carries with him both the school’ s history and his own long tenure as a respected leader and teacher. Mazzocchi’ s Kinhaven journey began 27 years ago as a trombone instructor. Over the years, he rose through the ranks, and he became Co-Executive Director with his wife, Deborah Buck, in 2011. To Mazzocchi, the launch of the new semester program with Burr & Burton Academy represents the culmination of a dream he has held closely for more than a decade.
“ About 10 years ago, I had the idea of taking the concept of Kinhaven’ s summer program and stretching it into the academic year,” Mazzocchi says.“ I felt that the magic of that immersion could be integrated with academics.” That“ magic” he refers to is the same ethos that has animated Kinhaven since its founding in 1952. Its founders, the Dushkins, believed deeply in the power of gathering young people who shared a passion for music, placing them in a natural environment free of distractions, and allowing them to transform, both as musicians and as human beings. Seventy-three years later, the spirit remains unchanged, though the scale has expanded to include multiple cabins, faculty housing, rehearsal studios, and a dedicated, 400 + capacity concert hall.
The idea of extending the student programs beyond summer gained traction only recently, thanks to infrastructure upgrades made possible by a $ 2 million capital campaign.“ Last year, our barn needed a lot of work,” says Mazzocchi.“ Now, it has new siding, new windows, a new roof, the interior had a complete gut renovation, and it’ s fully winterized with dormitory rooms. It’ s the central hub of the semester program.”
The academic partnership with BBA was equally crucial. Mazzocchi recalls talking with Headmaster Mark Tashjian as far back as 2017.“ At first, I thought the academic components would all happen here at Kinhaven. But Mark asked me:‘ Why don’ t you bring them over here?’ He was right. Their willingness to open their doors and to allow our students to become part of their community is what made this possible.”
From Top: Kinhaven Co-Executive Directors, Deborah Buck( Left) and Anthony“ Tony” Mazzocchi( Right). Middle: Students in the Inaugural Kinhaven-BBA Semester Program serenade the audience at SVAC with a droll, impromptu choral number between chamber music pieces. Bottom: BBA Headmaster, Mark Tashjian, attends the SVAC performance. Opposite Page: The Kinhaven and BBA Executive Staff and Semester Program Students at a recent musical performance at Southern Vermont Arts Center
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