Aspen Music Festival and School

Aspen Music Festival and School
Founded1949
TypeClassical music
Focusclassical music festival, education
Location
Websitewww.aspenmusicfestival.com
The Michael Klein Music Tent during the 2015 Aspen Music Festival and School season

The Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS) is a classical music festival held annually in Aspen, Colorado.

It is noted both for its concert programming and the musical training it offers to mostly young-adult music students.[1][2] Founded in 1949, the typical eight-week summer season includes more than 400 classical music events[3]—including concerts by five orchestras, solo and chamber music performances, fully staged opera productions, master classes, lectures, and children's programming—and brings in 70,000 audience members.[4]

In the winter, the AMFS presents a small series of recitals and Metropolitan Opera Live in HD screenings.[5]

As a training ground for young-adult classical musicians, the AMFS draws more than 650 students from 40 states and 34 countries, with an average age of 22.[4][6] While in Aspen, students participate in lessons, coaching, and public performances in orchestras, operas, and chamber music, often playing side-by-side with AMFS artist-faculty.[7]

The organization is currently led by President and CEO Alan Fletcher and Music Director Robert Spano.[7]

  1. ^ Huizenga, Tom (2014-05-01). "10 Can't-Miss Classical Music Festivals". NPR.
  2. ^ Harrison, Leah (2014). "2014 Summer Festivals: Selling Summer". No. Spring. Symphony: The Magazine of the League of American Orchestras. p. 44.
  3. ^ "Aspen Music Festival announces 'enchanted' 2017 summer season | AspenTimes.com". www.aspentimes.com. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
  4. ^ a b Field, Kimberly (2014). "Aspen Music Festival and School". Colorado Expression. No. June/July. pp. 60–63. Archived from the original on 2016-04-02. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
  5. ^ "Music fest's winter lineup stars Weilerstein, Shaham". Aspen Times. 2014-10-31. Archived from the original on 2015-08-19. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
  6. ^ Rita Mead, "Aspen Music Festival and School" New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd ed. 2001 p.115
  7. ^ a b Wakin, Daniel J. "Robert Spano Named New Aspen Music Festival Music Director". The New York Times. No. 2011-03-12.