ROCKY RIDGE MUSIC CENTER FOUNDATION

SUMMER SEMINARS MUSIC INSTRUCTIONYOUTH PROGRAMS ROCKY RIDGE MUSIC CENTER'S YOUTH PROGRAM OFFERS EVERYTHING FROM HALF HOUR LESSONS TO A MONTH-LONG RESIDENTIAL MUSIC INTENSIVE FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AT ITS ESTES PARK LOCATION. DURING THE FOUR WEEKS OF COLLEGE INTENSIVE, STUDENTS BETWEEN THE AGES 18 TO 24 RECEIVE TWO WEEKLY PRIVATE LESSONS, PERFORM SIX SOLO AND CHAMBER CONCERTS, DELVE DEEPLY INTO ADVANCED CHAMBER MUSIC AND PERFORM FOR THEIR PEERS AND THE PUBLIC AT OUR HISTORIC CONCERT HALL AND IN THE COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, COLLEGE STUDENTS ATTEND PANEL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, AND TAKE PART IN MOCK AUDITIONS AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM SEASONED ORCHESTRAL MUSICIANS. IN TWO WEEKS OF JUNIOR MUSIC PROGRAMS, STUDENTS BETWEEN THE AGES 10 TO 17 HONE THEIR SKILLS AND DEVELOP THEIR UNIQUE MUSICAL VOICES THROUGH COMPOSITION, ENSEMBLES, PERFORMANCE, AND PRIVATE TUTORIALS. ADDITIONALLY, STUDENTS COLLABORATE TO COMPOSE A NEW ORCHESTRAL WORK FOR THE FINAL CONCERT. JUNIOR ARTIST COMPOSERS RECEIVE READINGS BY FACULTY AS WELL AS PREMIERE PERFORMANCE AND RECORDING OF THEIR WORKS. THEY ALSO HAVE THE OPTION TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES FURTHER THROUGH STUDY OF ADVANCED CLASSICAL REPERTOIRE. WE HAVE ALSO ADDED TWO NEW ENTRY LEVEL JUMPSTART PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AGES 10 TO 15 TO GIVE THEM AN INTRODUCTION AND HEAD-START TO PARTICIPATING IN THEIR SCHOOL ORCHESTRA PROGRAMS. THE "JAZZ FROM A TO Z" IS A ONE WEEK SEMINAR FOR STUDENTS OF ALL LEVELS, AGES 13-18 TO DIVE INTO THE PERFORMANCE, THEORY, AND HISTORY OF JAZZ. WE ADDED THE MARIACHI PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DIVERISIFY OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH TUITION-FREE SUPPORT. WE WORK WITH A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY TALENTED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN NEED OF FULL SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.ADULT PROGRAMS THE ADULT PIANO SEMINAR AT THE ESTES PARK CAMPUS PRODUCES TWO, FIVE DAY SEMINARS WHICH OFFER ADULTS OF ALL LEVELS TO ADVANCE THEIR SKILLS THROUGH LESSONS, MASTER CLASSES, LECTURES & WORKSHOPS WITH PROFESSIONAL PIANO INSTRUCTORS WHO ARE WORLD-CLASS PERFORMERS. CHAMBERRE-IN-THE-ROCKIES OFFERS AMATEUR STRING PLAYERS A COMMUNITY OF LIKE-MINDED PEERS WHO ENJOY PLAYING CHAMBER MUSIC OVER ONE TO FIVE DAYS, AND FORMING LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH SHARED LOVE OF MUSIC.

PRESERVATION OF OUR HISTORIC FACILITY.PRESERVATION AND MODERNIZATION OF OUR HISTORICAL CAMPUS IS AN ONGOING EFFORT AND PART OF OUR BOARD'S FOCUS. OUR FACILITY WAS HOMESTEADED AND CONSTRUCTED AS AN INN IN THE EARLY 1900S, OCCUPIED BY ROCKY RIDGE SINCE 1951, AND WAS DECLARED A NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT IN THE EARLY 1990S. THE RUSTIC HISTORIC FEEL IS INTEGRAL TO THE INTIMATE, PERSONAL NATURE OF OUR MUSIC EDUCATION EXPERIENCE. NATURE AND COMMUNITY ARE PART OF OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND THE SMALL STUDENT BODY AND THE CLOSE COMMUNAL LIVING IN RUSTIC CABINS REINFORCE THE MUTUAL SUPPORT THE STUDENTS FEEL FOR EACH OTHER'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THUS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE PRESERVE THE HISTORIC NATURE OF OUR FACILITY WHILE CAREFULLY MODERNIZING IT TO MEET CURRENT SAFETY CODES AND STUDENT EXPECTATIONS. BY MODERNIZING OUR CAMPUS, OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP THE ACCOMMODATIONS COMFORTABLE FOR TODAY'S STUDENTS' EXPECTATIONS - BOTH ADULT AND YOUTH - SO THAT OUR PROGRAM AND THE FACILITY CONTINUE AND PROSPER. IT HAS ALSO BEEN NECESSARY TO BRING THE FACILITY UP TO CURRENT SAFETY CODES WHICH WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED. WE ARE CAREFUL TO KEEP THE HISTORIC AESTHETIC OF OUR CAMPUS IN THESE MODERNIZATIONS. WE BEGAN MODERNIZATION IN THE EARLY 1990S WHEN THE OWNER/FOUNDER TURNED THE ORGANIZATION OVER TO A VOLUNTEER IRS SEC 501(C)(3) BOARD. GRANTS FROM THE STATE HISTORICAL FUND (SHF) WERE CRUCIAL IN GETTING THE PROCESS STARTED BY ADDRESSING THE TWO MAJOR BUILDINGS AT THE HEART OF THE CAMPUS. LATER SHF GRANTS HELPED RESTORE 3 CABINS. IT HAS BEEN A LONG PROCESS TO CATCH UP, AND THEN MATCH, THE STANDARDS OF MODERN CODES AND STUDENT EXPECTATIONS, AND IT IS ONGOING. FOR EXAMPLE IN 2018 AND 2019 WE REPLACED THE SECOND OF THREE SEPTIC SYSTEMS, WINTERIZED ONE CABIN FOR YEAR-ROUND LIVING FOR SEASONAL STAFF, AND INSTALLED THE WATER/SEWAGE INFRASTRUCURE AND ADDED A BATHROOM TO A CABIN. WE ARE NOW REPLACING OUR WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM THAT PROCESSES SURFACE WATER FOR OUR CAMP.