Vermont Symphony Orchestra Announces New Music Director

Andrew Crust will succeed Jaime Laredo, who stepped down from the position after a twenty-year tenure

Andrew Crust's first concert as the Vermont Symphony Orchestra's (VSO) fifth music Music Director will take place on September 30, 2023, at the Flynn in Burlington, Vermont.

In his new role, he will plan the VSO's 90^th season in 2024/2025 to fully flesh out an artistic vision for the orchestra.

Crust is currently in his third year as Music Director of the Lima Symphony where he conducts Grand Series, Pops, and Education programs.

He formerly served as Associate Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony from 2019 - 2022, the Memphis Symphony from 2017 - 2019, the National Youth Orchestra in 2017 and 2018, and the Conductor of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program.

In his recent and upcoming seasons, Crust conducts the Vancouver, Winnipeg, Calgary, San Diego, Arkansas, Elgin, Rockford, Chattanooga, Memphis, Hartford, Billings, Vancouver Island, Laval, Nova Scotia, and Bozeman Symphonies.

“I am overjoyed and deeply grateful to the musicians, staff, and Board of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra for choosing me to be the orchestra’s next musical leader in its 89th season," Crust said. "I want to also recognize the immense impact of outgoing Music Director Jamie Laredo, whose artistic vision shaped this orchestra over two decades and paved the way for exciting new growth in the future.

"When I performed for the first time with the VSO in February 2023, I was immediately struck by not only the orchestra’s extremely high artistic quality and sense of pride, but also their desire to explore new repertoire, and to continue to evolve and adapt as the modern world continues to change," he added. "I am very much looking forward to the impactful and transformative work we will do together in the coming seasons.”