artistic director and conductor, Maestro Zachary Carrettin. (courtesy Boulder Bach Festival, Photo by Keith Bobo)
Music Events In Boulder County and Surrounding Areas
Ars Nova Singers Boulder, Colorado’s Ars Nova Singers, an a cappella choral group, invites you to embrace the texture of sound with each resonating note as they perform choral music from the Renaissance as well as the 20th and 21st centuries. www.arsnovasingers.org. Arts Longmont: Friday Afternoon Concerts & Art Shows Arts Longmont and the Longmont Museum team up to present monthly low-cost programs (beginning in October) that combine musical performances with an art exhibit by a local artist. Art shows open at 1:30pm; music begins at 2:30pm. In the Stewart Auditorium at the Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road. www.artslongmont.org. Arvada Center The center, at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. in Arvada, hosts a number of musical performances throughout the season. See www.arvadacenter.org for the complete lineup. Aster Women’s Chamber Choir ASTER Women’s Chamber Choir performs in Boulder and Broomfield. www.asterchoir.org. Boulder Bach Festival The Boulder Bach Festival celebrates the music of Johann Sebastian Bach all year long with high-quality performances and educational opportunities in Boulder, Longmont and Denver. Check www.boulderbachfestival.org for more details and venue information. Boulder Bassoon Quartet This group likes to joke that they go on tour ”all the way from north Boulder to south Boulder,” but if you check their calendar, you’ll see that they get out of town once in a while, too. See upcoming performance dates at www.boulderbassoons.com. Boulder Chamber Orchestra The BCO strives to make classical music accessible to all, through connection and education; giving back to the community in the form of affordable concerts and free educational classes. www.boulderchamberorchestra.com. Boulder Chorale Boulder’s oldest and largest community chorus, the Boulder Chorale includes more than 200 singers, ages 5 to 90+, perform in seven ensembles at free concerts, high-profile community events, and traditional performances. boulderchorale.org Boulder Concert Band The BCB provides our community with outstanding performances of traditional and modern concert literature and enriches the cultural experience of the audience and the musicians. The BCB also provides a community organization for adults who wish to continue to play their instruments after completing high school or college. www.boulderconcertband.org. Boulder Friends of Jazz Monthly Jams 1st Sundays: BFJ is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion and performance of traditional Dixieland jazz. Monthly jam sessions are held the first Sunday of every month from 1-4pm at the Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road. Everyone who signs in is guaranteed to play. 303-449-9596; www.boulderfriendsofjazz.org Boulder Opera A local nonprofit dedicated to enriching our community through the art form of opera, the Boulder Opera is committed to making opera accessible, inspiring and engaging to the community. www.boulderoperacompany.com Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra Founded in 1958, the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra is creating a new model for American orchestras through dynamic performances that reflect our community’s own values, creativity, and sense of place. The Boulder Phil’s main concert series—broadcast state-wide on Colorado Public Radio—is presented at Macky Auditorium, a historic jewel on the University of Colorado campus. www.boulderphil.org Boulder Public Library Concert Series Boulder Public Library presents dozens of outstanding concerts each year that are free and open to the public. Check www.boulderlibrary.org for these and other scheduled performances. The main library is at 1000 Canyon Blvd., 303-441-4492. 2nd Wednesdays: Midday Music Meditation, noon (Main) 3rd Tuesdays: Lunchtime Concert Series, noon (Main) Boulder Renaissance Consort The Boulder Renaissance Consort, formed in 1980, specializes in performing music from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Don't miss their annual Christmas concert, and other local performances. boulderrenaissanceconsort.org Boulder Symphony Orchestra Founded in 2009, Boulder Symphony is a community-focused orchestra with a drive to enhance the music scene in Boulder and beyond. They perform symphonic music’s most monumental repertoire and provide the soundtrack for local flash mobs, fully-staged operas, and many world premieres. www.bouldersymphony.org Boulder Theater The historic Boulder Theater, just off the Pearl Street Mall, hosts national music acts year-round. The Boulder Theater is at 2034 14th St. 303-786-7030; www.bouldertheater.com. Broomfield Auditorium The city of Broomfield hosts a wide variety of concerts in the spacious, state-of-the-art Broomfield Auditorium each season. Check www.attheaudi.com for the winter/spring schedule. The auditorium is at 3 Community Park Road in Broomfield. Cantabile Singers Feb. 8 & 10: “A Musical Life: Childhood to Today” is a collaboration with the Douglass Elementary Choir, featuring poetry written, music composed and songs sung by children. Friday, 7:30pm at First Congregational Church, 1128 Pine St., Boulder; Sunday, 2pm at Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road, Longmont. www.cantabilesingers.org. Spring, TBA: Reflections on a Mexican Garden Chamber Ensemble Con Grazia This popular ensemble performs in Broomfield and sometimes in Arvada; find updated winter/spring performance information at www.congrazia.com. Chautauqua Concerts The historic Chautauqua Auditorium and Community House draw popular performers from all over the world. Visit www.chautauqua.com for a full schedule of concerts, plus ticket information (many sell out quickly). 900 Baseline Road. 303-442-3282 ext. 35. Feb. 1: The Sweet Remains April 6: Upstate April 27: Griffin House Colorado Fiddle Championships Jan. 12-13: 17th-annual event includes contests for all ages, all the way from “Small Fry” to “Grand Senior.” At the National Western Stock Show Complex in Denver, during the opening weekend of the National Western Stock Show. Check for the updated schedule at www.coloradofiddlers.org. Colorado Haiti Project: A Night of Songs and Stories for Haiti Jan. 11: CHP presents an evening of Haitian music and stories of the country’s resilience, on the anniversary of the devastating earthquake there in 2010. 9pm at Laughing Goat, 1709 Pearl St. www.coloradohaitiproject.com. Colorado Mahlerfest XXXII May 13-19: The 32nd-annual MahlerFest offers open rehearsals, chamber concerts, conducting master classes and a symposium. Events are held at Macky Auditorium on the CU campus and at Dairy Arts Center. Find an updated schedule at www.mahlerfest.org. Colorado Music Festival/Center for Musical Arts This one-of-a-kind organization provides a broad spectrum of music-education opportunities and world-class performances, including the Colorado Music Festival held each summer. For a list of fall events and classes for all ages and abilities, check www.comusic.org. The center is at 200 E. Baseline Road in Lafayette. Colorado Repertory Singers Dec. 7-8: “Reflections,” CRS’s holiday concert, showcases stories and songs that will “stir your heart and mind with winter reflections.” At Broomfield Auditorium, 3 Community Park Road; check www.coloradorepertorysingers.org for tickets. March 15: Requiem, W.A. Mozart May 17-18: Sounds of an American Choir Colorado Symphony Orchestra Most of CSO’s performances are at Boettcher Concert Hall, 1000 14th St., Denver. A few upcoming performances are listed here, but see www.coloradosymphony.org for the full schedule and ticket details. Dec. 21-22: Too Hot to Handel Dec. 31: A Night in Vienna Jan. 10: Special Guest Itzhak Perlman Feb. 2 & May 11: Sensory-Friendly Performances May 4: Women of Rock CU Presents & CU College of Music The University of Colorado’s Artist Series has been bringing world-class musical performances to Boulder for more than 70 years. CU’s College of Music also presents numerous events during the year, including free student and faculty recitals. (Also see separate listing for Ecklund Opera Program.) Find more info about the events listed below, and many others, at www.cupresents.org. Jan. 31: Silkroad Ensemble Feb. 12: CU Symphony Orchestra Feb. 16: Kodo One Earth Tour March 4: Tafelmusik March 10: CU International Guitar Festival April 13: African Highlife Ensemble Dickens Opera House Longmont’s historic 1881 opera house, downtown at Third and Main streets, hosts live music several nights per week, and many events are free. See the winter/spring lineup at www.dickensoperahouse.com. Eklund Opera Program March 15-17: In 19th-century rural Russia, romance and tragedy unfold in the fates of two sisters in Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin.” At CU’s Macky Auditorium; see www.cupresents.org for times and ticket info. undergraduate students. April 25-28: “The Turn of the Screw” by Benjamin Britten eTown Hall eTown Hall is a live-music venue in downtown Boulder that also has a full-service recording studio and is the setting for most tapings of the “eTown Live Radio Show.” See www.etown.org for information about the center and more upcoming shows. eTown Hall is at 1535 Spruce St. 303-443-8696. Dec. 7: Paul Kimbiris w/Kind Hearted Strangers Dec. 21: Dave King Trio Fox Theatre This nationally known club at 1135 13th St. on the Hill presents live shows several nights a week. A few highlights are listed below; check www.foxtheatre.com for updates. 303-443-3399 or 303-447-0095. Jan. 18: The Crystal Method Feb. 2: King Tuff: The Infinite Smiles Tour April 17: Reverend Horton Heat Lafayette Art Night Out May 10: Lafayette’s Art Night Out begins anew season with live music at Festival Plaza, 311 S. Public Road. See www.cityoflafayette.com/ano. Laughing Goat Coffeehouse The Laughing Goat, at 1709 Pearl St., hosts an eclectic variety of musical events every night of the week, including Wounded Bird on Jan. 12 and Rabblefish every second Wednesday. www.thelaughinggoat.com. Longmont Chorale Oct. 14: The Longmont Chorale’s new season begins with “Comin’ for to Carry Me Home: Songs of Faith, Hope and Deliverance.” 3pm at LifeBridge Church, 10345 Highway 66 in Longmont. www.longmontchorale.org. Dec. 16: Candlelight Concert, with Longmont Symphony Orchestra March 10: Rutter’s Mass of the Children and Other Songs of Childhood April 7: A Celtic Spring May 5: In the Mood for Pops & Jazz Longmont Symphony Orchestra Most of LSO’s performances are at Vance Brand Civic Auditorium, 600 E. Mountain View Ave., Longmont, but check www.longmontsymphony.org for more info about the dates listed here. Dec. 16: Candlelight Concert, with Longmont Chorale Feb. 23: Sounds of America April 6: Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto May 11: Pops Concert: The LSO in Space! Messiah Sing-Along Dec. 15-16: The Messiah Sing-Along has been a holiday tradition in Boulder since 1983. It’s open to all, and the audience is invited (but not required) to sing along with the Boulder Messiah Chorale and Orchestra. 5pm Saturday and 2pm & 7pm Sunday at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 14th and Pine streets. Organizers say the matinee is the most likely to sell out, so get tickets early at www.messiahsingalong.org. Nissi’s Nissi’s hosts live music several nights per week, and serves tapas and drinks. Shows start at 7:30pm and end around 9:30pm, 10pm on weekends. See the website for the winter/spring schedule, which includes Nelson Rangell, Dueling Pianos, Girls on Top and Peter Kater. 2675 North Park Drive, Lafayette. 303-665-2757; www.nissis.com. Opera on Tap The not-for-profit Opera on Tap’s mission is to prove that opera doesn’t have to be pretentious, boring or expensive. Performances are in Boulder and Denver; check www.operaontap.com. Oskar Blues Check the website calendar to see who’s playing at the four Oskar Blues locations: the original in Lyons; the Tasty Weasel Taproom in Longmont; and Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids in Longmont, the new Oskar Blues Boulder Taproom on the Pearl Street Mall. www.oskarblues.com. Planet Bluegrass Dec. 3-6: Check www.bluegrass.com in early December for info about ticket sales and camping reservations for Planet Bluegrass’s popular summer music festivals in Lyons and Telluride. They always sell out, so you’ll want to get tickets well in advance. Also, check after the first of the year for information about spring concerts in the Wildflower Pavilion. The Renaissance Project The Renaissance Project specializes primarily in Renaissance motets and other pieces of a similar aesthetic. The group’s performance calendar usually includes concerts in Boulder, Longmont and Denver; visit www.renaissanceprojectboulder.org for details. Resonance Women’s Chorus April 6, 7 & 13: This 125-voice chorus sings contemporary choral music with an emphasis on social awareness; details about the spring concert were not finalized at press time, so check www.resonancechorus.org for updates. Rocky Mountain Chorale Check www.rockymtnchorale.org for information about fall performances, which wasn’t available at press time. Rocky Mountain Revels Dec. 21, 22, 23 & 26: The Christmas Revels present “Nordic Lights,” with haunting melodies from Scandinavian lands, folk tales, trolls and an enchanted fox. Matinee and evening shows at Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Tickets: www.rockymountainrevels.org Rocky Ridge Music Center Rocky Ridge offers music seminars and recitals for all ages at locations in Boulder and Estes Park, plus a faculty concert series most Sundays in Estes Park called Music in the Mountains. Find the full schedule, registration info and venues at www.rockyridge.org. Seicento Baroque Ensemble March 22-24: Boulder-based Seicento Baroque Ensemble presents a spring concert called “In Your Court: A Royal Tour,” showcasing hauntingly beautiful verse anthems created for the Chapel Royal in England, theatrical music composed for the Viennese court and more. Performances are in Boulder, Longmont and Denver, so check www.seicentobaroque.org for venues more details. Sound Circle Sound Circle is an a cappella women’s ensemble based in Boulder; see www.soundcirclesings.org for a performance schedule. ST Julien Hotel Catch live music on the terrace or in the lovely lobby at St Julien Hotel, 900 Walnut St. Check the winter/spring events calendar at www.stjulien.com. Tara Performing Arts High School Candlelight Festival Dec. 14-16: Tara’s annual Christmas celebration for all ages showcases choral and handbell music, plus community carol singing by candlelight. 5pm & 8pm each evening at Pine Street Church, 1237 Pine St. www.tarahighschool.org.
