Up Close and Musical

A nonprofit organization

Support Up Close and Musical's efforts to bring great music to thousands of underprivileged and disadvantaged students each year. All school performances are presented in a format that is interactive, kid-friendly, and close-up.

Testimonials

Following are a few quotes from students and/or teachers attending a recent performance: "Enjoyable learning experience." The best thing about Up Close and Musical is "the ability to take lessons in a public school." "They (the students) loved it!" "Great introduction to music." "Thank you for helping expose our students to fine music and culture." Great performance. Thank you." "It was awesome!" "Our 2nd-grade has a sound-unit o, learning about pitch, volume and this is a perfect match." "We appreciate you so much." "The performance was amazing! So many of my students were completely engaged for the entire performance."

Mission

Up Close and Musical is a classical ensemble of professional musicians whose mission is to cultivate students' interest in music and to motivate them to participate as future performers and audience members. It pursues this mission through a variety of unique in-school programs, mostly in elementary schools, across metropolitan Denver. In addition to performing in the schools, UCAM plays community concerts that range from small ensemble chamber music to collaborative, multi-media events incorporating dance, visual arts, and music.

Background Statement

Up Close and Musical (UCAM) was formed in 1988 by Denver Symphony cellist Eric Bertoluzzi and Susan Dreisbach, music education advocate. In 1989, UCAM obtained its own 501(c)(3). UCAM has a board of trustees comprised of community leaders and musicians. Throughout its 26 years, UCAM has earned a reputation for maintaining a high degree of professionalism as well as artistic and educational integrity.

UCAM has two principal activities: unique educational programs in Denver-area schools and public performances in a variety of community venues. Its school programs bring great music to students in their own schools and in a format that is interactive, kid-friendly, and close-up. We serve thousands of disadvantaged and underprivileged students each year, focusing on schools that have difficulty providing performing arts experiences for their students.

At its formation, UCAM school programs were focused in the Cherry Creek school district. In 1997 programs expanded into

Denver County thanks to a funding partnership with philanthropist Penny Shoemaker and her Helen Marie Black Fund for

Music Education. In 2012, another expansion was made into Douglas County schools, followed by Jefferson County schools in 2013. Based on requests from teachers for a program with a broader representation of instruments, UCAM has recently developed a new education offering, Symphony Spotlight. This program has been added to our other three assembly programs for schools offered in Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties.

Since our founding, UCAM ensembles have given over 1,200 performances in 800 locations, reaching a total audience of over 330,000 young people. At one time or another, UCAM has performed in nearly every community in metro Denver.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Up Close and Musical

other names

UCAM

Year Established

1990

Tax id (EIN)

84-1121629

Category

Arts, Culture & Humanities

Address

1000 Englewood Parkway
Englewood, CO 80110

Service areas

Arapahoe County, CO, US

Other

303-806-8196

Social Media