Town Hall Theater to host Vermont mandolin trio featuring Grammy-nominated performer

On March 27, the Town Hall Theater (THT) will host the Vermont Mandolin Trio, a local band featuring Grammy-nominated performer Matt Flinner alongside Jamie Masefield and Will Patton. Described in a press release by the THT as “the intersection of Bluegrass, Roots, and Jazz,” this show features a unique blend of music performed by celebrated mandolinists. 

Opened in 1884 with a masquerade ball, the building that is now home to the Town Hall Theater, has served many important roles in the Middlebury community. Originally the town hall, the building was later converted into an opera house and commercial space. 

After the structure fell into disrepair by the 1990s, a community-driven fundraising effort raised $5 million to restore it. Completed in 2008, the THT now stands as a state-of-the-art venue for the performing arts. Continued support from patrons and partnerships with local organizations such as the college, continue to contribute to its success, which brings artistic energy and talent to the town.

The performing Mandolin Trio is influenced by a variety of genres, owing to their extensive experience with other bands. Flinner has been a devoted Bluegrass performer for years, spending decades playing in the Matt Flinner Trio and Modern Mandolin Quartet. In 2013, he was Grammy-nominated for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance for his 2012 album “Americana.”

Patton, a college alumnus, has opened for Van Morrison, Ray Charles, and a collection of other musicians in previous bands. Masefield, who specializes in New Orleans jazz, toured the United States with the Jazz Mandolin Project from 1996 to 2006 and works as a dry stone mason in Monkton, VT. All three members currently reside in Vermont and have performed in venues across the state. 

“A major draw of the event is Grammy-nominated Flinner, a virtuoso musician, who also happens to be a resident of Ripton. He’s also a really nice guy –– and this whole band radiates great energy that electrifies the room,” Lisa Mitchell, the theater’s Artistic Director wrote in an email to the Campus. 

The mandolin, an instrument that became popular in the U.S. during the 1880s, is now mainly associated with bluegrass and other folk music; the band often improvises and incorporates elements from different genres to experiment with the mandolin and craft an exciting, distinctive performance.

“Join the trio for a unique take on…well, whatever they decide to play,” reads one of the band’s promotional advertisements for the event at THT. 

This open-ended performance style is an iconic characteristic of the band, which aims to provide a laid-back, enjoyable experience for its audience.

The trio returns to the Town Hall Theater this March by popular demand, having played previous shows in recent years to sold-out crowds.

Mitchell, who sources talent for THT, maintains a network of local and regional artists to accomplish the theater’s goal of providing entertainment and culture to Middlebury. 

“For live music curation, I attend major conferences designed for presenters like me, such as Folk Alliance International, which this year featured 900 international bands. Many of the artists I saw there are now booked to come to THT in 2026 and 2027,” Mitchell explained.

“On a more internal level, I think the value of theater in general is that its an art form that is perpetually exciting to see,” Keziah Wilde ’24, associate director of the Center for Learning and Engagement (CLE) at THT wrote. “Every day we are bombarded with videos, podcasts, television, and edits but it is rare to see something where the performers are truly there WITH you, attempting to engage with you. You are there in the room with the show you are seeing. It’s not behind a screen and it’s not from a day ago or a week ago or 10 years ago. You are experiencing something that you won’t be able to experience again and that hasn’t previously happened. And that is rare for entertainment these days.”

While THT is known for performances on its main stage, Mitchell notes that the theater also hosts intimate performances in the 1,430-square-foot Anderson Studio, which accommodates up to 150 guests. The Anderson Studio is part of the New Wing of  THT, which opened in the fall of 2025.

Among the studio’s upcoming highlights is an April 19th performance by Katie Martucci, a singer-songwriter celebrated for her remarkable vocals. Martucci has previously appeared on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”, earning recognition similar to that of Grammy-nominated Flinner.

“Since I’ve been at THT, I’ve started a range of music series (in addition to other wide ranging, multidisciplinary programming). These include House of Jazz, the Summer Sounds outdoor music series, the P.M. Sundays Folk Series, and the Wintertide music series. I also receive hundreds of solicitations for artists of all kinds each year that I review and consider,” Mitchell wrote.

Although the Vermont Mandolin Trio’s performance occurs during the College’s spring break, Mitchell highlighted THT’s role in bringing students and the local community together, emphasizing accessible ticket options for the upcoming performance: 

“We would love to have students join us for this concert, and for them to know that discounted and free tickets are available via THT’s Cady Fund. A student can call the box office or come to the show and ask for a Cady Fund ticket. This fund exists in support of all of the shows at THT,” she wrote.

Appreciation for THT is frequently expressed within the Middlebury College community.

“The theater was always meant to be a place for all; it hasn’t always been what it was meant to be,” Cole Silpe ’29 said. “In Middlebury, it’s just that and more: a place for any member of the community to lose themselves in another world, return feeling ‘maybe my world is not so different, after all,’ and see the faces of their life in a new light.”