The Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra brings together young musicians from throughout our region to learn to play and perform together. By offering scholarships for private lessons and tuition and loaning instruments to students free of charge the RFYO aims to eliminate all barriers to participation. Through free, family-friendly concerts and events the RFYO brings classical and traditional music to the larger Roaring Fork Valley community.
It is our goal to have a meaningful impact on every student, for each student to experience a connection with their peers, teachers and the audience through the creation and per- formance of each musical work.
Excerpts of letters from families receiving RFYO scholarships:
"This past winter Lily really loved her orchestra experience. Music has become the place where Lily is finding her people, her friends, her support network in life. The rest of our family have made connections with classical music that we wouldn't have without our experiences with RFYO."
"Neither myself nor my husband had the opportunity as young people to participate in any form of music, thus we feel that it is a very important opportunity that we can give to our children. Eric is very excited and we are thrilled to be a part of the RFYO and the opportunity that it provides for Eric to advance his skills."
"Thank you so much and the committee for all your support, with out your help it will be impossible for us to send M. to private lessons, I really appreciate all of your help."
"Wow, the RFYO scholarship committee is profoundly generous and kind. We are so fortunate to receive the guidance and development of the program along with this scholarship. A. is looking forward to meeting with the group this week."
The Roaring Fork Music Society is dedicated to making orchestral and classical music education and performances accessible and affordable to the youth and community members of the Roaring Fork Valley region through its Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra and outreach programs and to have a meaningful positive impact on every student musician.
The RFYO is now in its 12th year and brings together nearly 65 student musicians, ages 6 to 18, from Aspen to Rifle, to learn how to play and perform in an orchestra. We are working to make classical music instruction accessible and affordable for all students. Currently, no schools in the Roaring Fork Valley offer continuous K-12 strings or orchestral music programs. The RFYO works to fill this gap and provides need-based scholarships for private lessons. RFYO students play violin, viola, cello, bass, winds, brass, and percussion. Without the RFYO, many of these students would not be able to afford private lessons, or would not have the opportunity to play with an orchestra.
The Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra is the primary program of the 501(c)3 nonprofit Roaring Fork Music Society, Inc., (RFMS). The RFMS was created in 2014 as a successor to the long-time local nonprofit, Roaring Fork Chamber Players. The RFYO first began in 2011 as a program of the former organization. At its start in 2011, 8 students rehearsed weekly after-school at Aspen High School. During the 2019-20 school year, 75 students participated in the RFYO, from the region spanning Aspen to Eagle to Rifle, CO, and performed 9 concerts for nearly 1,100 community audience members.
Organization name
Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra
other names
Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra, RFYO, Roaring Fork Chamber Players
2014
Tax id (EIN)
46-5333149
Category
Arts, Culture & Humanities
Address
520 S. Third Street Suite 16DMailing
PO BOX 503Garfield County, CO, US