This year's Summer Music Festival, themed Elements of Nature. During the eight-week Summer Music Festival season, the NRO performs as many as 21 orchestral concerts and over 32 free, community, family friendly concerts. The NRO provides a unique opportunity for young, talented musicians to gather invaluable experience playing a broad variety of orchestral and chamber works, led by Music Director Michael Stern and joined by world-renowned guest conductors.

Schedule of Events

June 18, 2024

4:00 pm - Community Engagement Seminar at Riverwalk Center

The Alumni String Quartet—Julius Adams, viola; Luis Angel Salazar Avila, violin; Sarah Elert, violin; Jessamyn Fry, cello—will lead a Community Engagement Seminar. The NRO's commitment to experiential learning is brought to life through a series of masterclasses and sectionals that help our musicians grow as professionals. These events are free of charge and open to the public.

7:00pm - Film: Maestra And Meet The Conductors

June 19, 2024

1:30 pm - Sectional: Strings at Riverwalk Center

Conductor Leonard Slatkin will lead a Sectional for strings. The NRO's commitment to experiential learning is brought to life through a series of masterclasses and sectionals that help our musicians grow as professionals. These events are free of charge and open to the public.

5:30 pm - Masterclass: Score Study & Preparation at Riverwalk Center

Conductor Leonard Slatkin will lead a Masterclass on Score Study and Preparation. The NRO's commitment to experiential learning is brought to life through a series of masterclasses and sectionals that help our musicians grow as professionals. These events are free of charge and open to the public.

4:00 pm - Sectional: Woodwinds at Riverwalk Center

Conductor Leonard Slatkin will lead a Masterclass for woodwinds. The NRO's commitment to experiential learning is brought to life through a series of masterclasses and sectionals that help our musicians grow as professionals. These events are free of charge and open to the public.

June 21, 2024

1:30 pm - Sectional: Brass at Riverwalk Center

Conductor Leonard Slatkin will lead a Masterclass for brass. The NRO's commitment to experiential learning is brought to life through a series of masterclasses and sectionals that help our musicians grow as professionals. These events are free of charge and open to the public.

4:00 pm - Champagne Series at Private Residence, Breckenridge

These intimate chamber performances take place in stunning private homes creating an ambiance that is both elegant and inviting. Attending these performances is not only a feast for the senses but also an opportunity to support the arts. Funds raised help support music education.

Cost: $125

June 22, 2024

6:00 pm - Opening Night: Slatkin Returns at Riverwalk Center

Leonard Slatkin, conductor
Solveig Greenen, violin

Bedrich Smetana Vlatva: The Moldau
Zoltán Kodály Variations on a Hungarian Folksong (The Peacock)
Intermission
Ralph Vaughan Williams The Lark Ascending
Paul Hindemith Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber

The NRO's opening night concert sets the stage for our season's theme, The Elements of Nature. In Smetana's Vlatva: The Moldau, take a trip down the mighty river Vlata, meandering through woods and meadows, past palaces and castles ruins, and ultimately ending in the majestic Elbe. Kodály's "Variations on a Hungarian Folksong" is a vibrant orchestral work that skillfully weaves intricate variations around a traditional Hungarian melody, while Williams' The Lark Ascending beautifully captures the essence of a lark soaring through the English countryside. Finally, Hindemith's Symphonic Metamorphosis vividly portrays natural themes with with lush orchestration and dynamic shifts throughout.

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1:30 pm - Porch Series at Breckenridge Associates Real Estate

Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is a longtime partner of the NRO with a beautiful historic building right on Main Street. We celebrate our partnership with live music right on their front porch. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy wonderful music in the heart of our lovely town.

June 26, 2024

10:30 am - Free Family And Kids Concert at Riverwalk Center

The NRO is proud to continue the long-standing tradition of free performances for our young at heart. Conductor (and Alum) Jason Seber has chosen music that features each section of the orchestra, with an overarching theme, "Piece by Piece: Putting Together the Orchestra," culminating in Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Join us early to partake in crafts and other fun musical activities!

Cost: Free

June 27, 2024

1:30 pm - Music In The Mountains at Blue River Plaza

The NRO loves making Music in the Mountains. This free series brings our world class musicians into spaces popular with locals and tourists alike. You can see our musicians in Blue River Plaza, The Troll, Prospector Park, and the Barney Ford Museum.

Cost: Free

3:30 pm - Sectional: Percussion at Riverwalk Center

Rob O'Brien, Assistant Principal Timpani and Percussion with the Dallas Symphony, will lead a Sectional on Percussion. The NRO's commitment to experiential learning is brought to life through a series of masterclasses and sectionals that help our musicians grow as professionals. These events are free of charge and open to the public.

June 29, 2024

6:00 pm - Stern Conducts Tchaikovsky at Riverwalk Center

Music Director, Michael Stern returns to Summit County for this rousing concert including Tchaikovsky's joyfully exuberant piece "Little Russian." Depicting the calm, tumult, and power of the sea, Jean Sibelius' The Oceanides tells a colorful tale of the mythical creatures who reside in the ocean. Gustav Mahler's "What the Flowers in the Meadow Tell Me" starts with a graceful minuet then turns stormy, showing Mahler's (and our own) conflicted relationship with nature.

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July 1, 2024

6:30 pm - NRO On The Lake at Dillon Amphitheater

Experience the NRO in a setting like no other, overlooking the Rocky Mountains on the shore of Lake Dillon. Gates open at 5:00 pm. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a FREE concert starring some of the most talented musicians on the planet.

July 2, 2024

11:30 am - Symphony In The Streets at Trollstigen Trail

Symphony in the Streets is a vibrant, day-long celebration that will transform Breckenridge into a sprawling outdoor musical venue, with ensembles from the NRO orchestra serenading audiences in parks and beloved locations across the town throughout the day, infusing our scenic streets with orchestral beauty for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Cost: Free

1:30 pm - Masterclass: Chamber Music at Riverwalk Center

Si-Yan Darren Li, Associate Dean of Ensembles at the Cleveland Institute of Music, will lead a Masterclass on Chamber Music. The NRO's commitment to experiential learning is brought to life through a series of masterclasses and sectionals that help our musicians grow as professionals. These events are free of charge and open to the public.

July 4, 2024

10:00 am - Fourth Of July Spectacular (Silverthorne) at Rainbow Park

Celebrate Independence Day with the National Repertory Orchestra—the Fourth of July Spectacular at Silverthorne is a FREE concert! Under the baton of Carl Topilow, the Fourth of July concert radiates with patriotic fervor and musical brilliance. Arrive early and bring your own lawn chair or blanket. Guests can enjoy free family activities from the Town of Silverthorne and a NRO Instrument Petting Zoo!

12:30 pm: Pop-Up Concert at Blue River Plaza

The NRO partners with various organizations all across Summit County to provide free pop-up concerts in public spaces in Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, and Silverthorne.

6:00 pm - Fourth Of July Spectacular (Breckenridge) at Riverwalk Center

Under the baton of Carl Topilow, the Fourth of July concert radiates with patriotic fervor and musical brilliance. You never know what to expect from the musical mind of Carl Topilow, but you can be assured this fan-favorite concert will inspire and amaze as he leads the orchestra through iconic works that span diverse styles and genres. Throughout the performance, the orchestra shines, and we celebrate the Fourth of July as we always do, with musical fireworks made by the NRO!

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July 6, 2024

6:00 pm - Topilow Pops at Riverwalk Center

Expect the unexpected as Carl Topilow— conductor, clarinetist, and consummate showman—puts on his famous Topilow Pops concert!

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July 8, 2024

1:30 pm - Porch Series at Breckenridge Associates Real Estate

Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is a longtime partner of the NRO with a beautiful historic building right on Main Street. We celebrate our partnership with live music right on their front porch. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy wonderful music in the heart of our lovely town.

1:30 pm - Sectional: Woodwinds at Riverwalk Center

Ricardo Morales, Principal Clarinet with Philadelphia Orchestra, will lead a Sectional on Woodwinds. The NRO's commitment to experiential learning is brought to life through a series of masterclasses and sectionals that help our musicians grow as professionals. These events are free of charge and open to the public.

3:30 pm - Sectional: Upper Strings at Riverwalk Center

Dara Morales, Assistant Principal Second Violin with the Philadelphia Orchestra, will lead a Sectional for upper strings. The NRO's commitment to experiential learning is brought to life through a series of masterclasses and sectionals that help our musicians grow as professionals. These events are free of charge and open to the public.

July 10, 2024

6:00 pm - Light, Fire, and Water at Riverwalk Center

Michael Stern, conductor
Sadie Hamrin, violin

Carl Nielsen Helios Overture, Op. 17
Jonathan Leshnoff Violin Concerto No. 1
Intermission
Franz Joseph Haydn Symphony No. 59 in A major, Hob.I:59 "Fire Symphony"
Claude Debussy La Mer, L. 109

This concert supports Summit County's First Responders.

Our celebration of the Elements of Nature continues with Light, Fire and Water. Nielsen's Helios Overture came about after a trip to the Acropolis in Greece, depicting the journey of the sun from dawn to dusk over the Aegean Sea. Haydn's "Fire Symphony" capturesthe essence of flickering flames and the elemental energy associated with fire in its spirited orchestral passages. Debussy's La Mer immerses listeners in the evocative ebb and flow of the sea through its lush orchestration, delicate motifs, and vivid tonal colors, seamlessly capturing the nuanced beauty and tumultuous nature of the ocean.

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July 12, 2024

4:00 pm - Champagne Series at Private Residence, Silverthorne

These intimate chamber performances take place in stunning private homes creating an ambiance that is both elegant and inviting. Attending these performances is not only a feast for the senses but also an opportunity to support the arts. Funds raised help support music education.

Buy Tickets

July 13, 2024

2:00 pm - Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert at Riverwalk Center

The NRO presents Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, featuring a screening of the complete film with composer John Williams' iconic Oscar®-winning score performed live to the film. Since the release of this first Star Wars movie over 45 years ago, the Star Wars saga has had a seismic impact on both cinema and culture, inspiring audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, captivating characters, groundbreaking special effects and iconic musical scores composed by Williams. Fans will experience the scope and grandeur of this beloved film in a live symphonic concert experience.

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7:30 pm - Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert at Riverwalk Center

The NRO presents Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, featuring a screening of the complete film with composer John Williams' iconic Oscar®-winning score performed live to the film. Since the release of this first Star Wars movie over 45 years ago, the Star Wars saga has had a seismic impact on both cinema and culture, inspiring audiences around the world with its mythic storytelling, captivating characters, groundbreaking special effects and iconic musical scores composed by Williams. Fans will experience the scope and grandeur of this beloved film in a live symphonic concert experience.

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July 17, 2024

1:00 pm: Pop-Up Concert at Frisco Historic Park Gazebo

The NRO partners with various organizations all across Summit County to provide free pop-up concerts in public spaces in Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, and Silverthorne.

6:00 pm - Chamber Concert at Riverwalk Center

The Alumni String Quartet, comprised of former NRO musicians, will create a nuanced interplay of violin, viola, and cello for a rich and immersive performance.

July 18, 2024

1:00 pm - Sectional: Low Strings at Riverwalk Center

Timothy Cobb, Principal Bass with the New York Philharmonic, will lead a Sectional on Woodwinds. The NRO's commitment to experiential learning is brought to life through a series of masterclasses and sectionals that help our musicians grow as professionals. These events are free of charge and open to the public.

July 19, 2024

6:00 pm - Special Concert: Beethoven's Pastorale at Riverwalk Center

Michael Stern, conductor
Jon Kimura Parker, Piano

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 "Pastorale"
Intermission
George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
Franz Liszt Les Préludes, S.97 Poème symphonique No. 3

The Elements of Nature takes centerstage with Beethoven's groundbreaking and tuneful Symphony No. 6, "Pastorale." The piece unfolds a rich tapestry of nature themes, painting musical landscapes that vividly depict the countryside, babbling brooks, bird calls, and thunderstorms, conveying the composer's profound appreciation for the beauty and tranquility of the natural world. We will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, a groundbreaking composition that seamlessly blends classical and jazz elements, encapsulating the vibrant energy and diversity of 1920s America in a single, iconic musical piece. We are thrilled to welcome international pianist, Jon Kimura Parker as our guest artist.

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July 20, 2024

7:00 pm - Special Concert: Beethoven's Pastorale (Denver) at King Center

Michael Stern, conductor
Jon Kimura Parker, piano

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 "Pastorale"
Intermission
George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue
Franz Liszt Les Préludes, S.97 Poème symphonique No. 3

The Elements of Nature takes centerstage with Beethoven's groundbreaking and tuneful Symphony No. 6, "Pastorale." The piece unfolds a rich tapestry of nature themes, painting musical landscapes that vividly depict the countryside, babbling brooks, bird calls, and thunderstorms, conveying the composer's profound appreciation for the beauty and tranquility of the natural world. We will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, a groundbreaking composition that seamlessly blends classical and jazz elements, encapsulating the vibrant energy and diversity of 1920s America in a single, iconic musical piece. We are thrilled to welcome international pianist Jon Kimura Parker as our guest artist.

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July 22, 2024

1:30 pm - Porch Series at Breckenridge Associates Real Estate

Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is a longtime partner of the NRO with a beautiful historic building right on Main Street. We celebrate our partnership with live music right on their front porch. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy wonderful music in the heart of our lovely town.

1:30 pm - Sectional: Brass at Riverwalk Center

Ethan Bensdorf, trumpet with the New York Philharmonic, will lead a Sectional on Brass. The NRO's commitment to experiential learning is brought to life through a series of masterclasses and sectionals that help our musicians grow as professionals. These events are free of charge and open to the public.

4:00 pm: Pop-Up Concert at South Gondola Parking Structure Plaza

The NRO partners with various organizations all across Summit County to provide free pop-up concerts in public spaces in Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, and Silverthorne.

July 23, 2024

4:00 pm - Masterclass: Career As A Composer & Conductor at Riverwalk Center

Conductor Matthias Pintscher will lead a Masterclass on building a Career as a Composer and Conductor. The NRO's commitment to experiential learning is brought to life through a series of masterclasses and sectionals that help our musicians grow as professionals. These events are free of charge and open to the public.

July 24, 2024

6:00 pm - Ravel's Bolero at Riverwalk Center

Matthias Pintscher, conductor
Aaron Lockhart, viola

Sergei Rachmaninov The Isle of the Dead, Op. 29
Bohuslav Martin? Rhapsody-Concerto for viola and orchestra, H. 337
Intermission
Claude Debussy Ibéria from Images pour orchestre, L. 122
Maurice Ravel Bolero

Maestro Pintscher comes to Summit County with an international program including Rachmaninoff's "The Isle of the Dead," a haunting and atmospheric orchestral tone poem that transports listeners to a mysterious and otherworldly realm, inspired by Arnold Böcklin's painting of the same name. Debussy's "Iberia" is a vibrant and impressionistic musical journey that intricately captures the essence of Spain through its colorful orchestration, rhythmic vitality, and evocative use of Spanish folk elements. This concert ends with Ravel's "Boléro," an enduring masterpiece characterized by its hypnotic repetition and gradual crescendo, building a relentless rhythmic intensity through a single, mesmerizing melodic theme.

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July 26, 2024

7:30 pm - Vail Dance Festival: Opening Night at Gerald R Ford Amphitheater

Michael Stern, conductor

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48

The Opening Night of the Vail Dance Festival kicks off the season with a program featuring Dance Theatre of Harlem, Limón Dance Company, Artist-In-Residence Sara Mearns, Michelle Dorrance, and ballroom duo Denys Drozdyuk and Antonina Skobina. In the second half of the evening, guest stars from New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre will join Colorado Ballet in a special performance of George Balanchine's landmark ballet Serenade, with Tchaikovsky's score performed live by the National Repertory Orchestra conducted by Michael Stern.

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July 27, 2024

6:00 pm - Britten's Storm and Tchaikovsky's Strings at Riverwalk Center

Michael Stern, conductor
Janice Hu, violin
Christine Kao, cello
Anish Raj Pandit, oboe
Nathan Muz, bassoon

Michael Abels "Global Warming"
Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48
Intermission
Franz Joseph Haydn Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat major, Hob. I/105
Benjamin Britten Four Sea Interludes, Op. 33a from Peter Grimes

Continuing with our theme for the season, the NRO performs Britten's Four Sea Interludes, evocative orchestral vignettes that depict the changing moods and elements of the sea, conveying the atmospheric nuances of coastal life. Abel's Global Warming reflects on the similarities between folk music of divergent, immigrant cultures, and celebrates these common threads. The program also includes one of the most popular and familiar string pieces, Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings, a luminous and emotionally resonant composition that expresses a blend of romantic lyricism and classical elegance.

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July 29, 2024

4:00 pm: Pop-Up Concert at South Gondola Parking Structure Plaza

The NRO partners with various organizations all across Summit County to provide free pop-up concerts in public spaces in Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, and Silverthorne.

July 31, 2024

6:00 pm - Canellakis Conducts Brahms and Wagner at Riverwalk Center

Karina Canellakis, conductor
Rebekah Hou, harp

Johannes Brahms Symphony No. 3, in F major, Op. 90
Intermission
Alberto Ginastera Harp Concerto, Op, 25
Richard Wagner "Forest Murmurs" from Siegfried
Richard Wagner "Dawn and Siegfried's Rhine Journey" from Götterdämmerung

The NRO is thrilled to welcome back podium Karina Canellakis, a musician of great repute and a powerful voice in today's music scene. The third symphony by Brahms displays a lyricism and organic flow that evokes a sense of introspection, certainly influenced by the city's proximity to the Rhine River. Wagner's "Forest Murmers" from "Siegfried" is a lush and enchanting orchestral interlude, depicting the magical atmosphere of a forest, with delicate textures and shimmering sounds that contribute to the opera's rich narrative and mythological themes. We return to the Rhine for Wagner's "Dawn and Siegfrid's Rhine Journey," capturing the radiant beauty of dawn and the heroic fervor of the hero Siegfried at the climactic conclusion to Wagner's Ring Cycle.

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August 1, 2024

1:30 pm - Music In The Mountains at Blue River Plaza

The NRO loves making Music in the Mountains. This free series brings our world class musicians into spaces popular with locals and tourists alike. You can see our musicians in Blue River Plaza, The Troll, Prospector Park, and the Barney Ford Museum.

August 3, 2024

6:00 pm - Robert Moody Conducts Sibelius at Riverwalk Center

Robert Moody, conductor
Haley Rasmussen, cello

Mason Bates Liquid Interface
Franz Josef Haydn Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major, Hob Viib:I
Intermission
Jean Sibelius Symphony No. 5, in E-flat major, Op. 82

We are honored to invite Robert Moody back—there may be no better composer today that crosses lines between classical, pop and dance fusions than Mason Bates. Liquid Interface gives us water in every form and explores the intersection of nature and technology through evocative and dynamic musical textures. Sibelius' monumental fifth symphony captures the essence of the Finnish landscape, featuring soaring melodies, rhythmic motifs, and a triumphant finale symbolizing the awakening of national identity.

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August 4, 2024

11:00 am - Champagne Series at Private Residence, Breckenridge

These intimate chamber performances take place in stunning private homes creating an ambiance that is both elegant and inviting. Attending these performances is not only a feast for the senses but also an opportunity to support the arts. Funds raised help support music education.

Buy Tickets

August 5, 2024

1:30 pm - Porch Series at Breckenridge Associates Real Estate

Breckenridge Associates Real Estate is a longtime partner of the NRO with a beautiful historic building right on Main Street. We celebrate our partnership with live music right on their front porch. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy wonderful music in the heart of our lovely town.

August 7, 2024

6:00 pm - The Planets at Riverwalk Center

Connesson's Flammenschrift captivates with its fiery and dynamic orchestration, offering a thrilling musical journey that ignites the senses and leaves audiences spellbound. We will also look to the heavens with Holst's epic tone-poem, The Planets. Each planet represented in this sprawling masterpiece showcasing a diverse range of musical atmospheres and brings the Roman deities for whom they are named into vivid reality.

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August 8, 2024

1:30 pm - Music In The Mountains at Barney Ford Museum

The NRO loves making Music in the Mountains. This free series brings our world class musicians into spaces popular with locals and tourists alike. You can see our musicians in Blue River Plaza, The Troll, Prospector Park, and the Barney Ford Museum.

August 10, 2024

6:00 pm - Season Finale: Strauss Alpine Symphony at Riverwalk Center

Michael Stern, conductor
Winner of the NRO Concerto Competition

Gabriela Lena Frank Contested Eden
TBD Solo, Winner of NRO Concerto Competition
Intermission
Richard Strauss An Alpine Symphony, Op. 64

The Season Finale opens with a reminder of the power of our natural world in Frank's Contested Eden. You can hear the intersection of indigenous traditions and Western classical music beauty, painting a picture of California throughout the seasons and the harsh reality of wildfires at the door. The season concludes with Strauss' monumental Alpine Symphony, which vividly depicts a journey through the Bavarian Alps, capturing the breathtaking scenery, changing weather, and the grandeur of nature with rich orchestrations and thematic developments. Though it was inspired by a day in the Alps, you will certainly recognize our own Ten Mile Range in the music.

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Date: June 22-August 10, 2024

Location: Various Towns in Colorado.

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