Farewell Letter from Karen Kevra
Founder and Artistic Director of Capital City Concerts, 2000–2026
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As I reflect on Capital City Concerts in this summer of 2026, my thoughts turn to baseball and that famous line from Field of Dreams: “If you build it, they will come.” Nearly 30 years ago, my teacher, the legendary musician and Marlboro Music co-founder Louis Moyse, planted the seed for Capital City Concerts and assured me that people would come. How fortunate Montpelier was to have Louis Moyse (1912–2007) become a resident during the last decade of his long life!
In 2000, toward the end of Capital City Concerts’ first season, talented, music-loving members of the community came forward. Michael Sherman phoned to tell me it was time to form a nonprofit board and that he would serve as secretary. He suggested Dick Saudek as our first board president, and Bill Herbst, Edie Miller, and Catherine Orr also joined. Dick encouraged me to strive for the highest quality performances — “the level of concerts one might hear in the best venues in New York City” was his mantra. That deep community leadership, combined with Louis Moyse’s guidance and wisdom, laid the groundwork for all that followed. As I reflect on the hundreds of concerts over my 26 years as Capital City Concerts’ Artistic Director, it is the most beloved performers — those who returned again and again — who come to mind. At the top of the list is the Paris Piano Trio, who graced our stage so many times over the years that I lost count. Their performances of Beethoven’s Archduke Trio, and Shostakovich’s Piano Trio in E minor remain among the greatest concert memories of my life. I think of that period as “the golden years” of Capital City Concerts, when Louis Moyse still graced us with his presence, seated in his customary spot — stage right, four rows from the back, on the aisle — subtly conducting the music as he listened, eyes closed in rapt attention. Jeffrey Chappell appeared more often than any other musician and became a true audience favorite, repeatedly bringing down the house with his stunning performances of Barber’s Piano Sonata, his deeply moving rendering of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, and his show-stopping performance of the Waltz from Gounod’s Faust, as transcribed by Franz Liszt. Other generous and treasured friends of Capital City Concerts include the Borromeo Quartet, which over the years has established itself as one of the nation’s finest string quartets. Cellist Edward Arron and pianist Jeewon Park repeatedly offered exquisite performances of the highest caliber, always played with immense heart. The perennial Bach concerts — a musical salve for the soul — often included beloved soprano Hyunah Yu, whose Bach interpretations were unerringly appropriate, always delivered with her crystalline, ruby-toned voice. The music also carried us through difficult times. During the pandemic, the Muse Mentors podcast kept us inspirationally occupied, and pianist Jeffrey Chappell’s generous flood-relief concert lifted our spirits — and raised $10,000 — for Montpelier and Barre in 2023. A memorable early Bach concert helped us through our grief following the events of September 11. I am hopeful about the future of Capital City Concerts. Together with the CCC board, Jillian Reed and Tyler Emerson bring the youthful energy, talent, and community spirit needed to guide CCC into its next chapter. I am grateful for everyone's willingness to take on this important work. As I depart Capital City Concerts, I do so with deep gratitude — especially to the audience, who showed up, listened deeply, and loved the musicians and the concerts. What began as a simple idea became something meaningful, something shared, something lasting. ~Karen Kevra |
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