Our Mission

Creating extraordinary musical experiences that transport today's listener, from the best of the past to the edge of the future.

One of the leading orchestras in the United States, the Colorado Symphony Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization performing more than 150 concerts annually at Boettcher Concert Hall in downtown Denver and across Colorado. Led by Music Director Brett Mitchell, the Colorado Symphony is home to eighty full-time musicians, representing more than a dozen nations, and regularly welcomes the most celebrated artists from the world of symphonic music and beyond. In the last year, the Colorado Symphony served nearly 233,000 people attending live performances at concert and non-traditional venues throughout Colorado's Front Range. In addition, over 265,000 people listen to the Colorado Symphony through Colorado Public Radio's live broadcasts of classical content featuring concert recordings, in-studio performances of individual musicians and small ensembles, and live streaming of interviews and performances with artists. Recognized as an incubator of innovation, creativity, and excellence, the Colorado Symphony continually expands its reach through education, outreach, and programming. The Colorado Symphony partners with the state’s leading musical artists, cultural organizations, corporations, foundations, sports teams, and individuals to expose diverse audiences to the transformative power of music. 

Education, Diversity, & Inclusion Statement

The Colorado Symphony Association (CSA) believes that symphonic music must be available to everyone and that communities thrive when music is accessible to all.

The CSA is committed to: being an inclusive organization where diverse perspectives are sought out and valued; and to create experiences for our audiences where all feel welcome, represented, and connected. The CSA believes in the dignity of all and respects a diversity of cultures, identities, orientations, heritages, beliefs, and experiences.

As a cultural institution, we recognize the power of symphonic music and believe we can bring our community together to create greater social understanding. To this end, the CSA and all its associates are committed to creating an experience for our audiences that celebrates the uniqueness, individuality and rich diversity that unites our community where all feel welcome, represented, and connected.

The CSA will continuously strive to achieve greater inclusivity and equity by leading in a way that represents our art form, one of collectivism and harmony.

Mile High City

Denver, Colorado, known as the 'Mile High City', is located in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The city's nickname comes from the fact its official elevation above sea level is exactly 5,280 feet. There is a wealth of recreational and cultural activities for visitors and residents looking for things to do in Denver, among them the events at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.

Denver Performing Arts Complex

The Denver Performing Arts Complex (DPAC), a four-block 12-acre site which has 10,000 seats in ten performing areas, hosts our company, the Colorado Symphony. The complex, the second largest in the country, also hosts Opera Colorado, ballet companies, chorales and both plays and musical theater productions by visiting theater companies.

Boettcher Concert Hall

We perform in Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The hall, built in 1978, is this country's first 360-degree concert hall. More than 2700 seats are arranged in five seating areas (dress circle, orchestra, mezzanine, a section next to the stage and overhead rings floating above the lower seats). The reasoning behind the hall-in-the-round concept is so that no audience member is more than 85 feet from the stage, with more than 80% of the audience being seated within 65 feet of the stage.

Acoustics are the key to Boettcher Concert Hall's success. The four acoustical elements which make the sound so wonderful are the canopy, the fascia, the moat and the seats.