About
Our musical concerts only partially define us – the Colorado Symphony offers many events and activities for people of all ages. The Colorado Symphony is a vibrant and vital part of the Denver community. From education concerts (kids in grades 3-12) and performances by noted musicians, to unique donor and sponsor opportunities and behind-the-scenes activities, the Colorado Symphony always offers innumerable things to do and see. Whenever you want music, friends and fun special events, remember the Colorado Symphony delivers enjoyment throughout the year. Please read on to learn about our mission.
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 performs more than 150 concerts annually at Boettcher Concert Hall in downtown Denver and across Colorado. Led by Music Director Brett Mitchell with Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Litton, 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. Every season, the Colorado Symphony serves more than 250,000 people from all walks of life, performing a range of musical styles, from traditional to contemporary. 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.
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, 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. The About Boettcher Concert Hall page on our web site has a detailed discussion about the acoustics.