The Scene / Arts

THE MUSIC OF FRIENDS

Telluride Chamber Music celebrates 50 years, a reimagining and new endeavors

BY ELLEN METRICK

she says, adding, “It’s important to be able to listen to all sorts of musical genres, so TCM plays a valuable role.”

TCM also collaborates with Telluride Dance Collective to bring a show every other winter to the local Michael D. Palm Theatre. This winter, TCM events include a concert with TAKE3, a violin, cello and piano trio that will perform a family-friendly holiday show on Dec. 29 in collaboration with local arts group Palm Arts. There’s also Love Letters to Vincent Van Gogh, a performance that will take place on March 24 and features local poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer and pianist Kayleen Asbo.

Another exciting development at Telluride Chamber Music was bringing MusicFest under its banner in 2022, which has allowed both programs to thrive. A much-loved, long-running local series that takes place over nine days in late June and early July, MusicFest offers a uniquely intimate chamber music experience in private homes.

And, because friends are all around and adaptation means thriving, there are more exciting events being planned all the time. “It’s my dream to one day have the whole New York Philharmonic orchestra on the Town Park stage,” says Beard. “If anyone has a creative funding idea, do get in touch.”

THE SCENE / ARTS

Mountain Airs

The perfect end to a day on the slopes has to be live music in the mountains. In Telluride, the beautiful and historic Sheridan Opera House and sleek Michael D. Palm Theatre are the places to catch big names, up-and-comers and indie favorites, while local bars like The Alibi and Fly Me to the Moon Saloon at O’Bannon’s play host to more intimate gigs, local and regional musicians and DJs. In Mountain Village, Club Red is a popular hotspot renowned for drawing an eclectic, compelling mix of musicians to its stylish space nestled in a corner of the Telluride Conference Center.

Artthrob Love

The Ah Haa School for the Arts’ winter fundraiser, ArtThrob takes place on Feb. 17 and promises, organizers say, an evening full of heart celebrating what this community loves most: creativity, community and cocktails. It’s all in support of visual arts programming at Ah Haa, the much-loved hub of arts education in Telluride.

Take a bow, TAB

At the intersection of art and activism sits the Telluride AIDS Benefit, which this season takes place Feb. 19-26. The extraordinary event includes a Gala Fashion Show, Student Fashion Show, art exhibitions, health initiatives and more. Begun nearly 30 years ago as a street dance to raise funds for a local battling AIDS, this wonderfully inspiring celebration has all the while maintained a laser-like focus on the cause, raising over $4 million to fight HIV/AIDS by heightening awareness and generating financial support for education and client care regionally, nationally and internationally. TAB is also hosting a World AIDS Day event, Dec. 1 at the Wilkinson Public Library. Attendees can learn more about getting involved as a TAB volunteer or model, meet board and staff, speak with local high school students who participated in TAB’s Student HIV Awareness Project, hear from the organization’s equity partners and more. Bravo, TAB.

Winter festivals

Sure, the box canyon plays host to a trove of summer festivals, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have some festival fun come wintertime too.

From Feb. 15-18, expect uproarious laughter at the Sheridan Opera House as the Telluride Comedy Festival brings national talents to town for a long weekend of laugh-out-loud stand-up, sketch and improv. Then, in March, Telluride Theatre launches the Telluride Fringe Festival. In what promises to be a riotous inaugural celebration of arts and culture — and this community’s wild creativity — look for performance art in all its forms at various venues from March 7-10 and 14-17.