Help ensure that innovative music and arts programs enhancing the cultural, educational, and entertainment experiences for the community of Northwest Colorado continue far into the future! Your donation also supports free music and arts education for 3,000+ rural pre-K through 12th grade youth and music outreach programs for all ages.
"Thank you for making me laugh on the inside. I never feel like that."
-Elementary student in our Strings School Days program
"I have never been so moved!"
-Anonymous
"The most peaceful place for me is a Strings Classical night in Steamboat Springs."
-Anonymous
"What you have done for our kids is fantastic outreach, and it has been an unexpected source of fresh perspectives that has benefited me as much as (if not more than) my students."
-High School Band Director regarding our free Strings School Days program in 2020-21
The mission of Strings Music Festival (Strings) is to present innovative programs of distinctive classical and popular contemporary music in an intimate and friendly setting to audiences of all ages, enhancing the cultural, educational, and entertainment experiences of the community of Northwest Colorado and its visitors.
In the 1980s, a group of music-lovers sought to bring professional classical performances to Northwest Colorado. In 1988, they held the first Strings Music Festival chamber music concert on the deck of the Steamboat Athletic Club. What began with four classical concerts quickly became an integral part of the community. Soon, other genres of music were added to the programming including jazz, country, and blues to join with the classical programming. In 1997, youth concerts began, allowing even the youngest children to attend and experience performances. In 2008, the Strings School Days program was initiated to fill a gap in music education with elementary, middle, and high school students. Also in 2008, the Strings Music Pavilion, an award-winning 569-seat year-round performance hall, was completed. Because of the Music Pavilion, Strings is able to provide programming throughout the year and offer a memorable, high quality concert experience.
Today, the majority of concerts and programming take place during our renowned Summer Music Festival season. A winter series rounds out the rest of the year, and youth music and arts education outreach programs are interspersed during the school year. More than 100 events comprise our programming, reaching an audience of more than 26,000.
In response to community interest and in collaboration with numerous community organizations and schools, Strings has significantly expanded the number of performances and programs taking place outside of the Pavilion. Strings' outreach programs, 99% of which are free and 1% donation-based, engage Yampa Valley residents and visitors in music, music and arts education, and the performing arts in their communities. We remain committed to our mission of providing opportunities for people of all backgrounds and ages to engage with and benefit from music and music education. In 2024, Strings provided more than 60% of our programming free to the community, a metric that the organization has committed to achieving annually.
Organization name
Strings Music Festival
other names
Strings Music Festival, Strings, Strings in the Mountains
1989
Tax id (EIN)
84-1101995
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
PO Box 774627Routt County, CO, US
Moffat County, CO, US
Jackson County, CO, US
Phone
970-879-5056
other
970-439-0826