Myra Flynn

The Vermont Symphony Orchestra (VSO) and Lane Series present a free public panel discussion exploring the musical worlds of immigrant composers and performers. Moderated by Myra Flynn, an accomplished musician, Vermonter and VPR host, this event leads to the VSO’s world premiere performance of Jordanian/Canadian composer Suad Bushnaq’s cello concerto on October 30 at the Flynn.

The panel discussion features established musicians, born elsewhere and now based in North America, who explore their cultural and ethnic heritage through composition and instruments. How does living in Vermont influence what they write and perform, and with whom they collaborate? How is their music received and interpreted here? What can we learn from their musical traditions?

Bushnaq is joined by Irene Webster, the Kenyan-born, Winooski-based Afro-Jazz singer known as KeruBo, and two Burlington-based musicians: Said Bulle, the Somali-born founder of African/Vermont hip-hop group A2VT, and Mikahely, guitarist and valiha player from Madagascar.

In Conversation: New American Musicians is free and open to the public; reservations are not required. In alignment with current UVM policies, guests are required to wear face coverings while inside UVM buildings and vaccination is expected on campus.