Aspen Music Festival and School celebrates 75th anniversary with family, education programming

The Aspen Music Festival and School is highlighting its family and education programs for its 75th anniversary this summer.

The Aspen Music Festival aims to explore Aspen’s impact on the musical and personal development of musicians over the past 75 years through its free youth and family programming, said Heather Stanton, Aspen Music Festival and School vice president for education and community programs.

“I really feel like there’s been such a kind of resurgence of that sense of community building and engagement post-pandemic that we’re really grateful to be involved in,” she said. “It’s just that sense of collaboration that exists in the valley through music.”

Children’s tickets for Aspen Music Festival concerts are $5 for ages 6-18, and the lawn is free and open at all times for listening. This year’s family concert will be Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” at 10 a.m. on July 13, at the Klein Music Tent. The Aspen Music Festival will also host Tunes and Tales, a musical storytelling partnership with the Pitkin County and Basalt regional libraries late June through July. Both events are free.

The Music Festival will host Music on the Mountain at 1 p.m. every Saturday on top of Aspen Mountain. It will also host a community pride celebration on June 27, its 75th anniversary party on June 30, and an “appreciation Sunday” concert on July 14, which will have free admission and a post-concert reception for Roaring Fork Valley first responders, volunteers, teachers, and nonprofit employees. 

The Music Festival will host a Mariachi celebration from 4-7 p.m. July 24 at the music tent. It is in collaboration with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s Folklorico, local students, and Denver-based Mariachi Sol de mi Tierra. 

The Music Festival hosts several education programs throughout the summer, and it is bringing back courses and workshops for kids of all ages. 

Sing Play Move is an early childhood music class for children ages 0-6. It is a subscription-based course that meets daily for 30-40 minutes from June 24-28. Spots can be reserved online for $150.

Top Music Festival and School students are available throughout the summer for one-on-one instrument lessons. The lessons are for people of all ages with or without prior music experience and are $35 for a half-hour.

It will also host a free three-day Mariachi workshop at Basalt High School July 22-24 that will be led by expert Mariachi teachers and performers. It is for students in grades 5-12 with one year of instrumental or vocal experience. A free auditing option will be available for adult participants who are interested in Mariachi music and education. 

“There’s a lot of excitement around the 75th anniversary season and celebrating where we’ve come and where we’re going, and I think that applies with kids and families as well,” Stanton said. “We want to offer music education opportunities for a variety of interest levels, whether you’re looking to just get introduced to music or to start playing an instrument, or revisit an instrument. Or if you’re just looking to come and appreciate listening to a beautiful concert, we’re excited about all of those different types of ways to connect with our community.”