Colorado Symphony Blog

The moniker “Beethoven’s 10th” has long been attached to Brahms’ First Symphony, the fulfillment of a prophecy articulated nearly a quarter century before, when Schumann hailed then-20-year-old Brahms as the great Beethoven’s successor. And indeed the work is a natural continuation of Beethoven’s musical legacy, containing echoes of Beethoven’s Fifth and Ninth Symphony’s and yet standing alone as a truly magnificent and unique symphonic achievement. The Colorado Symphony will perform this monumental work October 15-17, 2021 at Boettcher Concert Hall under the baton of Resident Conductor Christopher Dragon. 

Adversity is as revealing as it is inevitable. While unpredictable, overwhelming, disruptive, and chaotic, it nonetheless has the power to illuminate a wellspring of resolve previously obscured or unknown to us altogether. The world has spent much of the last year and a half grappling with the effects of the COVID-19 health pandemic, causing disruption on a previously unimaginable scale; isolating people from their families, friends, and loved ones; and irrevocably altering the lives of countless millions. Despite these difficult circumstances, the Colorado Symphony Association (CSA) refused to go dark, fold, or cease music making even as the pandemic surged around it. As the Colorado Symphony begins its first indoor concert season in 18 months, take a look back at the how the organization persevered despite seemingly insurmountable odds and join us in looking forward to a triumphant return replete with incredible performances, educational programming, and exhilarating collaborations.

Music has the power to bring people together, inspire, and unite the human spirit. The Colorado Symphony Association (CSA) believes that symphonic music must be available to everyone and that communities thrive when music is accessible to all. As part of this mission, the Colorado Symphony announced in January an exciting new addition to its educational programing in partnership with Canta y Baila Conmigo® (CyBC). The CSA’s Education department was awarded a Bowen Family Performing Arts Fund grant to pilot the CyBC program in 10 bilingual classrooms within the Adams 14 School District. 

On Monday June 14, 2021, your Colorado Symphony unveiled a new logo in conjunction with the announcement of the 2021/22 Classics Season schedule. This special moment in time presents a once-in-a-century opportunity, for a jubilant revival of live concerts after a worldwide, year-long health pandemic, and a reaffirmation of our standing as an inventive and exciting organization. As the season progresses, you’ll see shifts in color to truly reflect how music's in our nature. We took great care in considering all elements of our past to carry us into our dynamic and exciting future. With this new mark we truly become Colorado’s Symphony.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado Symphony musicians have provided invaluable mentorship and instruction wherever and whenever possible, engaging with DYAO students virtually and in person when it was safe to do so in an effort to provide continued education during a time of great uncertainty. For the musicians of the Colorado Symphony, mentoring DYAO students has always been a meaningful experience, but perhaps never more so than during this past year, lacking the joy and comfort so often experienced during live performances at Boettcher Concert Hall. As the organizations look ahead to more exciting collaborations in the coming years, the future of symphonic music has never looked brighter.