Transforming Young People’s Lives through Music

Longtime entrepreneur and investor John M. Fife lives in Chicago, Illinois. John M. Fife is also a philanthropist who has donated to various causes. John has a passion for classical music and through Emerging Artists Chicago, an organization that supports Chicago-based musicians, he supports music groups such as the Vermont Youth Orchestra (VYO).

Founded in 1963, the VYO draws passionate and dedicated young musicians from Vermont, the Adirondacks, and northern New Hampshire. In addition to conducting tours in different countries, the VYO performs at community events and in schools and presents three major concerts annually at Burlington’s Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. VYO performances are professionally recorded and filmed and made available for purchase either as audio or video.

The VYO holds auditions for new students every May. The organization offers financial aid, training programs, private lesson programs, school partnerships, community initiatives, summer camps, and an early childhood concert series to performing ensembles and orchestras.