PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP W/ HIGH COUNTRY SINFONIA

ABOUT ART OF SINFONIA

High Country Sinfonia (HCS), the Roaring Fork Valley’s professional, musician-led chamber orchestra, presents its 2025 Spring Concert Series: Art of Sinfonia. This season’s program seamlessly blends a diverse array of musical styles, culminating in the highly anticipated world premiere of Snow Prayer, a newly commissioned work by local composer and pianist, Kevin Kaukl.

HCS continues its commitment to accessible, high-quality performances by offering free concerts with a suggested donation of $20 per person, ensuring that the joy of live music remains available to all.

The concert program journeys through a diverse array of musical styles, beginning with Gerald Finzi’s Prelude, a lyrical and introspective work that sets a contemplative tone. George Gershwin’s Lullaby follows, wrapping audiences in its tender, jazz-inflected harmonies. Gabriel Fauré’s Après Un Rêve evokes a dreamlike world of longing and nostalgia, while Astor Piazzolla’s Oblivion and Chau Paris infuse the program with the passion of tango. Gustav Holst’s Brook Green Suite, a lively and folk-inspired work, provides a bright and spirited finale before the unveiling of Kevin Kaukl’s Snow Prayer.

The world premiere of Snow Prayer, commissioned via funds from the City of Aspen Cultural Vibrancy Fellowship program, is a highlight of the season. Snow Prayer began as a meditation on the critical role that winter snow plays in our mountain ecology, our local economy, and our cultural identity as a city. We’ve all seen the bumper stickers that say “PRAY FOR SNOW.” Inspired by that sentiment, Snow Prayer is a musical illustration of our collective yearning for a healthy snowpack in our mountains. It is meant to capture the excitement, beauty, and grandeur of an epic powder day. Kaukl said that the Cultural Vibrancy Fellowship allowed him to study orchestration techniques, acquire software tools, and connect with other Fellows who work in a diverse range of media was a huge inspiration. 

ABOUT HIGH COUNTRY SINFONIA

Founded in 2015, High Country Sinfonia is a musician-led chamber orchestra dedicated to providing exceptional performances to the Roaring Fork Valley. The ensemble presents free concerts twice annually, performing an eclectic repertoire spanning from the Renaissance to contemporary compositions. HCS relies on donations to sustain its mission and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Learn More About High Country Sinfonia: WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM

ABOUT KEVIN KAUKL, COMPOSER

Kevin Kaukl first visited the Roaring Fork Valley as a pianist and student during several summers at the Aspen Music Festival and School. After that, he had the chance to study and perform across the U.S. and internationally, earning his Master of Music and Artist Diploma degrees from the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia. He was a student of the Irish pianist John O’Conor throughout his graduate studies. 

Aspen’s vibrant community and beautiful mountain surroundings made a lasting impression on Kaukl and left him longing to return. After graduate school, he moved to the Roaring Fork Valley and was appointed to his present position as organist and music director at St. Mary Catholic Church in 2016. Since then he has remained active as a performer on local concert series, and in 2023 was a featured soloist with the High Country Sinfonia, performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor.

DETAILS

• Doors open for show @ 6pm | Show @ 7:00pm
• SEATED SHOW | ALL AGES
• Location: TACAW, 400 Robinson St, Basalt, CO 81621

Presented By: TACAW