Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra history

Brico resigned in 1964 and Ador Toth, CU Boulder associate professor of music and conductor of the university symphony orchestra, was named her successor.

Toth requested a leave of absence in 1965 to tour with the Alma Trio, and invited his CU colleague, David Burge, to take over as conductor for the 1965-66 season.

In 1969, Students for a Democratic Society rioted at a lecture by S. I. Hayakawa, throwing lighted cigarettes, folding chairs, and a bottle at him.

In 1971, several hundred unruly students attempted to crash a sold-out Neil Young concert, breaking the glass in the foyer doors, and fighting off police armed with firehoses.

Aside from a one-year sabbatical to Copenhagen (during which James Stroud took over as conductor), Burge’s tenure lasted until 1972, when he joined the faculty at the Eastman School of Music.

In 1990 the Boulder Arts Academy was founded as a community school under the direction of the Boulder Philharmonic.

Theodore Kuchar was named Music Director in 1996, under whose leadership the Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra became a fully professional symphony orchestra.

Kuchar also founded the Sinfonia of Colorado, a classical chamber orchestra made up of Philharmonic musicians in 1997.

In 1999 the Boulder Philharmonic became a part of an alliance organization called the Peak Association of the Arts, also known as PeakArts, which also included the Boulder Ballet, Sinfonia of Colorado and the Boulder Arts Academy.

Also in 2003, Sue Levine was hired as the executive director of PeakArts.

Theodore Kuchar left the organization in 2006.

FOUNDED in 2009 by conductor Devin Patrick Hughes and business leader Anthony Santelli, Boulder Symphony is a community-focused orchestra with a drive to enhance the music scene in Boulder and beyond.