The Colorado Music Festival & Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts (CMF & RMCMA) is a one-of-a-kind organization that provides a spectrum of music education opportunities and world-class performances to citizens throughout Boulder County and beyond. On the education side, the RMCMA is a full member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education and provides quality, creative music-making opportunities to nearly 600 students each week. The RMCMA's Heatstrings Program, which has received special recognition from The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County, ensures access to music study by providing tuition assistance and a musical instrument bank to families in need. Another 7,000 people annually visit the school's Lafayette facility to attend guest artist concerts and student and faculty recitals.
In summer, music education and performances share the stage with the arrival of the Colorado Music Festival's six-week concert season at Chautauqua. The CMF season showcases Maestro Michael Christie and the CMF Orchestra performing for audiences of over 22,000 each summer. Programming includes beloved classical favorites, world music, chamber music, genre-bending ensembles and new works by contemporary composers. Inspired programming performed by exceptional musicians has earned CMF recognition form the League of American Orchestras and the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2010, CMF presents its 34th concert season and celebrates Maestro Christie's 10th anniversary as Music Director.
