Each summer, advanced student and expert faculty musicians come to Colorado College for the Summer Music Festival — an in-depth, three-week music program. The 2015 program, which runs through June 27, marks its 31st season with 52 festival participants or fellows, and more than 20 faculty artists. Fellows and faculty bring an international presence to campus, hailing from countries including Colombia, Canada, and Taiwan. Festival fellows collaborate closely with professional faculty, many of whom are internationally known performers, to enhance their musical talents through private lessons, small ensembles, and master classes.

“The audience loves to hear our student performances. They’re of really high quality, and our audience sees this as the future of classical music,” says festival music director Susan Grace. Many performers also have connections to the audience members, some of whom have acted as donors to fund each fellow’s full scholarship, which makes this festival “one of the faces of the college in the community,” Grace says.

What once was a much smaller and shorter program, the Summer Music Festival has grown to draw a competitive pool of applicants, which allows Colorado College to bring the highest quality performers to campus. Each musician participates in an ongoing concert series, and talents are showcased in various performances, including artist concerts, orchestra concerts, fellow concerts, and outreach concerts. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to attend any of the 24 total concerts and lectures offered, all of which are free for Colorado College students with a valid student ID and range from free to $30 for the public.

The festival is an opportunity for these musicians to connect and collaborate with each other to share the high caliber of talent with the Colorado Springs community, as well as nationally through radio and webcast streaming.

The Sounds of Generosity

Colorado College strives to bring the best group of talent to campus each summer, and only through the continuous generosity of donors is this goal accomplished. Support for the Summer Music Festival at the “La” giving level of $1-$99 up to “The Golden Baton” giving level of $10,000 and up, plays an essential role in sustaining and strengthening the festival each year.

It is possible to sponsor a festival fellow or concert. With acceptance, festival fellows receive full scholarships that fund their unique Summer Music Festival experience. A fully sponsored fellowship of $2,500 will cover a musician’s tuition, room, and board; it is also possible to sponsor a share with a donation of $1,250. A festival concert can be sponsored by a donation of $5,000 for an orchestra and $3,500 for a festival artist.

Donors are greatly appreciated by the fellows, faculty, and community for investing in the next generation of classical musicians. Support the Summer Music Festival.