and semi-professional musicians to perform great orchestral music. Our work is designed to honor the heritage of orchestral music while ensuring its future. We act with integrity, authenticity and trustworthiness at all times. CPO is an important part of, and contributor to, the cultural landscape of the Champlain Valley.

HISTORY OF THE ORCHESTRA

In the spring of 2004, two VSO string players decided to enhance the thriving arts scene surrounding Addison County by forming a full orchestra. Violinist David Gusakov and cellist Dieuwke Davydov invited the community to audition, and then selected over 55 qualified string, wind and brass players to begin rehearsals at the Vergennes Opera House for a debut performance. With David Gusakov as Music Director and Dieuwke Davydov as Manager, on November 15th 2004, the Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra made its debut performance at the Middlebury College Center for the Arts, with acclaimed pianist Diana Fanning playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 3, receiving wonderful reviews for a sold-out performance. And so the Champlain Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) was born.

Establishing a set of spring and fall concerts, the orchestra continued to grow and thrive. In the fall of 2010, under the direction of Paul Gambill, the orchestra branched out by presenting many professional soloists and engaging audiences with varied programs, including a concerto for bagpipe, premiering a piece for electric violin, and collaborating with youth and schools. The CPO still maintained its community roots by performing with the Middlebury Community Chorus, featured pieces by local composers Peter Hamlin, C. Robert Wigness and offered local student competitions for high school students.