The Music Box Concerts are produced by the Friends of the Music Box, a 501 C 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping live music alive in the Kingdom. You can be a member! Find out how by clicking on MEMBER.

The Music Box: What is it?
A work in progress!
     I bought the house October 26, 1999 and finished off the bottom floor as my living quarters. I am now working on finishing the rest of the building, and it already is useable for programs. I am doing this on a shoestring, mostly for pleasure and to promote the arts and ideas in this area.

     The first Music Box concert was held July 16, 2000 with my friends, Chris & Meredith Thompson performing as well as myself. I wanted to kick off in 2000 because it was the Year of the Dragon and supposedly an auspicious time to start a new business!

     The second concert featured a six person Celtic band, Natterjack, who played to a full house of 120.

     There have been folkswaps once a month to share music, song, dance, poetry ..... in round robin.

What can it become?

• An art gallery
• A site for dance, workshops, music, lectures, conferences, festivals, children's theater, kid's summer programs, puppet shows, story telling and other arts.....
• An example of permaculture and organic gardening
• I welcome your ideas!

What was this place before it became The Music Box?
     It was the home of David Briars, who died February 26, 1999. He restored pianos and built the building to house and listen to the pianos. The space used for performances could hold 12 grand pianos and has very high ceilings and amazing acoustics. It was designed as a solar passive house and I live on the first floor.

     There are three acres surrounded by trees, a natural amphitheater and plenty of room for my organic gardening.

     The white walls beg for the work of visual artists. It is light and joyous.

     David was also a social, political and environmental activist. He helped lead the U.S. campaign to support the McLibel defendants: two British activists sued in London by the McDonalds Corporation for telling the truth about the company.

     You can find out more about David at www.sover.net/~dbriers/

Lisa A. Sammet, Executive director of the Music Box with Jennifer Rabbit the mascot of The Music Box

     I am currently the part time Library Director at the Jeudevine Memorial Library in Hardwick. Formally I was the Librarian at Sterling College in Craftsbury Common. I have a B.A. in English, a Masters Degree in Library Science and a B.S. in agriculture.

     I have worked as a teacher, librarian & farmer. I served twice with the Peace Corps, first in the Ivory Coast, then Senegal and I also was a Peace Corps recruiter.

     In 1992 I hiked the entire Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine and then did a 13,000 mile bicycle trip around the U.S., Mexico up to Canada and back east.

     I have also been a professional musician and storyteller since 1977. I play the guitar, Appalachian Lap Dulcimer, Bowed Psaltry, recorders, and many instruments from my travels. I was a regular performing artist at the Boston Children's Museum when I lived in Massachusetts. I have worked with a number of coffeehouses and have put on many programs for libraries, schools & other organizations.

     I am available to perform at schools, festivals, museums & libraries as well as performing at the Music Box myself.

And.....I am concerned about the world, peace and the environment. Promoting the arts brings beneficial energy to all of us. That is my intention with The Music Box!