The excitement could be felt Thursday evening in the Vernal City Community Room as the youth and leaders of the Uintah Basin Youth Chamber Orchestra reunited after a long break. The group started their season last August hopeful they could proceed normally but were quickly required to stop meeting due to the rise in COVID-19 cases in the area. Now six months later, this group of talented young musicians came together and resumed their journey of working their way through the standard classical repertoire, something that far exceeds what is expected for their ages. The organization’s founder and director Brad Vanfleet was as excited as the youth to begin rehearsing again and he came with big news. First, for those that didn’t know, the group’s other director, Christopher Davis, had taken an opportunity for a career change in Oregon. Davis had been with the group for 4 and a half years and will be missed by the youth and leaders. Vanfleet also had exciting news to share as he welcomed two new artistic directors: Dr. Merrietta Oviatt and Mr. Brian Gibson. With practices having resumed, the youth orchestra hope to announce their next concert date in the near future.
