The Evergreen Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1983 by local musicians (mostly Evergreen and mountain area residents), who had been playing together informally for the previous two years. Dr. William Morse of Metropolitan State College of Denver was selected as music director and principal conductor. A Board of Directors was formed from musicians and local business members, and the non-profit Evergreen Chamber Orchestra Society was created.
Early rehearsals and concerts were held in a number of local schools and churches, with the orchestra moving to Rockland Community Church near Genessee which was its home for more than 20 years. The orchestra quickly attracted a loyal following of enthusiastic supporters and has recently expanded their concerts to include performances in Littleton as well as Evergreen.
Following a year-long search for a new conductor in 2013-14, William Hill was selected as ECO’s Music Director and has just completed his second season with the orchestra. Mr. Hill is critically acclaimed as a composer, soloist, visual artist, recording artist, and conductor. He is Principal Timpanist and Composer with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and teaches composition and counterpoint at Denver University’s Lamont School of Music. Bill is also an accomplished jazz musician and his band Bill Hill and Friends have been featured at ECO’s Annual Jazz Gala the past two seasons.
ECO has performed continuously in Jefferson County for the past 35 years. During ECO’s 2016-17 season you can hear their fabulous concerts at Church of the Hills in Evergreen, Rockland Community Church in Genesee, and Genesis Presbyterian Church in Littleton. The performance season for 2016-17 consists of six orchestral concerts, a Holiday Concert, the Mountain Area Orchestral Festival (held at the Evergreen High School), and a Chamber Music recital series. Dates and programs for the 2016-17 season can be found here.
