Young Tradition Vermont continues its Youth Commission for a fourth consecutive year, for the first time as part of Vermont Folklife. The Youth Commission is a group of five high school-aged musicians who play and sing in traditional styles.

Each year, a teen is selected to lead the Youth Commission for the year. The person selected is charged with creating a small ensemble and a program of original compositions and/or arrangements with mentors/master artists of their choosing. The program created is then presented at performances, festivals, and other events. The commissioned artist selected for 2022/2023 is Fiona Stowell. She is 17 years old, lives in Montpelier, Vermont, and ‘is thrilled and deeply honored by this opportunity.’ She has been playing fiddle since she was 4, and has always loved performing and sharing her music and dance with others.

This year’s Youth Commission members include; 

• Fiona’s brother and Vermont Folklife’s Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program recipient Emmett Stowell (piano, banjo and vocals) from Monpelier, Vermont

• Touring Group youth artist leader and US National Junior Scottish fiddle champion Owen Kennedy (fiddle and vocals) from Winthrop, Maine

• Massachusetts Folklife Center Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program recipient (with Laurel Martin) Fern Tamagini-O’Donnell (fiddle, step dance and vocals) from Wareham, Massachusetts

• Lyndon Institute student and athlete Grace Martin (mandolin, guitar, and vocals) from Lydonville, Vermont 

• Fiona Stowell (fiddle, vocals, and dancing) as teen leader