Season 49 Featured Musicians
Gary Miller
Gary Miller
Tuba
Featured February, 2020
It’s unfair to cubbyhole Gary Miller as simply “a tuba player” in light of his musical knowledge, longevity, and harmonious influence on the Western Slope.
He is a founding member of the Montrose Community Band, Silverton Brass Band (he continues today as its only original member after 43 years), as well as the Great American Rocky Mountain Brass Band Festival, which marked its 38th year in 2019. Elected board chairman in its second year, 36 years later, he remains in that position.
Vivian Cheney
Vivian Cheney
Violin
Featured December, 2019
The VSA orchestra longevity award easily goes to violinist Vivian Cheney, 93, of Paonia. She has been playing the violin for 86 years and active with the VSA for 43 years (since 1976).
Originally from Troy, KS, Vivian’s orchestra days began at Kansas University. She wasn’t part of a performance group for 15 years during relocations to St. Joseph, MO, and St. Louis, MO. Once she settled in Paonia 43 years ago, she joined the VSA.
Beth Pertz
Beth Pertz
Cello
Featured October, 2019
Beth began studying cello at age 14. As a senior, she performed in the Colorado Springs Symphony, glorying in the beautiful music and opportunity to share the stage with wonderful musicians. Duringher freshman year at CU Boulder, she dropped the music major, unable to overcome a fear of performing solo in public. For 30 years, she played sporadically and privately. After attending a “delightful program and performance” of the VSA, she called the director and relayed a traumatizing experience she had years ago where a conductor publicly shamed her for playing incorrectly. “Mike assured me that would never happen under his direction. I believed him and have been with the VSA for 11 years.”