Colorado Symphony Musicians

In 2020 the Colorado Symphony Association (CSA) formally outlined a set of 5 core values that would inform the organization’s mission moving forward: Excellence, Sustainability, Innovation, Community, and Diversity & Inclusion. Central to these core values was the 2020 adoption of a new Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion statement, an emphatic commitment of community support which reads:

Music brings people together to inspire and unite the human spirit. The Colorado Symphony Association believes that symphonic music must be available to everyone and that communities thrive when music is accessible to all.

The CSA is committed to being an inclusive organization where diverse perspectives are sought out and valued; and to create experiences for our audiences where all people and communities feel welcome, represented, and connected. The CSA will continuously strive to achieve greater inclusivity and equity by leading in a way that represents our art form, one of collectivism and harmony.

The CSA believes in the dignity of all and respects a diversity of cultures, identities, orientations, heritages, beliefs, and experiences. As a cultural institution and the only full-time professional symphony orchestra in the state, we recognize the power of symphonic music and believe we can bring our community together to create greater social understanding through live symphonic music.

In recent years, the Colorado Symphony has been among the national leaders in hosting community collaborations that are free to attend, exposing larger and more diverse audiences to the power of symphonic music. That includes annual collaborations with Denver’s Mexican Cultural Center on audience-favorite performances including Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas and the Denver Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute concert.

These community performances regularly bring first-time symphony audiences into Boettcher Concert Hall, as do unique collaborations with world renowned artists including Cynthia Erivo, Kristin Chenoweth, Leslie Odom, Jr., Bobby McFerrin, and two 2020 performances of The Music of Selena featuring Isabel Marie Sánchez.

But the Colorado Symphony’s mission extends far beyond the walls of Boettcher Concert Hall. At the heart of that mission lies a profound commitment to furthering music education and outreach statewide, providing increased access to live symphonic music for a growing and more diverse audience than ever before, and helping to inspire the next generation of musicians and concertgoers.

And what better way to spark curiosity around symphonic music than through the Colorado Symphony’s MusiCurious Youth Education programs, bringing young people