Our Partners
The work of El Sistema Colorado would not be possible without the support of the numerous sponsors and community partners. Our heartfelt thanks goes out to each one for their support.
El Sistema Colorado is a registered public charity (EIN 92-0312087). For more information about making a donation please contact Executive Director Ingrid Larragoity or call the Development Office at (303) 953-0063.
Community Partnerships
El Sistema Colorado regularly partners with like-minded arts organizations in the community, from one-off performances to year-long mentorship programs. Past partners have included Colorado Symphony, Yo-Yo Ma, Denver Young Artist Orchestra, Museo de las Américas, Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, and many more. ESC is also a founding member of the Alliance for Music Education Equity (AMEE) and regularly collaborates with the 14 other AMEE music organization members to collectively identify and implement actions to address diversity, equity and inclusivity in music education in Denver.
Because social justice is one of the pillars our mission is built upon, ESC regularly partners with diverse collaborators who help us carry out our mission of empowering students to find their voice, develop determination and celebrate their identity in a safe environment of belonging. Developing our student's musical ability is just one facet of how we consider community partnerships.
This season’s major partners are the Colorado Symphony, Harumi Rhodes of the Takács Quartet, the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Koa String Quartet. All four major partners are undertaking long-term mentorship projects with various ESC ensembles, lending their skill, wisdom, and experience as guideposts on our young musicians’ musical journeys. You’ll find a description of each major partnership below.
The 2024-25 Colorado Symphony/ESC Mentorship Program aims to further ESC’s mission of creating access to the world of classical music for historically marginalized communities by integrating regular mentorship touchpoints with Colorado Symphony musicians into our Crescendo Orchestra’s year-long curriculum. The same group of 4 CSA musicians will visit ESC a total of 10-12 times, at least once per month, culminating in a side-by-side performance to showcase the process and outcomes of the partnership. We’ll focus on not only musical mentorship, but introducing and fostering the skills necessary for our students to become successful professionals and to contribute to their communities in positive ways.
The Denver Philharmonic Orchestra is entering its 76th season as one of Denver’s premiere orchestral performing ensembles. Their accessible, multigenerational, and community-minded approach to classical music aligns closely with ESC’s core values, and will guide their 2024-25 season of partnership with ESC. The Denver Phil’s energies will be directed towards ESC’s Allegro orchestra, aiming to engage and welcome students into the professional music scene in Denver from a young age and support a side-by-side performance during the Denver Phil’s 24-25 season.
Harumi Rhodes is one of violinists in the Takács Quartet, a Grammy-winning, world-renowned string quartet that has been at the top of the chamber music scene since its founding in 1975. She's a well-known recording artist, faculty member at CU Boulder's College of Music, and an extraordinary string educator. The 2024-25 season is her second year of mentorship with ESC's top chamber ensemble, the Mycelium Quintet. Through this incredible partnership, our chamber students explore what it means to be an excellent chamber musician professionally, musically, and emotionally.
The Koa String Quartet is currently the graduate string quartet-in-residence at CU Boulder, under the mentorship of the ESC collaborator and legendary chamber ensemble Takacs Quartet. Koa members Heewon Lee, Kisa Uradomo, Leah Pernick, and Tommy Chafe will extend both the mentorship that they receive from the Takacs Quartet and the mentorship strategies that Takacs uses with our Mycelium Quintet to a long-term, side-by-side mentorship relationship with our beginning chamber ensemble, the Quartet Nova. Through this partnership starting in January, Quartet Nova will receive (25) hours of chamber ensemble coaching, side-by-side performance opportunities, and the chance to develop professional relationships with the extraordinary musicians in the Koa String Quartet.