Classical Youth Ensemble

A Student Outreach Mentoring Program

Palm Arts has partnered with the Telluride Chamber Music Association to present the Telluride Classical Youth Ensemble. A new student outreach mentoring program focused on partnering regional classical music students with established classical artists. The youth group and classical artists will spend a week in residency in Telluride rehearsing and performing a series of classical music events culminating in a main stage performance during the Telluride Chamber Music Festival.

Palm Arts Programming and Development Director Chris Vann developed the Classical Youth Ensemble and modeled it after the successful Telluride Jazz All Stars group, now entering their 25th year. Professional classical musicians Annissa Olsen and Karen Schulz-Harmon, both based out of Portland, OR will be the Youth Artistic Directors for the 2019 ensemble. 

“The Classical musicians contacted me after the 2018 Telluride Chamber Music Festival saying they wanted to be involved with supporting classical music education in the Telluride region” says Vann, “the mission of helping student artists with education and performance opportunities is a main focus of Palm Arts and after working with the Telluride Jazz Festival and the Telluride Jazz All Stars for over a decade I knew the model would work.”

The Telluride Classical Youth Ensemble schedule will be filled with rehearsals, performances, and plenty of opportunities to see professional performances by both Classical and Jazz artists the second weekend in August during what is being dubbed as “A Week of Art and Music” in Telluride. The Youth Ensemble will also be partnering with Palm Arts Dance students to present a live scored performance in the Mountain Village on Friday, August 9th in Reflection Plaza.

The Telluride Youth Ensemble program is free to join and students who are interested in being a part of the inaugural Ensemble can get more information on the program and register at www.telluridepalm.com.