By James Kent
Thursday and Friday, April 16 and 17 at 7 p.m.— RUTLAND AND SOUTH POMFRET—“Porch Songs Americana Roots” concert arrives in Rutland and South Pomfret later this month, offering an immersive Vermont Symphony Orchestra experience that places audiences directly inside the music. The “Porch Songs Americana Roots” concert, part of the VSO’s popular Jukebox series, will take place April 16 at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland and April 17 at Artistree’s Hayloft in South Pomfret. The “Porch Songs Americana Roots” concert blends classical performance with the spirit of American folk traditions in a setting designed to dissolve the distance between performer and listener.
Curated and hosted by VSO Artistic Advisor and Project Conductor Matt LaRocca, the program explores the deep roots of Americana through a wide-ranging selection of works inspired by Appalachian, bluegrass, Indigenous, and folk traditions. Performed by a quartet featuring Brooke Quiggins-Saulnier and Joana Genova on violin, Stefanie Taylor on viola, and John Dunlop on cello, the concert emphasizes both musical storytelling and technical virtuosity.
“This is sort of Americana inspired,” LaRocca said in an interview with the Mountain Times. “And one of the things that I really like about the folks who come to our shows at the Paramount… there’s a certain amount of trust that it’ll be a good show. No matter what, even if they don’t know any of the music on it.”
That trust is central to the Jukebox series, which will feature some lesser-known works alongside familiar pieces like “Orange Blossom Special,” which will close the program. Rather than relying on recognition, the series leans into discovery.
What sets this performance apart is its “in the round” staging. Audience members will be seated in a circle around the musicians, creating a shared space that mirrors how the quartet rehearses and interacts.
“I love concerts in the round like this,” LaRocca said. “The chairs will be up as close as we can possibly get to the musicians… all of those barriers sort of seem to dissolve.”
He added that the format changes not just how the audience experiences the music, but also how the musicians connect with each other. “You’re facing one another… you’re connected in a different way,” he said. “The whole conversation in music… is amplified.”
The program itself spans a diverse musical landscape, from Jennifer Higdon’s “Southern Harmony” to Florence Price’s folk-inspired “counterpoint,” as well as contemporary works that blend traditions in unexpected ways. Highlights include Mark O’Connor’s “Appalachia Waltz,” Paul Wiancko’s “American Haiku,” and a specially arranged version of Vermont composer Matt Flinner’s “Raji’s Romp.”
“I’m really excited about ‘American Haiku,’ and I’m also really excited about the Matt Flinner piece,” LaRocca said. “It was a really fun project for me to take these songs… and then shift them over to a quartet.”
In addition to the music, the performances will feature an audio-visual display highlighting Vermont’s folk heritage, connecting the program’s themes to local traditions and history.
For audiences in Rutland and at South Pomfret’s Artistree, the “Porch Songs Americana Roots” concert offers more than a night of music—it creates a shared, close-up experience that blurs the line between stage and seat.
“Every Jukebox concert is an experience,” LaRocca said. “This one is going to be very unique.”
Due to the nature of its intimate setting and limited seating, the Jukebox Quartet shows often sell out, so if you’re looking for a memorable musical experience, plan on purchasing tickets now.
Tickets are available at Paramountvt.org, Artistree.org, and vso.org.