We’re excited to share some big news with you: the City of Lafayette has declared September 19, 2021 as Center for Musical Arts Day in honor of our 25th anniversary! You can read the City’s formal proclamation below.
PROCLAMATION
Declaring September 19, 2021 as Center for Musical Arts Day
WHEREAS, The Center for Musical Arts was co-founded in 1996 as the Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts at 211 West Cannon Street by music educators Peggy Bruns and Kathy Kucsan; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the school included a vision of equity, inclusivity and “Music for All…for Life!” and a mission of inspiring and connecting community members of all ages by providing access to the best of the world’s music through education and performance; and
WHEREAS, The Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts moved to 200 East Baseline in 2000, with the help of an anonymous donor who funded the purchase of the former First United Methodist Church building; and
WHEREAS, The Rocky Mountain Center for Musical Arts grew from 13 students on opening day to more than 600 students who take lessons, classes, workshops, and ensembles weekly; and
WHEREAS, The Center for Musical Arts was merged into the Colorado Music Festival in 2009, creating a combined organization known as the Colorado Music Festival and Center for Musical Arts; and
WHEREAS The Center for Musical Arts has touched the lives of more than 17,000 students since its inception; and
WHEREAS The Center for Musical Arts has 37 faculty members who hold advanced degrees in music and who have performed and taught with these ensembles and organizations: Central City Opera, Boulder Philharmonic, Pro Musica Colorado, Greeley Philharmonic, Wyoming Symphony, Cheyenne Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Honolulu Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Opera Colorado Orchestra, Colorado Ballet Orchestra, Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, New York Opera Theater, Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado, American Symphony Orchestra, Manhattan Brass Quintet, Florence Music Academy, John Coltrane School of Jazz, Bernstein School of Musical Theater, Apollo’s Fire, Oberlin Consort of Viols, University of Northern Colorado, Rocky Ridge, University of Wyoming, Sabian Education Network, the Mother Folkers, and many more; and
WHEREAS, The Center for Musical Arts has the Heartstrings Program, which provides need-based tuition assistance and low/no cost access to instruments for students of any age; and
WHEREAS, Access to musical activities is a core value of the CMA, which provides 40% of student with some level of assistance, along with programs for veterans, an intergenerational choir that sings in Spanish (Coro Santuario), and the Musical Freedom Program which provides instruction inside correctional facilities; and
WHEREAS the Center for Musical Arts has provided students the opportunity to be educated and enlightened by musical masters, including Peter Oundjian, Augustin Hadelich, Joan Tower, Harumi Rhodes, Wang Jie, John Mack, Kathryn Greenbank, Peter Cooper, Jon Kimura Parker, Melissa DeYoung, Julie Simson, Sarah Barber, and Ashraf Sewailam, and many others.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Lafayette hereby recognizes the contributions of the Center for Musical Arts and declares September 19, 2021 as Center for Musical Arts Day and encourages Lafayette residents to celebrate the power of “Music for All for Life!”
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 9TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2021.