Aspen Rocks represents more than music

The “American Idol”-esque Aspen Rocks is more than a student music competition — it’s a cornerstone of community for young musicians. 

“It’s presented me with a community that pushes me and supports me and understands my passion,” said Aspen High School senior Gracie Searle-Feinberg.

On the brink of a full-circle performance moment, Searle-Feinberg returns as an Aspen Rocks finalist this year after placing second in the inaugural competition in 2022. 

With seven soloists and a duo competing in the finals, the competition will begin at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, April 12, at the Wheeler Opera House. It is hosted by the Inspire Aspen Foundation, a nonprofit that works to empower youth through music education. 

Each contestant will perform their best song in front of a panel of judges for a chance to win professional studio time at Mad Dog Ranch + Studio. 

The competition began on Feb. 2, when 20 to 25 sixth through 12th graders from the Roaring Fork Valley and beyond submitted a 60-second video of their best performance to the Inspire Aspen Foundation website. These were whittled down to a group of 14, who performed at Aspen High School’s Black Box Theatre on Feb. 8., before the final contingent was selected. 

“I think everybody is going to be blown away by the talent, and it’s going to be an extremely difficult choice for the winners,” said Julie Garside, who co-founded the foundation alongside Tami Word. “It’s going to be hard.”

This year’s competition is dedicated to Word, who passed away in February 2024 after battling cancer. 

“She was very kind, loving, always had a smile on her face, and always left whoever she came in contact with in a better place than how she found them,” Garside said of Word, who was also a singer and songwriter. “She was an incredibly positive individual.”

Competing on Saturday are Aspen High School’s Eleanor Carroll, Adelaide Dorr, and Searle-Feinberg; Roaring Fork High School’s Katie Huttenhower and Austin Fotion; Carbondale’s Linda Greene and Jay Zimmerman; and Redlands Middle School’s Eleanor Hibbard of Grand Junction.

Finalists will be judged on “demonstrated proficiency and technique, expressiveness, pitch, diction, rhythmic feel and timing, originality, and individuality,” Garside said. The judging panel will consist of local jazz musician Josefina Mendez, Peach Street Revival’s Jordan Will, and Tony-nominated Joe Iconis.

Searle-Feinberg said she’s most excited to be among friends she’s made in the music community during the competition on Saturday.

“As competitive as I am, I think it’s important to let the people I love and support do the thing that they also love,” she said.

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.