PARTNERS IN HARMONY
May 7th at 6:30 PM
Partnered with and performances by:
Koa String
Quartet
Welcome
Thank you for joining us , for our second annual partners concert and our first ever benefit concert, your support for our programming making a huge impact in the lives of many and continues to resonate for years to come.
We are proud of the work that we do as a community to embrace our youth in music education, leadership and excellence.
Tonight is a reflection of not only the hard work, dedication and commitment to our youth and music education but also to creating a viable pipeline for ALL of our diverse community of young musicians. We appreciate your donations and encourage you to be a lifelong patron to ensure the sustainability and viability of this unique program for years to come. Tonight is the night.
The Program
String Quintet in E Minor, H. 7 - Frank Bridge (1879-1941)
Mycelium Quintet
Partnership Reflections - Faculty Member Alex Vittal
From the Start - Laufey (b. 1999)
Mycelium Quintet
Selections from Songs for Children - Béla Bartók (1881-1945)
Quartet Nova and Koa String Quartet
Partnership Reflections: Faculty Member Jordan Grantonic
String Quartet in F Major, Mvt. 2 - Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Koa String Quartet
Partnership Reflections: Koa cellist Heewon Lee
Minuet - Ignatius Sancho (1729-1780)
Cadenza
Climber of Clouds, Felipe M. Vasconcelos (b. 1985)
Cadenza
Family Reflections: ESC Parent Manuel Martinez
Lyric for Strings: for young musicians - George Walker (1922-2018), arr. Gregory Walker
Cadenza, Colorado Symphony, and ESC Faculty
Partnership Reflections: CSA Violist Helen McDermott
Brook Green Suite: Mvts. I and III, Gustav Holst
Cadenza, Colorado Symphony, and ESC Faculty
Our Students
Senior students are denoted with a *
Cadenza
(Partnered with the Colorado Symphony Education Department)
Conductor: Jacob Kaminski
Violins
Nayeli Petersen
Jasmine Dozal
Yamil Alpiste
Diego Alpiste
Ruth Sanchez
Angelica Flores-Baltazar
Violas
Jade Vargas Reynoso *
Alan Larsen *
Jimmy Mohl
Cellos
Marieli Martinez Zambrano *
Alyssa Flores Diaz
Victoria Barrios Anzola
Joshua Howard
Penelope Lopez
Mycelium Quintet
(Partnered with Harumi Rhodes)
Coach: Alex Vittal
Jasmine Dozal, violin
Nayeli Petersen, violin
Jade Vargas Reynoso, viola *
Alan Larsen, viola *
Marieli Martinez, cello *
Quartet Nova
(Partnered with the Koa String Quartet)
Angelica Flores-Baltazar, violin
Jordan Grantonic, violin and coach
Jimmy Mohl, viola
Victoria Barrios Anzola, cello
Congratulations to our graduating seniors!
Our Partners
Harumi Rhodes is the second violinist of the internationally renowned Takács Quartet, performing 80 concerts a year worldwide. Acclaimed by the New York Times as a “deeply expressive violinist”, Rhodes has gained recognition as a multi-faceted musician with a distinctive musical voice. She is Associate Professor of Violin, Artist in Residence and Ralph E. and Barbara L. Christoffersen Faculty Fellow at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Rhodes combines her performing career with a passionate commitment to guiding young instrumentalists, composers, and chamber ensembles.
The Koa String Quartet is composed of violinists Kisa Uradomo (Maui, Hawai’i) and Leah Pernick (Metro Detroit, Michigan), violist Devin Cowan (Long Island, New York), and cellist Heewon Lee (O'ahu, Hawai’i). Koa is the Graduate String Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Colorado Boulder where they were the first prize winners of the 2024 Ekstrand Competition. Koa is invested in fostering musical engagement with students and presenting high quality classical music for community audiences. In addition to performing classical string quartet repertoire together, Koa also performs diverse repertoire such as film scores, pop covers, and folk music. During their time as a quartet, they have prioritized their goals through their educational residency at Bravo!Vail and their work as the Quartet-in-Residence at the Hana Hou Music Program. The name “Koa” comes from the tree in the Hawaiian Islands, and the wood symbolizes strength and courage.
Colorado Symphony Education Department’s El Sistema Colorado 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. We’re deeply grateful to symphony musicians Dakota Cotugno, Delcho Tenev, Kate Arndt, Helen McDermott, Kelsey, Adrienne Short, and Owen Lin for their enthusiastic partipationin this wonderful partnership!
Our Sponsors & Donors
Donors & Financial Partners
Aegon Transamerica Foundation
Colorado Creative Industries
Virginia W. Hill Foundation
Colorado Health Foundation
Bowen Family Performing Arts Fund
Margulf Foundation
Anschutz Foundation
Office of Children's Affairs
Denver Arts & Venues: Arts and Culture Fund
Classics for Kids
Bonfils-Stanton: Arts & Culture Quarterly
Community Grant
D'Adarrio Foundation
RiNo Art District 2024 Social Impact Grant
Genesis Inspiration Foundation
Special thanks to
Luther Strings
Luther Strings is here to serve the Orchestral Bowed String Instrumentalist community. The small business was established in 2018 by Denver native and Professor of Strings, Dr. Christopher Luther. Dr. Luther’s passion for instruments developed naturally through his strong desire to help his students find the highest quality instruments at prices they could afford. He believes outstanding instruments exist at every price range, and Luther Strings is committed to serving Colorado's bowed string community with these ideas in mind.
We offer Instrument Sales, Rentals, Repairs, Education, Concerts and More. Walk-Ins are always welcome!
Special thanks to
Mister Oso &
The Culinary Creative
Thank you to Sebastian Hoentzsch, Mister Oso, and The Culinary Creative for sponsoring our event and supporting our mission by providing the food for our reception. ¡Qué rico!
Special thanks to
Reunion Bakery
From master baker Ismael De Sousa comes Reunion Bread: a specialist bakery serving up oven-fresh artisanal breads, pastries, snacks, and specialty coffees. Inspired by traditional Portuguese cooking methods, Reunion Bread blends time-worn European baking techniques with the flavors of South America (think guava-filled, coconut-dusted Danishes). We’re so grateful for Reunion’s support, and we hope that it’s as much of a treat for you as it is for us!
Founding Supporters
The Piton Foundation
Jim Bye Memorial Fund
Major Supporters
Anschutz Foundation
Aegon Transamerica Foundation
BBSI
Denver Foundation: Gateway Fund II - Beacon Fund
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
Bowen Family Performing Arts Fund
Butler Family Fund
Colorado Creative Industries
Colorado Gives Foundation
Colorado Health Foundation
Denver Broncos
Denver Foundation
Denver Economic Development & Opportunity
D’Addario Foundation
Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province May Bonfils Stanton Memorial Fund
Huntington National Bank
Learfield Communications LLC
Office of Children’s Affairs
Rose Community Foundation
Sheila Fortune Foundation
Virginia W. Hill Foundation
Wend Foundation
Organizational Partners & Community Members
Ana Luna Uribe-Leteinturier
Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado
Bravo! Vail
Catholic Charities of Denver
Colorado Symphony Association
Colorado Thought Leaders Forum
Colorado Young Leaders
Complete Business Solutions
CSU Spur
Deloitte
Denver Art Museum
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Denver Performing Arts Center
Denver Philharmonic Orchestra
Denver Public Schools
Denver Housing Authority
DSST Cole
Early Excellence Program
Edward Hardy
El Sistema USA
Family Star Montessori
Friends of Chamber Music
History of Colorado Museum
Impact Denver
Inner-City School
Kids4Real
KPG Ken's Prints & Graphics
Latin Cultural Arts Center of Colorado
Lamont School of Music at The University of Denver
Lutheran Summer Music Festival
Luther Strings
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Mile High United Way
Newman Center for the Performing Arts
Open Door Learning Center
Peaks to Plains Suzuki Institute
Sistema Ravinia
Rivers & Roads Coffee
The Savoy
Scott Edgar
Sphere Ensemble
Sphinx Virtuosi
Takacs Quartet
Tasty Foods
Verena Fuentes
Donate Today!
Every child deserves access to the arts and each dollar you give helps us remove the barriers to music education.
$25 = 1 day of programming for 1 student
$50 = 1 hour private lesson
$150 = 1 week of programming for 1 student
$250 = 1 month of programming for 1 student
$500 = Purchases a new violin or viola
$2,500 = Sponsors 1 child for 1 semester
“Music education is important for every kid and El Sistema Colorado provides the resources for kids that wouldn’t have access otherwise. The community of caring musicians and families is life changing and deserves your dollar!”
– Alan
Graduating Senior
“People should donate to El Sistema Colorado because they provide opportunities for those that want to pick up an instrument but don’t have the resources. ESC is a welcoming community with amazing and lovable teachers that truly cherish their students, experiences, and musical journeys.”
– Jade
Graduating Senior
We are excited to announce the launch of our Senior Scholarship Fund, CODA!
CODA stands for “College, Opportunity, Development, Advancement.” This new initiative will provide financial support to all our graduating senior students as they take their next steps beyond high school. This is the first year of the scholarship, and we hope to grow it into a lasting tradition of support for our seniors.
If you would like to help us continue this meaningful gift, please consider making a donation and dedicating your contribution to “SCHOLARSHIP.” Your support will have a direct impact, celebrating our seniors and empowering them on their future journeys.
Thank You, Teaching Artists!
Katie Burns
String Pedagogy Specialist
Elise Cole
Jacob Kaminski
Jamie Wolf
ECE/Grants Manager
Elshaddai Mulugeta
Jordan Grantonic
Nixon Garcia
Amy Lindquist
Emilie Tupper
Arlibeth Rodriguez
Allyson Stibbards
Taylor Sapanara
Alex Vittal
Thank you also to our volunteers!
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendar to stay involved with some of these upcoming events.
Group Class Recital and Orchestras Concert
Thursday, May 8th @ 4:00 PM
Saturday, May 10th @ 1:00 PM
El Sistema Colorado
2980 Curtis Street, Denver, CO
Student Evaluations
Monday, May 12th @ 4:00 PM
Friday, May 16th @ 6:35 PM
El Sistema Colorado
2980 Curtis Street, Denver, CO
Professional Development
(No Classes)
Monday, May 19, 2025 — 4:20 PM
Friday, May 23, 2025 — 6:35 PM
Summer Break
From Monday, May 26th @ 12:00 AM through Friday, June 20th @ 11:55 PM
Summer Strings Camp
Monday, June 23rd @ 8:00 AM
Friday, June 27th @ 5:00 PM
El Sistema Colorado
2980 Curtis Street, Denver, CO
Music Without Borders:
A Transformative Collaboration with CEMUT
El Sistema Colorado is proud to launch “Music Without Borders,” a groundbreaking partnership with CEMUT, a like-minded music program in Juarez, MX. United by our shared mission to provide free, high-quality music education to underserved youth, this project is designed to break down barriers and build bridges-using music as our common language.
About the Project
Music Without Borders is a three-part, in-person exchange that will bring together students and educators from both sides of the border for deep cultural learning, musical growth, and lasting friendships:
March 2025: El Sistema Colorado teaching artist and admin team travelled to Juarez for immersive training, teaching, and cultural exchange with CEMUT’s students and faculty.
July 2025: CEMUT’s students and teachers will join us in Denver for our Summer Music Festival, making music and memories alongside our own students.
September 2025: The collaboration culminates in a side-by-side performance at Boettcher Hall, with CEMUT and El Sistema Colorado musicians performing together with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra.
Why It Matters
This partnership is about more than music. It’s about giving young people the chance to learn from each other, to see beyond borders, and to discover their own potential through the music. By connecting communities in Denver and Juarez, we foster understanding, excellence, and opportunity for students who might otherwise never meet.
Thank you for helping us create opportunities for our youth to make music without barriers. Together, we can inspire the next generation and build a more harmonious world.
How You Can Help
We need your support to make Music Without Borders a reality. Our goal is to raise $25,000 to cover travel, meals, housing, and all musical activities for our students and our guests from CEMUT. Your gift will directly fund life-changing experiences for young musicians-helping them grow as artists, leaders, and global citizens.
If you would like to support this special project, please let us know. Every contribution brings us closer to a world where music truly knows no boundaries.
About CEMUT
Led by Artistic Director Lizandro Garal, CEMUT offers a 100% free, high-quality music program to youth in Juarez, grounded in community, connection, and high standards-values we proudly share. Below is their Mission and Vision.
Mission
To provide musical education to children in Ciudad Juárez from an early age, enabling them to incorporate music as a core aspect of their lives while enhancing their humanity as thoughtful, sensitive, and capable individuals.
Vision
To become the most significant musical education project in the state of Chihuahua, recognized for its academic excellence and cultural impact.
Our Board
A special thank you to our board members who are deeply passionate about our mission and our community. Thank you for walking alongside El Sistema Colorado. If you are interested in joining our board to help provide long-term sustainability pleaser reach out to any of the members of the board, or apply online.
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Lindsey Damron
BOARD TREASURER
Director of Accounting, Gates Corporation
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Maria Irivarren
BOARD CHAIR
Broker Associate
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Angelica Rueda
BOARD SECRETARY
Dean of Enrollment Administration and Student Success
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Joanna Leonard
BOARD MEMBER
Director of Pharmacy
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Alexandra Manion
BOARD MEMBER
Licensed Psychologist
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Bridget McNeil
BOARD MEMBER
Assistant Section Chief, Wildlife & Marine Resources Section, Environment & Natural Resources Division, U.S. Department of Justice
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Edwina Lucero
BOARD MEMBER
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José Antonio Sánchez Cetina.
BOARD MEMBER
Assistant Professor at CU Denver School of Public Affairs.
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Amanda Laborete
BOARD MEMBER