Symphony of the Rockies

Background Statement

For Season 2024-2025 and beyond, the Symphony of the Rockies (SotR) announced the next evolution of its name to better reflect the broader audiences and areas we serve as a pillar of the South Metro Denver community. We continue to be a vibrant space is a vibrant space where passion for music transcends age and time, cementing our role as a unifying force and a vibrant hub of musical innovation and education within the community uniting generations through melody. We are a pillar of the South Metro Denver arts community for 70 years - since 1953.

Founded by late conductor T. Gordon Parks, the Arapahoe Philharmonic has been a pillar of the South Metro Denver arts community since 1953. Our second music director, Vincent C. LaGuardia, Jr., led the ensemble from 1993 until his passing in 2012. Our third music director in 69 years, Devin Patrick Hughes, was appointed to the position in 2013 and has brought a renewed focus on artistic excellence and innovation to the organization.

The SotR is dedicated to presenting high-quality, engaging, accessible symphonic performances and music education to our diverse community. The orchestra provides a musical home to grow and develop amateur musicians, music educators, and pre-professional musicians and offers compensated performance opportunities for professional musicians in our community. This model ensures high-quality performances while providing development for our volunteers and income opportunities and experience for our musicians in leadership positions. Repertoire includes works by the greatest names in classical music spanning all eras, including recent works from diverse composers.

We are committed to educating and fostering the next generation of classical music lovers by presenting Children’s Discovery Concerts and sending musicians into schools to give extra coaching to band and orchestra students.