Celebrating young musicians and equipping our future leaders. We are music without barriers!
Vision: El Sistema Colorado envisions a world where every young person, regardless of background, has access to music's transformative power. In partnership with our community, we embolden young musicians to become confident, empathetic, and resilient leaders who contribute to a more representative, creative, and connected society.
Mission: El Sistema Colorado is a tuition-free, excellence-driven, and opportunity-focused youth orchestra program that develops musical and personal agency, transcends socioeconomics, and strengthens community.
Our Latest Update
El Sistema Colorado’s Mid-Fall Show & Tell, a celebration of progress, possibility, and the power of music to bring us together.
Across our program, from first-time beginners to advanced young musicians, students have been working hard building skills, finding confidence, and learning to listen, lead, and collaborate.
For our beginning students, every note is a first step, a moment of courage and curiosity.
Our intermediate players are finding their voice, developing technique, and deepening their connection to the music and to one another.
And our advanced ensembles are rising to new challenges by pushing their artistry, building leadership, and setting the tone for what’s possible when young people are given the tools to thrive.
At El Sistema Colorado, we believe music should be a right, not a privilege. That means creating equitable access, removing barriers, and ensuring every child, no matter their background, has the opportunity to grow through music.
This Show & Tell isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress. It’s about community. It’s about showing up, trying something new, and knowing you belong.
Thank you to our students, families, and teaching artists for making this work possible. This is what music without barriers looks like. This is El Sistema Colorado.
What We Do
El Sistema Colorado serves youth ages 3-18 by offering free string instruments and free music lessons in the setting of an orchestra. All students are welcome to apply but we prioritize enrollment for low-income families.
We operate our no-cost programs from our dedicated music center in Denver’s Curtis Park neighborhood. Our after school program takes place on Monday - Friday from 4:30-6:30. Most of our students receive 2-3 hours of music instruction per week and many also receive free private lessons.
While the program is free, our students and families have a high level of commitment to be a part of the program. We exist to provide access to high quality music education no matter what.
We are committed to the whole child, cultivating a community of support for the whole family and greater community, which is impacted by our young musicians’ growing self-confidence, social-emotional development and leadership skills.
We are music without barriers!
Gender (Afterschool)
Race (Afterschool)
Location Program
Enrollment
*demographic data updated January 2024
Our Partners
Long-term mentoring partnerships with local professional orchestras and chamber ensembles are central to ESC’s programming. These collaborations open doors to the highest level of classical music for our wide range of young musicians.
Get Involved
We invite you to join us in this Purpose. Whether you are a potential partner, donor, volunteer, or advocate, there are countless ways to support El Sistema Colorado. Your involvement can help us reach even more children, create even greater impact, and continue making a lasting difference in our community.
Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience the joy, creativity, and empowerment that comes from music education.
Volunteer
Offering your time and talents can make an incredible impact in the lives of our students! Fill out our volunteer form.
Work With Us
Visit our jobs page to see what postions El Sistema Colorado is currently hiring for.
Join Our Board
Apply to join our governing body that focuses on high level strategy, oversight, and accountability.
Donate Instruments
We are looking to add violins, violas, cellos and double basses for our ever-growing string orchestra program.
Make a Difference
Your gift creates Music Without Barriers, transforming lives through access, equity, and the power of music.
Giving Circles
Supporters – $25
Patrons – $50
Ambassadors – $120 / $10 per month
Musician Circle – $600 / $50 per month
Orchestra Circle – $1,200 / $100 per month
Maestro Circle – $3,000 / $250 per month
Executive Director Levels
Sostenuto – $10,000
Maestoso – $25,000
Bravo – $50,000+
Planned Giving
Legacy Society – Ensure music education for generations to come
Sponsorship Opportunities
Event Sponsorship
Partners in Harmony Benefit Concert
Colorado Gives Day
Seasonal Concerts
Program Sponsorship
Summer Programs
Early Childhood Education
Afterschool Orchestra Program
Accelerando (Private Lessons & Masterclasses)
Join a circle of supporters by giving Monthly and sustain our mission year-round.
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ESC was founded in January 2012 with the first after school program in Denver Public Schools serving students at Garden Place Academy, adding Swansea Elementary and Bruce Randolph Middle & High School in the fall of 2013.
Drawing on the inspiration and approach from the original El Sistema established in Venezuela over 40 years ago, the founders of El Sistema Colorado envisioned children of marginalized communities having the same access to music as their more privileged peers.
Since our founding, ESC has served over 1,500 youth throughout Denver. We seek funding to expand our music programs to effectively serve our students with the highest quality music education possible.
In October 2019, we opened the doors to our very own music center and moved programming to our new location in the heart of Curtis Park. We currently serve over 100 students from all across Denver every week.
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El Sistema was founded in Venezuela in 1975 by economist and musician José Antonio Abreu and is now known as Fundación Musical Simón Bolívar. The system was designed to improve the life trajectory of young people living in poverty and as a paradigm for social change.
The intensive approach engages youth in group lessons, rehearsals and performance, while emphasizing peer learning and community engagement. The goals of El Sistema center on developing critical life skills and laying the groundwork for success.
An important product of El Sistema is the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, fed by young musicians from the program. The orchestra made its debut and succeeded brilliantly at an international competition in 1977 in Aberdeen, Scotland and has since toured extensively in Europe and America.
The El Sistema model has become a worldwide phenomenon as more music and education leaders have visited Venezuela and been inspired to adapt the program to their communities. Others have learned about El Sistema through the news media—including the news program 60 Minutes, which profiled the organization—as well as through the popularity of Los Angeles Philharmonic Music Director Gustavo Dudamel and other El Sistema graduates.
El Sistema has spurred conversations about how to reach low-income children using this daily, orchestra-based model of music education. The movement has expanded rapidly in the United States, including the formation of numerous El Sistema-inspired programs.
To learn more, you can watch the TED Talk for Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu here.