Boulder Colorado’s Flatiron mountains are aglow in the early morning light at sunrise
There’s so much to savor along the Front Range. From magical musical experiences to mind-bending museum exhibitions, light up your cultural calendar with these treasured classics and newfound inspirations.
Boulder Bach Festival Artistic and Executive Director Mina Gajić and Music Director
Zachary Carrettin. (Photo courtesy of
Boulder Bach Festival).
Boulder Bach Festival
This longstanding brand’s newest series, Mystery Sonata, slated for the Dairy Arts Center, will focus on new music by living composers—music that will receive its world premiere performances in Boulder. The first two concerts feature Asian-American and Icelandic women composers.
“The music is intended to create a new sound ‘world,’ an environment where the audience can experience healing and calm, and feel more connected to nature,” Artistic and Executive Director Mina Gajić says. “Some field recordings will interplay with live acoustic music, and images projected on the screen will help to transport the listener.”
Collaboration with musicians, dancers and poets, and the use of multimedia technology create intimate performances that stimulate visually and aurally, says Gajić. For a sneak preview, don’t miss Sonic Alchemy at The Dairy on April 8. The program explores Byzantine mysticism in the music of living composers, juxtaposed with fantasias by Mozart, featuring NYC-based cellist Coleman Itzkoff, Los Angeles violinist YuEun Kim and Balkan piano soloist Mina Gajić. > BoulderBachFestival.org.
Longmont Museum
Front Range Rising brings a fresh infusion of local knowledge to this northern Colorado cultural space. The exhibition, which won the Colorado Historical Society Josephine Miles Award, explores the urban region stretching from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs.
No modern phenomenon, the essence of the Front Range started 14,000 years ago. The journey is rooted in the landscape, represented by a large relief map depicting how the mountains rise dramatically from the Colorado plains. Visitors can go back in time to experience what it might have been like to live in a brush shelter some 7,000 years ago. A trading fort, Cheyenne tipi and Native American societies are also part of the immersive experience.
Other time-traveling moments include glimpses into Colorado’s Gold Rush, the tragic Sand Creek Massacre,
the original 1869 Burlington School, the train revolution, the Great Depression impact and Longmont’s predecessor, the Chicago-Colorado Colony.
Front Range Rising is made possible by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and from the support of the City of Longmont and other foundations and businesses in the community. Take a 360-degree tour before you visit the exhibition’s web page.
> longmontcolorado.gov/departments/departments-e-m/museum
Colorado Chautauqua
There’s always something entertaining happening at Boulder’s iconic Colorado Chautauqua, one of only 26 National Historic Landmarks in the state and one of the few remaining chautauquas in the United States.
Through April 16, experience Winterfest and Art in the Park, featuring beautifully decorated bears beloved by kids and adults. From close to 200 applicants, 15 artists were selected to transform fiberglass bear statues into magical works of art in a breathtaking venue at the base of the Flatirons.
Following Art in the Park, concerts fire up in the cozy indoor Community House, followed by a summer of outdoor musical experiences in Chautauqua’s open-air auditorium known for its exceptional acoustics. > chautauqua.com
Children’s Museum of Denver.
(Photo courtesy of Children’s Museum of Denver).
Children’s Museum
Little ones can cultivate a curiosity for culture at the always-inspiring Children’s Museum of Denver. This year the museum celebrates its 50th anniversary. “We have been reflecting on this vibrant history while looking toward the future with a focus on extraordinary experiences that champion the wonder and joy of childhood,” says Associate Director of Marketing and Communications
Kimber Kuhl.
At the museum’s 9-acre Marsico Campus, there’s something for every child’s imagination. Whether young minds are challenged by stepping inside a 6-foot bubble, discovering the laws of motion, sculpting a clay masterpiece or powering a hot air balloon, there’s always something new to create, explore and discover. > mychildsmuseum.org.
By Julie Kailus, AH Luxury
