Embracing Everything with Colorado MahlerFest

Each May, music-lovers within the Denver metro area and from around the world flock to Boulder, Colorado in celebration of the late-Romantic composer, Gustav Mahler. The annual Colorado MahlerFest pilgrimage is something that classical music fans look forward to all year. 

“We’re like a family that doesn’t spend enough time together to get sick of each other,” joked Artistic Director, Kenneth Woods. Started more than 30 years ago to remedy the lack of Mahler music being played by traditional symphonies, Colorado MahlerFest has grown into an annual staple, and a source of community.

Born in 1860, Gustav Mahler was a conductor and composer who completed nine symphonies and 40 songs during his lifetime. Mahler was known for bringing together both “high” and “low” art throughout his work, a revolutionary combination that was frowned upon by the musical establishment in Vienna during this time. He once famously said, “A symphony must be like the world. It must embrace everything.” 

Mahler’s more modern musical perspective provides Colorado MahlerFest a lens through which to expose modern audiences to his work and the work of his contemporaries. Whether you’re a Mahler aficionado or simply Mahler-curious, it’s sure to be a wonderful week of music, community, learning, and everything in between. This year’s festival “Mahler and the Mountains” will offer concerts, community dinners, symposiums, Mahler-themed hikes and cocktail classes, open rehearsals, and something brand new...

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Free Days/Events

Organizations from across the metro area provide hundreds of free days and free programs each year made possible, in part, by funding from SCFD. Some organizations are free every day such as Broomfield Veterans Museum, Foothills Art Center, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, The Aurora History Museum, Depot Art Gallery, and the Louisville History Museum. Here are a few free days on tap for May:

• Colorado Railroad Museum – May 9
• Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Shakespeare in the Parking Lot – May 11 and May 18
• Colorado MahlerFest: Mountains of Brass! – May 16
• Museum of Outdoor Arts – May 20
• Roshni: Open Mic & Mingle – May 24

Get to know our County Cultural Councils

SCFD’s County Cultural Councils make funding recommendations for annual SCFD funds in each of the district’s partner counties. All members are local volunteers appointed by the county’s commissioners or city councils. Learn more here.

Farewell to Board Members Ray Gonzales and Marcela de la Mar

We’d like to extend a fond farewell to SCFD board members, Ray Gonzales and Marcela de la Mar. 

"It has been a pleasure serving on the board with Ray and Marcela,” said Board Chair Jacki Cooper Melmed, “we are grateful for their years of service and know that they will continue to be champions of arts, culture, and science in our community.”

Ray has a passion for economic development, and currently serves as the President of the Metro Denver EDC. He feels strongly that the premier delivery of art and cultural opportunities accentuate the culture of our innovative and inclusive region. He is a patron of the DCPA and Denver Art Museum. Ray is committed to the metro area and believes in the value of SCFD for all the residents of the seven counties.

Marcela strives to elevate art and culture to all. She spent 23 years of her career serving the community with the Office of the Consulate General of Mexico in Denver and the Mexican Cultural Center. Marcela enjoys supporting organizations such as the Denver Zoo and Butterfly Pavilion. We appreciate her insight and experience of cultural organizations both large and small throughout the seven counties

“Ray and Marcela have been invaluable leaders and members of our board and will always be members of the SCFD family,” said SCFD Executive Director, Deborah Jordy.

Thank you, Marcela and Ray! 

SCFD Board of Directors News

A board of directors governs the SCFD with representation from district member counties Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson and four governor's appointees. The board oversees district funding and ensures the district is running the way voters intended. The board meets eight times a year and all meetings are open to the public.

• The next meeting of the SCFD Board of Directors will be held at the Randy Weeks Theater in the Robert and Judi Newman Center for Theatre Education at 1:00 p.m. on May 23, 2024. Get information for joining meetings.

We Fund Culture

Thanks to the voters and residents of the seven-county metro area, SCFD has come a long way in its more than 35 years of existence. SCFD is the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, a tax collected and distributed to more than 300 cultural organizations in our seven-county Denver metro region including Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties. Just one penny on every $10 spent in the district creates vibrancy for us individually and collectively.

Did you know you can stay up to date on all things SCFD more than just once a month through our newsletter? Check out our News You Can Use webpage!