For Colorado Symphony patrons, no visit to Boettcher Concert Hall is complete without a trip to the Colorado Symphony Guild Shop. Located in Gallery 1 on the first floor of Boettcher Concert Hall, the Guild Shop is a gift-givers delight full of unique souvenirs, seasonal fashions, and recordings produced by the Colorado Symphony.
But what may be less apparent to casual observers is the long, storied history shared by the Colorado Symphony and The Guild, a relationship that stretches back to the very birth of what is now known as the Colorado Symphony.
During the Great Depression, the Denver Civic Orchestra, a semi-professional precursor to the Denver Symphony Orchestra, struggled to pay musicians and find customers willing to pay for performances. In 1934, the Symphony’s volunteer publicist, Helen Marie Black, along with prominent local figures Jeanne Cranmer and Lucille Wilkin founded the Denver Symphony Orchestra. Black would go on to become the first woman CEO of a major United States symphony orchestra, while serving as the Denver Symphony Orchestra’s business manager for more than 30 years, including twelve of them as an unpaid volunteer.
Shortly after the founding of the DSO, Ms. Cranmer envisioned an organization that would serve the DSO, not only in fundraising but as a nurturer of great music presentation and the creation of future audiences from the youth of the city. So, in 1935 she hosted a luncheon with six of her friends, including Helen Marie Black, at the Denver Country Club. It was at this meeting that the wheels were set in motion to form such an organization.
During a meeting at Mrs. Cramner’s home with 75 of Denver’s cultural leaders, the Women’s Committee for the Orchestra was officially formed with Ms. Cranmer elected as Chairmen, a post she held until 1940.
The Women’s Committee became the precursor to the Denver Symphony Guild, which changed its name in 1940 and in1947 saw the establishment of Music Appreciation Groups in various areas of Denver. The goal was to support the Denver Symphony Orchestra and encourage musical appreciation, knowledge, and participation of its members and the community. This continues to be the Guild’s purpose today.
Guild members celebrating a Colorado Symphony Milestone at Carnagie Hall.
Throughout their history, Guild members have been vital to many Symphony events and programs. As far back as 1947, the Guild promoted the orchestra’s first Red Rocks concert series by staffing five Thursday-Friday ticket booths in strategic Denver locations preceding the weekend events. The Guild helped expand the orchestra’s Education Department with the formation of the Junior Guild’s original “Tiny Tots” program in 1967. In 1973, a $30,000 Guild gift underwrote the orchestra’s first recording. And when Boettcher Hall opened in 1977 and was dedicated in 1978, Guild members served as ushers for introductory tours as well as the inaugural “Pick a Seat” program.
The Guild has maintained this strong relationship through the highs and lows in the Symphony’s past. When, in 1988, the Denver Symphony Orchestra suffered a severe financial downturn with its concert season suspended for several months, the Guild remained loyal. Their devotion was rewarded as the Symphony survived and emerged stronger as the Colorado Symphony. Thereafter, the Guild Board voted on a name change to Colorado Symphony Guild.
After more than 90 years, the CSG continues to be an invaluable component of the Colorado Symphony’s success. Over that time, the Guild has provided over $4.5 million in donations to the Colorado Symphony. Last year the Guild was able to donate a record sum of $83,000 to the Colorado Symphony.
“The generous support of the Colorado Symphony Guild is vital to the success of our organization.”
Peter Oundjian
“The generous support of the Colorado Symphony Guild is vital to the success of our organization,” said Music Director Peter Oundjian. “We’re grateful not only for the Guild’s outstanding financial support through fundraising efforts and sales at the Guild Shop, but also for the support they provide to our musicians and staff throughout the season. Their passion and enthusiasm for the Colorado Symphony energizes our entire organization.”
Today, the most visible and well-known element is the Guild Shop, which debuted in 1983 as a card table in the Boettcher Concert Hall lobby where wrapping paper was sold. The Shop has evolved into a go-to boutique for unique musically oriented gifts, fine leather goods and jewelry, and trend setting clothing that appeals to the diverse patrons of the Colorado Symphony. And it has justified its transformation by producing more than $1 million in total net proceeds.
Colorado Symphony Guild staff at work.
“The Colorado Symphony Guild has a proud history of supporting the Symphony and helping connect our community with great music,” said Lucia Machado, the current president of the Colorado Symphony Guild. “As we look ahead, we’re focused on building upon that legacy by welcoming new members, creating opportunities for engagement, and continuing to provide meaningful support for the Colorado Symphony. It’s exciting to be part of an organization that has made such an impact for more than 90 years, and we’re looking forward to what’s next.”
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