The Colorado Symphony – Reshaping the Future of Classical Music

With a mission of cultivating new generations of music lovers, The Colorado Symphony is on a mission to reshape the future for live symphonic music. By performing timeless classics as well as big name collaborations, we are creating a brand new musical landscape in Colorado.

At all costs, the orchestra has refused to bow under pressure or fold. Instead, they fought back by holding movie nights (where the orchestra plays the soundtrack for movies shown at theaters), rock tribute shows and other events to attract new audiences.

Education

The Colorado Symphony is committed to supporting classroom learning with a variety of educational opportunities for students, teachers and schools – from in-person and virtual concerts, interactive curriculum that fosters creative self-expression, diversity awareness workshops for educators and schools through LEV (Lift Every Voice) Youth Concert series.

Mini Musica, the symphony’s early childhood education literacy initiative, features a musical tale for children accompanied by interactive dancing, singing and reading activities as well as bilingual narration with take-home storybooks in English and Spanish for all attendees to take away with them. This unique concert experience boasts 17 musicians performing to tell children’s tales in an unforgettable concert experience!

The Denver Symphony offers Sensory Friendly concerts annually for people who may otherwise find traditional ticketed performances too intimidating or disorienting. These free performances offer a relaxed environment with lower lighting levels, limited use of microphones, and quieter seating areas – ideal for people with autism or limited hearing who might feel uncomfortable attending traditional ticketed shows. These Sensory Friendly concerts take place each season in the Denver Performing Arts Complex Galleria.

Community Engagement

The Colorado Symphony has long been recognized for its commitment to reaching across diverse communities through live and virtual community engagement programs that bring people of all ages together through world-class music. These groundbreaking enrichment activities are made possible thanks to generous support from individuals, corporations and foundations alike.

As part of its education and outreach initiatives, the Symphony collaborates with numerous local organizations to share its passion for orchestral music, and offer everyone new ways to experience it. They offer several programs tailored specifically for specific community needs: bilingual offerings that highlight its worth in both English and Spanish language contexts; early childhood literacy initiatives support programs; etc.

The Colorado Symphony also partners with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra (DYAO), one of America’s premier youth orchestras established by musicians from Colorado Symphony in 1977. DYAO provides students with an opportunity to learn from and perform alongside Colorado Symphony musicians.

Classics

The Colorado Symphony continues to disprove the myth that classical music is only for certain age, demographic or socioeconomic groups. Our audiences at Boettcher Concert Hall and across Colorado are becoming younger and more diverse with every passing year.

Mini Musica, our orchestra’s educational programming, is made possible thanks to our generous supporters who allow us to reach more students and families with this virtual program that introduces young children to its instruments through music telling a story in English and Spanish.

The Imagination Artist Series provides three leading musicians from diverse musical backgrounds access to our full orchestra for unprecedented creative access. Their artistic visions will then be showcased to our audiences. The resultant programs highlight how powerful an orchestra is at engaging new audiences while spreading classical music‘s joy and value across communities; projects such as our collaborations with Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA and Broadway stars Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Nathaniel Rateliff help ensure its future in our communities.

Special Events

GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves returns to Boettcher Concert Hall renowned for her lush vocals and captivating improvisation, joining esteemed jazz pianists Emanuel Ax and Sierra Boggess along with Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr. for a season full of incredible musical entertainment.

Legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman will join Oundjian and the orchestra for Beethoven’s famous violin concerto while film composer/comedian Mel Brooks will be honored with a symphonic tribute. Additionally, performances will include Pink Floyd music as well as holiday concert featuring Colorado Symphony Chorus and DeVotchKa.

In its 100th Anniversary year, the Symphony will commemorate it by featuring five female composers such as Clarise Assad, Gabriela Lena Frank, Joan Tower and Florence Price. Family concerts like Prokofiev’s musical adventure Peter and the Wolf and Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals offer children an enjoyable musical experience within their families.