about us

mission

The Playground ensemble promotes the music of our time through performance, new music commissions, education, and community outreach. Our goal is to provide stimulating performances, expand common perceptions of both contemporary music and the chamber ensemble, and nurture a community around this music that we love.


vision

We will establish ourselves as a new music ensemble of national prominence. We will do so with superior quality performances and adventurous programming.

We dare to take programming risks; both of repertoire and venue and do so unashamedly and without fear.

We believe in the power of a positive musical experience over the perfect musical performance. We do not support low standards or poor performance practice. We believe that musical pretension, ideas of genre superiority, and "we're trained professionals, don't try this at home" arrogance must not just be abandoned but actively destroyed. We empower our audience to believe in their abilities as musicians.

We imperatively urge young classical musicians to participate in music composed in their lifetime

We continue to expand our program offerings in the public schools and reach out to youth in schools with and without music programs.

We maintain working relationships with all higher education music programs in the Denver greater metropolitan area. We will work to establish and maintain these relationships throughout the state of Colorado and throughout the nation.

We are a service organization to all of those creating new music in Colorado. We are also a resource for all organizations, media, press, and educators interested in modern music. We wish to share our knowledge and experience in more ways than just concertizing. We believe that this music is for everyone and that community building is an important role of any performing ensemble. We will continue to develop new and continuing audiences for this music that we love.

The personal fulfillment of our performers, the camaraderie and enjoyment of working together and personal growth through playing this music we that love is a primary focus of our ensemble.

history

In 2001, a group of Lamont School of Music students and graduates began talking about "what next." Their discussions led to the formation of an ensemble whose purpose was to perform their own music. The scope of this ensemble broadened to encompass all music of the twentieth- and twenty first-centuries, with an emphasis on neglected masterpieces and untraditional styles and genres. The Playground was born.

Its founders shared three basic values: a passion for twentieth-century music outside the mainstream, a commitment to bringing this music to Colorado audiences, and a dedication to making it fun. Over the next few years the Playground gave sporadic concerts whenever grant money and unique opportunities presented themselves. The project served as a part time outlet for its core members.

In 2004, director Conrad Kehn, summoned the group to present his vision of an active and relevant new music chamber ensemble. The response: All you had to do was ask!

Over the next few years The Playground developed as an ensemble and organization. 2005 brought the first full concert season and a series of educational events. 2006 brought a larger concert season, a grant through the American Music Center, Artist-in-Residence status and the enjoyment of non-profit incorporation.

The Playground appears regularly on the Lamont Faculty Artist Concert Series and at other venues in the Denver area. We often collaborate with local art galleries in the presentation of multi-media events, and with local schools in educational programs that involve young people in this exciting music as performers as well as listeners. Our programs contain music by the internationally recognized masters, as well as works by up-and-coming composers.

The Playground continues to grow. A wide range of instruments is represented by its diverse performers. The unifying idea for all involved is the total commitment to bringing the music of NOW, and occasionally yesterday, in all its many facets to YOU, our audience.