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The Denver Philharmonic Orchestra: Redefining Classical Music in Denver
The Denver Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) continually redefines how our community experiences and engages with classical music. With a mission rooted in accessibility and inclusivity, we strive to remove barriers and make orchestral music available to everyone, regardless of financial status. Our innovative programming, community partnerships, and educational outreach efforts invite audiences from all walks of life to explore and enjoy the beauty of live classical music.
Community Impact
In September 2023, the DPO extended an invitation to the Denver Reddit community, offering free tickets to our ¡Fiesta! concert. The response was overwhelming, filling nearly every seat. As one Reddit user shared: "My four-year-old’s first concert review: 'it was really fun and pretty loud!' It was an unforgettable evening for us."
This is just one example of how DPO opens its doors to those who may not typically attend concerts, making classical music more accessible to Denver’s diverse community.
Another user reflected: "It was one of the most wholesome things I've seen on Reddit… Thanks for an incredible evening."
Testimonials from Our Patrons
CLASH OF THE TITANS Patron (October 2021):
"Last night was my first experience with DPO. Nothing less than a spectacular performance… The conductor was as good as any I have ever seen."
¡Fiesta! Reddit Patron (September 2023):
"Thank you for doing this! As someone who's been out of work for six months, this meant a lot. My family enjoyed the concert so much."
Reimagining the classical music experience for our entire community.
We may be one of Denver's oldest orchestras, but we certainly don't act our age.
Dr. Antonia Brico, the first woman to conduct the New York Philharmonic Orchestras, founded our organization in 1948 as the Denver Businessmen's Orchestra. Antonia settled in Denver after conducting professional orchestras across Europe and the U.S. She debuted our orchestra to a packed auditorium explaining the need for a classical music venue to showcase the talents of local, classically trained musicians "with no place to play." Twenty years later, we'd be known as the Brico Symphony, and Antonia would remain at the helm of the orchestra until her retirement in the mid-1980s.
After nearly 40 years under Antonia's baton, the orchestra chose Russian-American conductor Julius Glaihengauz as its second music director. A graduate of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, Julius led the newly renamed Centennial Philharmonic for 11 seasons.
In 1999, Professor of Music at the University of Denver Dr. Horst Buchholz took the baton. Our most recent name change came in 2004, and we became the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. Horst served as music director and conductor through 2009, after which he was appointed the orchestra's first Conductor Laureate.
Adam Flatt came onboard as music director in June 2010. Adam's dynamic and inspiring leadership over the next three years continued Horst's legacy and further increased the artistic quality of the orchestra.
We selected award-winning conductor Dr. Lawrence Golan as our conductor and music director when Adam left in 2013. Lawrence, a professor and music director at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, led DPO on international tours to China and Germany and established the International Conducting Workshop, which has featured guest conductors such as Robert Spano, Diane Wittry, Gary Lewis, and Donald Schleicher. Lawrence Golan stepped down as Music Director in 2024, and DPO is currently conducting a competitive conductor search. Lawrence continues to serve as our Music Director Laureate.
While we have a 75+ year history in Denver, our mission is to continually redefine the way our community experiences and engages with classical music.
Organization name
Denver Philharmonic Orchestra
other names
DPO, The Denver Businessmen's Orchestra, The Brico Symphony, The Centennial Philharmonic
1948
Tax id (EIN)
84-6046303
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
1660 Sherman St.Mailing
PO Box 6084Headquarters
1660 Sherman StDenver County, CO, US