Hi! My name is Cole Marino, and I'm a musician based in northern Vermont. I completed my undergraduate studies at Manhattan School of Music, receiving my Bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. While studying in Manhattan, I was privileged to perform with world-class ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic and the New York Oratorio Society. I have extensive experience as both performer and administrator with arts organizations across the country, including the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, the Chelsea Music Festival, and the Aspen Music Festival and School. I’ve been based in Vermont since 2020, preparing for a graduate degree in orchestral conducting, which I hope to begin in the Fall of 2023.

Part of the preparation for this degree involves recording a pre-screen audition. This pre-screen is the first step in the application process and enables schools to determine whether or not they want to invite an auditionee for a live audition. Pre-screens for conducting programs tend to be slightly more complicated as they involve whole ensembles of musicians instead of just one performer. They also need to include video footage of both rehearsal and performance of a series of contrasting works. To achieve this while giving back to the community, I decided to do it up right and prepare a full-length program of some fascinating chamber music.

The program consists of the original ballet version of Copland’s Appalachian Spring, The Unanswered Question by Charles Ives, a Mozart wind serenade (C-minor, K388), and a new song cycle for mezzo-soprano entitled Is A Rose. While this is the original version of Appalachian Spring, it is rarely performed in a concert setting, making this experience unique for performers and audience members alike. Is a Rose is a recent work by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw. This piece is being sung by Melanie Dubil, an up-and-coming mezzo-soprano from New York, acclaimed for her interpretations of modern and contemporary repertoire. Combined with the Ives and Mozart, this program promises to be a memorable one, and I’m very excited to present it to the community.

However, presenting it to the community is a massive undertaking for a team of one, both logistically and financially. Between hiring musicians, renting parts, instruments, and performance rights, and paying for the venue in addition to other miscellaneous costs, it will take about $6,000 to make this happen.

All this is the reason for this campaign. I am grateful for any amount you can contribute to this project and, by extension, my continued pursuit of music at this level. No amount is too large or too small - every contribution gets this project closer to completion.

Finally, though there will be space for suggested donations at the performance, you can consider a donation here to be equivalent! Please join us at the Elley-Long Music Center in Colchester, VT, on August 14 at 4 pm! I look forward to seeing you there and sharing the fruit of all my hard work these last several months.