FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Nick Dobreff, Communications and Creative Director
616.485.3913 (m) – 303.308.2477 (o)
ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org
COLORADO SYMPHONY AND DENVER YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA RENEW STRATEGIC ALLIANCE THROUGH 2028
Partnership continues shared commitment to music education, artistic excellence, and nurturing Colorado’s next generation of musicians.
Jun. 29, 2026 – Denver, CO – The Colorado Symphony and the Denver Young Artists Orchestra (DYAO) today announced the renewal of their longstanding strategic alliance, extending the partnership through June 30, 2028. Effective July 1, 2026, the renewed agreement reaffirms both organizations’ shared commitment to providing exceptional educational and artistic opportunities for young musicians throughout Colorado.
Established in 2018, the alliance formalized a relationship that dates back nearly five decades. Founded in 1977 with the support of the Denver Symphony — now the Colorado Symphony — DYAO has become one of the nation’s leading youth orchestra programs, serving hundreds of young musicians from across the Rocky Mountain region.
“At the Colorado Symphony, we believe music has a unique power to inspire, connect, and bring people together across generations and communities,” said Colorado Symphony President & CEO Daniel Wachter. “Our renewed alliance with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra reflects our commitment to that vision by investing in young musicians, expanding access to meaningful artistic experiences, and strengthening the future of symphonic music in Colorado. Together, we are not only nurturing the next generation of artists and audiences, but also advancing our mission to inspire and unite humanity through live symphonic music.”
The renewed agreement preserves the programmatic collaboration that has defined the alliance since its inception. Key initiatives include the annual Side-by-Side Concert featuring Colorado Symphony musicians performing alongside DYAO students, sectional coaching opportunities with Colorado Symphony musicians, complimentary student tickets to select Colorado Symphony performances, and the Colorado Symphony’s continued provision of ticketing services for DYAO performances at Boettcher Concert Hall. DYAO will also continue its role as an Artistic Affiliate of the Colorado Symphony.
“Renewing our Alliance partnership with the Colorado Symphony is an investment in the young artists who call DYAO home,” said Michael Williams, Executive Director of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra. “From sectional coachings to the annual Side-by-Side concert, our students learn in real time alongside extraordinary CSA musicians, and that mentorship leaves a mark that lasts far beyond any single rehearsal or performance. That is the power of community in music education, and we are thrilled to carry this work forward together.”
The renewed agreement also reflects the natural evolution of both organizations, with several structural updates designed to support their continued growth while maintaining each organization’s independent operations and governance. DYAO has appointed Michael Williams as its permanent Executive Director, effective July 1, 2026, following his service in the role on an interim basis. Williams has worked closely with Colorado Symphony leadership throughout the alliance and will continue to guide the collaboration between the two organizations.
As part of the renewed agreement, DYAO will also independently engage its own Music Director beginning with the 2026/27 season.
“The Colorado Symphony is proud to continue our alliance with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra,” said Colorado Symphony Chief Artistic Officer Tony Pierce. “Over the past eight years, this partnership has created meaningful opportunities for young musicians to learn directly from professional artists, perform on Colorado’s premier stages, and deepen their connection to the orchestral art form. Together, we are helping to ensure a vibrant future for music in our community.”
The relationship between the Colorado Symphony and DYAO has strengthened through years of artistic collaboration, including annual Side-by-Side performances and mentorship opportunities. DYAO alumni have gone on to perform with the Colorado Symphony — including current CSA musicians Larisa Fesmire, Marsha Holmes, Paul Naslund, and John Hilton — as well as other leading orchestras throughout the country including the Atlanta Symphony, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, and Metropolitan Opera.
Founded in 1977, Denver Young Artists Orchestra provides rigorous orchestral training, performance opportunities, and after-school programs for more than 300 students ages seven to twenty-three from over 100 schools across Colorado. Through its orchestras, and educational programs, DYAO inspires and prepares young musicians to pursue excellence both on and off the stage.
DYAO continues to transform young musicians by giving them the inspiration, support, and skills to be tomorrow’s great musicians. This is accomplished through peer monitoring within and between ensembles, yearly concerto and composition competition, and educational assistance through regular coaching sessions with professional musicians including members of the Colorado Symphony.
For more information about the Colorado Symphony, visit coloradosymphony.org or call 303.623.7876. For more information on the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, visit dyao.org.
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CONTACT:
For more information or to request interviews, please contact:
Nick Dobreff, Communications and Creative Director
ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org – 303.308.2477 (o)
For high-resolution, downloadable images of the Colorado Symphony, contact: ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org
Support for the 2026/27 Colorado Symphony Season is provided by: The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), Denver Arts & Venues, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, CU Anschutz, The Schoen Foundation, and the Colorado Symphony Guild.
TICKETS:
Tickets to Colorado Symphony events are available online at coloradosymphony.org/tickets, by phone at 303.623.7876, and in person at the Boettcher Concert Hall Box Office, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1000 14th Street. The Box Office is open Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, noon – 5 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance.
ABOUT THE DENVER YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA
Founded in 1977 with the support of the Denver Symphony Orchestra, the award-winning Denver Young Artists Orchestra has been the premier option for aspiring young musicians in the front range for over 45 years. Now operating as an educational affiliate to the Colorado Symphony, the organization’s four orchestras, educational workshops, and after-school Tune Up violin classes train over 300 students, ages seven to twenty-three, from more than 100 schools across Colorado. DYAO performs throughout the Denver metro with large scale, collaborative, and outreach performances. Members of the orchestras graduate into conservatories and universities across the country including Brown University, The Eastman School of Music, Harvard University, The Juilliard School, Stanford University, and Yale University. Alumni who continued on to professional music careers are found in many major orchestras across the country including the Atlanta Symphony, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, and Metropolitan Opera. To learn more, visit dyao.org.
ABOUT THE COLORADO SYMPHONY
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 Peter Oundjian as its Music Director as of the 2025/26 season, the Colorado Symphony is home to eighty full-time musicians representing more than a dozen nations and regularly welcomes the world’s most celebrated artists from across musical genres. The orchestra celebrated its Centennial during the 2023/24 concert season and now serves more than 340,000 people each year through live performances at Boettcher Concert Hall, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, and other venues throughout Colorado’s Front Range. Boettcher Concert Hall, which opened in 1978, was the first in-the-round symphonic venue built in the United States. In November 2025, voters passed the Vibrant Denver Bond, which allocates $20 million to a future renovation of the concert hall. Guided by a vision to inspire and unite humanity through live symphonic music, the Colorado Symphony is a living heartbeat of the state — expressing its beauty, creativity, vitality, and inclusive spirit. Through unmatched artistry and bold innovation, the Symphony inspires Colorado and audiences everywhere while expanding access, fostering education, and creating lasting memories through meaningful personal connections. Recognized as an incubator of innovation, creativity, and excellence, the Colorado Symphony listens to and learns from its diverse communities, musicians, and staff; composes and creates with curiosity and versatility; and leads with empathy, collaboration, and responsible stewardship. The Symphony continually expands its reach through in-person and virtual education programs, community partnerships, and programming that celebrates achievement, honors diverse voices, and infuses joy on and off the stage. The Colorado Symphony partners with leading musical artists, cultural organizations, corporations, foundations, educators, sports teams, and individuals to connect people, uplift communities, and inspire everyone to feel part of something greater.