Embedded Files
March 23 - 9:40am MT
With an early start we are off and... playing! Crowden Tour 2026 rose early this morning and loaded the bus at 7am to make our way to the Denver School for the Arts, a grades 6-12 arts magnet school. We were treated to a wonderful informal exchange concert with their middle school orchestra.
Our hosts started the concert, performing a number of pieces that they are working on for their upcoming concert in mid-April, giving us a peak into another school's creative process.
We then shared a few piano duos and a number of orchestral pieces that we're working on including one the Postcard pieces we're preparing for our Spring concert, the Piazzolla piece from our Fall concert set, and Go Go Go! from the Winter concert.
After taking turns playing for each other, we did a few side-by-side pieces - a new, fun, and challenging experience that creates instant friendship between kids who just met. (top picture)
March 23 - 11:00am MT
We were a little ahead of schedule, so before starting our time at the Lamont School of Music, we took a brief recess at the park across the street for some much needed play (ultimate frisbee) and social time. Oh, and a bathroom break, too!
March 23 - 1:30pm MT
What a treat! Basil Vendryes, who we saw play with the Colorado Symphony two nights ago, generously shared so much time and caring feedback with our students in a workshop that was a real masterclass. Students from Casadesus, Shubert, and Corelli ensembles performed while everyone took careful note of the insightful coaching from a master of the craft.
March 23 - 9:45pm MT
We rounded out the day with an amazing visit to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. For those not in the know, Red Rocks is arguably the best known and most impressive outdoor music venue in the U.S. (maybe in the world?!). To call it awe inspiring would be a criminal understatement. As our bus approached suddenly gigantic hunks of red earth came into view and immediately hushed the bus as kids scrambled to get out their cameras. At the time none of new that was where we were headed and just thought it was some beautiful bit of nature. The pictures below won't do justice, but be assured, it was all astonishing.
And, just as we were about to load the bus someone in the gift shop asked a student where we were from and what we were doing in Denver. Upon hearing the answer she encouraged us to take the stage - assuring us it was open to the public because it was the offseason. So we loaded the bus, drove back to the top of the amphitheater and unloaded with instruments in tow, ready to give a once-in-a-lifetime impromtpu concert on the stage at Red Rocks.
We dutifully ignored the signs and blockades indicating there was in fact no public access. After all, someone at the gift store gave us the go ahead!
Well, dear reader, it turns out that security has more of a say than the folks in the gift shop and we were ushered off stage while unpacking and tuning. At least few of the kids can say they 'played'. But they can all say, with pride, that they are among the very few who were ever kicked off the stage at Red Rocks! If nothing else, they all got to stand on one of the biggest and most revered stages in the world. Now they have a story and a memory that no security guard can take away. (and don't worry, the guard was really nice about it and even got a shout out from our students during our end of day highlights recap)
Below is the view from the stage. A view that 99.9999% of all humans will never experience. Going on tour with Crowden put us all in that 0.0001%.
Page updated
Report abuse