Celebrating young musicians and equipping our future leaders. We are music without barriers!
Our mission: El Sistema Colorado harnesses the joy of music and ignites the potential in our future leaders through an immersive youth music education program that transcends socioeconomic barriers.
Our Latest Update
The start of the Spring ’25 semester has brought some exciting new bits of programming! Here, ESC faculty member Ally Stibbards is with her Denver East HS violists as part of our pilot program to bring instrument-specific support to local orchestra directors.
So thrilled to usher in this new layer of access to high-quality orchestral education!
What We Do
El Sistema Colorado serves youth ages 3-18 by offering free string instruments and free music lessons in the setting of an orchestra. All students are welcome to apply but we prioritize enrollment for low-income families.
We operate our no-cost programs from our dedicated music center in Denver’s Curtis Park neighborhood. Our after school program takes place on Monday - Friday from 4:30-6:30. Most of our students receive 2-3 hours of music instruction per week and many also receive free private lessons.
While the program is free, our students and families have a high level of commitment to be a part of the program. We exist to provide access to high quality music education no matter what.
We are committed to the whole child, cultivating a community of support for the whole family and greater community, which is impacted by our young musicians’ growing self-confidence, social-emotional development and leadership skills.
We are music without barriers!
Gender (Afterschool)
Race (Afterschool)
Location Program
Enrollment
*demographic data updated January 2024
Our Partners
Long-term mentoring partnerships with local professional orchestras and chamber ensembles are central to ESC’s programming. These collaborations open doors to the highest level of classical music for our wide range of young musicians.
Get Involved
We invite you to join us in this Purpose. Whether you are a potential partner, donor, volunteer, or advocate, there are countless ways to support El Sistema Colorado. Your involvement can help us reach even more children, create even greater impact, and continue making a lasting difference in our community.
Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience the joy, creativity, and empowerment that comes from music education.
Volunteer
Offering your time and talents can make an incredible impact in the lives of our students! Fill out our volunteer form.
Work With Us
Visit our jobs page to see what postions El Sistema Colorado is currently hiring for.
Join Our Board
Apply to join our governing body that focuses on high level strategy, oversight, and accountability.
Donate Instruments
We are looking to add violins, violas, cellos and double basses for our ever-growing string orchestra program.
Make a Difference
Every child deserves access to the arts and each dollar you give helps us remove the barriers to music education.
$25 = 1 day of programming for 1 student
$50 = 1 hour private lesson
$150 = 1 week of programming for 1 student
$250 = 1 month of programming for 1 student
$500 = Purchases a new violin or viola
$2,500 = Sponsors 1 child for 1 semester
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ESC was founded in January 2012 with the first after school program in Denver Public Schools serving students at Garden Place Academy, adding Swansea Elementary and Bruce Randolph Middle & High School in the fall of 2013.
Drawing on the inspiration and approach from the original El Sistema established in Venezuela over 40 years ago, the founders of El Sistema Colorado envisioned children of marginalized communities having the same access to music as their more privileged peers.
Since our founding, ESC has served over 1,500 youth throughout Denver. We seek funding to expand our music programs to effectively serve our students with the highest quality music education possible.
In October 2019, we opened the doors to our very own music center and moved programming to our new location in the heart of Curtis Park. We currently serve over 100 students from all across Denver every week.
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El Sistema was founded in Venezuela in 1975 by economist and musician José Antonio Abreu and is now known as Fundación Musical Simón Bolívar. The system was designed to improve the life trajectory of young people living in poverty and as a paradigm for social change.
The intensive approach engages youth in group lessons, rehearsals and performance, while emphasizing peer learning and community engagement. The goals of El Sistema center on developing critical life skills and laying the groundwork for success.
An important product of El Sistema is the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, fed by young musicians from the program. The orchestra made its debut and succeeded brilliantly at an international competition in 1977 in Aberdeen, Scotland and has since toured extensively in Europe and America.
The El Sistema model has become a worldwide phenomenon as more music and education leaders have visited Venezuela and been inspired to adapt the program to their communities. Others have learned about El Sistema through the news media—including the news program 60 Minutes, which profiled the organization—as well as through the popularity of Los Angeles Philharmonic Music Director Gustavo Dudamel and other El Sistema graduates.
El Sistema has spurred conversations about how to reach low-income children using this daily, orchestra-based model of music education. The movement has expanded rapidly in the United States, including the formation of numerous El Sistema-inspired programs.
To learn more, you can watch the TED Talk for Dr. Jose Antonio Abreu here.