The Boulder Phil is honored to be one of only four orchestras selected to participate in the 2017 SHIFT Festival of American Orchestras, providing a national platform to celebrate creativity and build community in our capital’s premier concert venue.
Partner with us to share the stage and make Colorado proud!
“The SHIFT Festival showcases how America’s orchestras have shifted their visions to reflect the music and programming that is unique to their own communities. We couldn’t be more honored to share our vision with other orchestras across the country.”
~Michael Butterman, Music Director
ABOUT THE SHIFT FESTIVAL
SHIFT: A Festival of American Orchestras is a weeklong spotlight on North American orchestras of all sizes that celebrates the vitality, unique identity, and extraordinary artistry of orchestras by creating an immersive festival experience in the nation’s capital. Two premier presenting organizations, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Washington Performing Arts, are collaborating to present the inaugural SHIFT Festival from March 27-April 2, 2017.
In addition to compelling and diverse full-orchestra concert programs performed in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, each of the four orchestras will engage in a mini-residency, interacting with the surrounding community through educational and outreach activities, symposia, and community events in venues throughout Washington, DC. SHIFT provides a national platform for today’s most innovative orchestras to share a sampling of their most creative and provocative work that embodies the individual orchestra’s identity, community, and artistic vision. Main stage concerts will be ticketed at $25, alongside a combination of ticketed and free events throughout the city.
We invite you to join us in DC for the concert! Travel package details coming soon...
FESTIVAL EVENTS
"Nature & Music" Concert
Tuesday, March 28, 8 PM at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
This program will also be presented in Boulder on Saturday, March 25, 7:30 PM at Macky Auditorium
Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
Michael Butterman, conductor
LIAS All the Songs that Nature Sings
World Premiere commemorating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service with choreographed visuals
MIDKIFF Mandolin Concerto, From the Blue Ridge
Jeff Midkiff, mandolin
HEITZEG Ghosts of the Grasslands
COPLAND Appalachian Spring
with Frequent Flyers® Aerial Dance
Your Boulder Phil encores nature-themed favorites from recent seasons along with a world premiere by “composer-adventurer” Stephen Lias inspired by our own Rocky Mountain National Park and choreographed to nature photography from the park. Midkiff’s mandolin concerto evokes the Appalachians with hues of bluegrass and Americana. Prairie dogs star in the cinematic Ghosts of the Grasslands, and Copland’s iconic Appalachian Spring is brought to life in unforgettable fashion by Frequent Flyers Aerial Dance.
Other residency activities include: Nature hikes in D.C.’s Rock Creek Park on March 27 led by naturalist Dave Sutherland from Boulder's Open Space & Mountain Parks, “stroll-to” outdoor performances by Boulder Phil ensembles on March 29 (10 AM to noon) during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and a post-concert composer talk with Stephen Lias. The Greater Boulder Youth Orchestra will also be performing at the Millennium Stage.
Click here for Individual Sponsorship Opportunities
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For more information about how you can become a valued supporter of the Boulder Phil and our trip to the Kennedy Center, contact Director of Development Eve Orenstein at 303-443-0542, eve@boulderphil.org.
PRESS COVERAGE
- Plays Well with Others: The Boulder Philharmonic is making big footprints in Boulder and beyond (Boulder Magazine, Winter 2016-Spring 2017)
- Boulder Phil Chosen to Participate in Inaugural SHIFT Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., 9/7/16 (updated)
New Music Festival Beginning in 2017 Showcases Four Orchestras and Provides National Platform to Celebrate Creativity and Build Community - Four orchestras in five acts: SHIFT announces 2017 line-up (The Washington Post, 5/28/15)
- Boulder Philharmonic announces performance at Kennedy Center festival in Washington (Colorado Public Radio, 5/28/15)
- Boulder Philharmonic selected for a brand new festival at the Kennedy Center (Sharps & Flatirons, 5/28/15)
- Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra picked to play new, elite festival (Daily Camera, 5/28/15)
- Kennedy Center Sets Lineup for New American Orchestras Festival (The New York Times, 5/28/15)
ABOUT THE BOULDER PHIL
The Boulder Phil is creating a new model for American orchestras through dynamic performances that reflect our community’s own values, creativity, and sense of place. As one of Colorado’s premier professional ensembles, we are bucking national trends with growing, enthusiastic audiences under the vision and leadership of Music Director Michael Butterman. As evidence of the orchestra’s growing artistic reputation, we are honored by our recent selection as one of four ensembles set to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington at the inaugural SHIFT festival in 2017. The artistic quality, innovative programming and collaborative depth that are the hallmarks of a Boulder Phil season position us as a real cultural gem in Colorado’s crown! More info
