Skip to Content

Press

January 30, 2021

Colorado Symphony Charts Evolutionary Course For Artistic Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Nick Dobreff, Manager of Publicity and Community Relations
616.485.3913 (m) – 303.308.2477 (o)
ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org

COLORADO SYMPHONY CHARTS EVOLUTIONARY COURSE FOR ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP 
CSA plans period of discovery surrounding future podium assignments 

January 29, 2021 – Denver, CO – The Colorado Symphony Association (CSA) is pleased to announce a limited continuation of rehearsal and recording operations in Boettcher Concert Hall, without audiences, throughout winter and early spring 2021, which will include performances to honor Brett Mitchell’s tenure with the orchestra, including the last four as Music Director. After five seasons as part of the orchestra’s artistic leadership Mitchell will leave the post on June 30, 2021.

Recording projects are in progress for capture and future release on the Colorado Symphony’s Virtual Stage with conductors Brett Mitchell, Christopher Dragon, and Peter Oundjian leading the ensemble. The organization is currently working to preserve the ensemble and its skill set with rehearsals and performances without audiences during winter months in preparation for a robust outdoor spring/summer concert schedule. In addition, the CSA will shift its future podium staffing priorities to cultivate internal talent while working to showcase new and diverse leadership in its future as it navigates the effects of the COVID-19 health pandemic on the live music industry.

Internal structures governing the artistic planning processes with regard to the Artistic Department and musician leadership in the Artistic Committee will remain intact. Future events will be planned according to capacity and operational capabilities as local and state agencies release approved safety guidelines and restrictions for public gatherings and events.

During Mitchell’s five-season tenure he is credited with deepening the orchestra’s engagement with its audience via in-depth demonstrations from both the podium and the piano. He also expanded the orchestra’s commitment to contemporary American repertoire—with a particular focus on the music of Mason Bates, Missy Mazzoli, and Kevin Puts—through world premieres, recording projects, and commissions. In addition, Mitchell spearheaded collaborations with such local partners as Colorado Ballet, Denver Young Artists Orchestra, and El Sistema Colorado. The cancellation of the 2020/21 season, due to the COVID-19 health pandemic, halted the progress of other collaborations and recordings previously planned under Mitchell’s direction.

“The Colorado Symphony is grateful for Brett Mitchell’s contributions the past five seasons and is excited to enter an unprecedented period of discovery in artistic leadership in the organization’s nearly 100-year story,” said Jerome H. Kern, Chief Executive Officer & Board Chair for the Colorado Symphony. “We will look forward to seeing Maestro Mitchell on the podium again in future seasons, and are looking forward to the opportunity to explore new models of leadership for a 21st century ensemble.”

The Colorado Symphony looks forward to announcing summer and potential spring 2021 small-ensemble outdoor concerts and events in the coming months.

###

CONTACTS:   
For more information or to request interviews, please contact:
Nick Dobreff, Manager of Publicity and Community Relations
ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org - 303.308.2477 (o)

For high-resolution, downloadable images of the Colorado Symphony, contact: ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org

TICKETS:   
Tickets to Colorado Symphony events are available online at coloradosymphony.org/tickets or by phone at 303.623.7876. The Box Office is open for phone inquiries only, Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

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. Currently 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 its last fully operating year, the Colorado Symphony served nearly 233,000 people attending live performances at concert and non-traditional venues throughout Colorado’s Front Range. 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. To learn more, visit coloradosymphony.org.