The Arapahoe

Founded in 1954, the Arapahoe Philharmonic is amongst the most long-established of Colorado's musical resources, presenting concerts nearly every month throughout a fall/winter/spring performance season. Our 2012-2013 season will showcase four exceptional guest conductors, one of which will be chosen to continue the vision set by Maestro Parks and Maestro LaGuardia. Most of the orchestra's musicians are volunteers, playing for the love of music, though there is a core professional staff to provide performance leadership and ensure the excellence of the product. Repertoire includes the greatest names of classical music, ranging through centuries of master composers, yet not neglecting those of more recent times. In fact, when resources allow, the Philharmonic commissions current composers to write new music for the orchestra. Our geographic base (currently performing at Mission Hills Church just West of Broadway and North of C470 in Littleton) allows music lovers to experience high quality performances without the drudgery and expense of a drive downtown.

In addition to the adult orchestra's performances, the Philharmonic is very much invested in our future generations, presenting annual children's concerts and sponsoring the Arapahoe Philharmonic outreach to elementary and middle schools including clinics, concerts coaching and side-by-side workshops. Whether or not they choose a career in music, that they grow and work together toward the collective goal of a concert is important to intellectual and emotional development. With many school districts cutting back on music programs, the outreach programs offer an experience that some would have no other means of exploring. In addition to the youth outreach program, there is also the annual T. Gordon Parks Memorial Collegiate Competition for college age musicians, the winner of which will receive a cash award and be the featured soloist with the Arapahoe Philharmonic on a regular subscription concert.

"If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. ... I get most joy in life out of music."

~ Albert Einstein

"Without music life would be a mistake "

~Friedrich Nietzsche

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything."

~ Plato

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent. "

~Victor Hugo