Holly Burgess

Clarinet
Featured
Oct, 2018

Montrose native Holly (Ray) Burgess has been with the VSA since 2006. She began her musical career in 3rd grade with piano lessons and picked up the clarinet in 6th grade, over 26 years ago, and has no intention of putting it down.

After graduating from MHS in 1999, she triple majored in music, accounting, and business administration. She graduated from Western State College (now Western State Colorado University) in 2004 and currently works as a CPA for Rounds & Brooks CPAS, PC, in Montrose.

She became the VSA’s principal clarinetist in 2015 and enjoys playing in a traditional orchestra. “It’s different than the other groups I play with, typically community bands, mostly because the VSA includes strings, and I like the music, especially the symphonies, that we play.”

A fun fact about Holly is that, in 2001, one of her professors anonymously purchased a new Buffet clarinet to replace her ailing instrument. The cost was in excess of $2,500. “I was shocked, and incredibly touched, by this individual’s thoughtfulness and generosity,” she said. “It’s the clarinet I still use today, and I treasure it.”