Sophomore Erik Kindestin was recently awarded the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s TD Ambassador Scholarship during a recently VSO performance in the Casella Theater.
Kindestin, a resident of Barre, Vt., participates in at least 15 service hours each semester and plays in the Spartan marching and spirit bands. As a lifelong fan of music, he has attended the VSO’s Summer Festival Tour and Holiday Pups concerts since he was three years old. Kindestin’s dedication to his passion is notable, having adapted his instruments for one-handed usage.
“It is so important for high-profile local companies like TD Bank to support the arts by promoting classical music and making it accessible for everyone,” notes Kindestin in his scholarship application. “I have residual effects from a prenatal stroke which left me with the use of only one hand, therefore I have made accommodations to be able to play the trumpet with one hand and have, with the help of my band family, re-crafted keyboard pieces to be played with one hand.”
In its 84th year, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, VSO, is the nation’s oldest state-assisted symphony orchestra.
The TD Ambassador Scholarship was created to honor a TD Ambassador who is currently attending or has been accepted to a college program and is currently enrolled in college. A TD Ambassador is a civic-minded individual who volunteers to represent their community at the Vermont Symphony Orchestra’s TD Bank Summer Festival Tour.
“We deeply appreciate Erik’s work with the VSO,” says Sasha Vaut, director of philanthropy at the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. “We are inspired by his spirit and believe he serves as a wonderful role model for our community. It is an honor to announce his as the recipient of our TD Ambassador Scholarship.”