$50 raised by 2 donors
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$2,000 Goal
The Valley Symphony Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit volunteer orchestra and chorus serving Colorado’s Western Slope through connective live music experiences for all generations of musicians and audiences.
Since 1970, the Valley Symphony Association has enriched the community by uniting talented volunteer musicians from the Uncompahgre, North Fork, Gunnison, and Grand Valleys to perform works by great composers, past and present. Performances range from classical orchestral to upbeat pop, from purely instrumental to purely choral, to a combination of both. We aim to preserve the legacy of live orchestral and choral music for future generations, celebrating the human spirit.
Our all-volunteer musicians are teachers, parents, neighbors, students. They have jobs. They have children. They have homes and schedules and commitments. They teach at local colleges, high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools. They work in business, the arts, agriculture, law enforcement, and health care. Some are retired. Some are military veterans. They represent over a dozen communities in the Uncompahgre, Grand, Gunnison, and North Fork Valleys. Some of them are snowbirds. Some of them are teenagers. And they are all VSA musicians.
This season we are proud to support more than 125 performers who live and work in our midst and bring their skill, passion, and talent to the stage. Our dedicated musicians and generous community partners invite you to join us! Each year, our musical family grows stronger through rewarding collaboration, and you—our audience, sponsors, and supporters—are a vital part of it. Your warm and enthusiastic response to the music we make and the community we build leaves us feeling fulfilled, knowing that our dedication to the VSA is valued. Thank you for your support!
The Valley Symphony Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit volunteer orchestra and chorus serving Colorado’s Western Slope through connective live music experiences for all generations of musicians and audiences.
In 1970 a small group of classical musicians met in the parlor of Wilma and Charles Lowell's home in Eckert, CO, joining the talented Lowell family in their love of making music together. By October 1971, the group, calling themselves the Delta County Community Orchestra, was under the baton of Walter Birkedahl of Mesa State College. With hand-typed mimeographed programs to offer their patrons, the orchestra performed their first concert on March 2, 1972, at the Cedaredge Hunsicker Elementary School.
On March 16, 1978, the nonprofit known as the Valley Symphony Association was formed to sponsor the orchestra. At that time, nearly 50 musicians from Montrose, Delta, Grand Junction, Ouray, Gunnison, Paonia, Hotchkiss, Cedaredge, and Eckert practiced once a week in Delta and performed four annual concerts. In 2002, under the direction of Kelly Neill, several small local community choruses joined to form the Valley Symphony Chorus, and two additional concerts were added to the annual season. As of 2024, over 125 musicians participate in the Valley Symphony Association Orchestra and Chorus spanning over a dozen townships, six counties, and over 10,000 square miles.
The Valley Symphony Association has grown its finances slowly and responsibly, opting for conservative growth driven by the interest of its membership with an awareness towards the financial landscape of our communities. However, the pandemic, recent inflation, and rising costs of living for our staff are encouraging us to diversify income streams and build longterm financial resilience. Our budget continues to operate in the black, but has increased from $68,000 to over $170,000 in the past five years as the organization continues to grow and begins to need more administrative support. We are now looking at a longterm plan to develop an endowment and other tools to provide financial stability for the future.
Organization name
Valley Symphony Association
1970
Tax id (EIN)
74-2023813
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
PO BOX 3144Montrose County, CO, US
Delta County, CO, US
Ouray County, CO, US
Mesa County, CO, US
Gunnison County, CO, US