Tiny Tots: Diverse Colorado
Childrenarewelcometomoveduringtheprogram.Feelfreetoletlittle onesgetup,dance,andparticipateintheinteractivemoments,but please remaininyourarea. Adultsareaskedtoremainseated throughouttheprogramunlessyouneedtotakeachildoutofthespace.
Doyouoryourlittleonehavesensorysensitivities?Askavolunteerto checkoutasensorybag!
Haveanyquestionsorconcerns?Findavolunteerorstaffmemberwith anInsidetheOrchestranametagandwe'llbehappytohelp!
Inside the Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are passionate about the world of the orchestra being a place for everyone. We work to cultivate an inclusive and equitable environment where all children feel welcome. We have a completely open door policy, providing experiences that are otherwise unavailable to many children, communities, and schools. In-person programs are open to the public and in metro Denver schools. Virtual programs are available around the world.
Your ticket purchase only covers a portion of our costs, and nearly 50% of our tickets are provided free or at a reduced rate. Can you help schools and families in need get Inside the Orchestra? Donate now!
Thank you to the residents of the seven-county metro area for more than 30 years of support of the SCFD. Your support makes Tiny Tots Possible!
| 2024-2025SEASON
CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS
Dec 14, Brighton Armory
Dec 15, McNichols Building, Denver
Dec 21, Epic Campus in Littleton
Dec 22, Parker Fieldhouse
Dec 23, History Colorado Museum
ANIMALS
Apr 12, Legacy Campus, Lone Tree
Apr 26, Tivoli Turnhalle, Denver
May 3, Exhibit Hall at Riverdale Regional Park, Brighton
LET’SPLAY!
July10,CentennialCityCenterPark, Centennial
Jul13,ChatfieldFarms,Littleton
All concerts are at 9:30am and 10:45am
Can’t get enough Tiny Tots? Neither can we!
Embark on a musical journey with us at the Music of the World Popup Concerts. All shows start at 10am. Tickets are $11 per person (over 12 months).
Feb 1 - People’s Building, Aurora
Feb 12- Mile Hi Church, Lakewood
Feb 19 - Parker Fieldhouse
CONDUCTOR
Dan Leavitt
Dan has a Master of Arts in Music from the University of Denver and has been the conductor of Tiny Tots for 5 years. He has written 500+ arrangements that are played all over the world. Dan has taught at the Univers of Colorado-Boulder, Metropolitan State University, Colorado Christian University, and Cherry Creek High School. Dan is currently the conductor of the Mercury Ensemble. Dan has also conducted the Colorado Ballet, Colorado Youth Symphony, and Denver Municipal Band. He has performed four times for Presidents of the US. Dan has recorded with the Colorado Symphony, The Boulder Brass, Rare Silk, and can be heard on Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman by Joan Tower. Dan has a passion for conducting, performing, composing, and music education. In addition to conducting Inside the Orchestra, Dan also arranges all of our musical selections.
TEACHING ARTIST
Emily Doherty, Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Emily Doherty is a Teaching Artist dedicated to fostering community through shared musical experiences and early childhood education. Her previous roles include serving as the Family Experiences Coordinator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Theatre for Young Audiences Program Manager at Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Emily holds a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Michigan State University and has led accessibility programs across various organizations and community spaces. Passionate about creating inclusive and engaging experiences, she excels at crafting unique celebrations for all. Outside of her professional life, Emily enjoys being Auntie Em to her nieces/nephews and cherishing time with her loved ones.
TEACHINGARTIST
IlianaLuceroBarron,DenverCenterforthePerformingArts
Iliana Lucero Barron is a bilingual, Latinx teaching artist, creative, and advocate. Since her introduction to the stage, Iliana has gone on to perform in a variety of works with several theatres in Colorado such as: Northside (Su Teatro), The Shakespeare in the Parking Lot (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), One Night, Six Plays (5280 Artist Co-op), Fever Dream Festival (Benchmark Theatre), and more! Beyond performing, Iliana has worked with multiple organizations, focusing on educational programming for children and youth, creative exploration, collaboration, and DEIA.
SINGER/INDIGENOUS AMERICAN FLUTIST
Atekpatzin
Atekpatzin is a musician, songwriter, and recording artist. He has produced three CDs of music, including two CDs of ceremonial songs with his musical group Tzotzollin. His music can be found wherever you download purchased music.
SINGER, TAIKO DRUM
Meg Ozaki Graves, Central City Opera
Japanese American soprano and taiko player Margaret "Meg" Ozaki Graves has performed across the USA, in Germany, and all over Colorado. She holds teaching certificates in koto and shamisen from the Miyagi School and has studied and performed Japanese taiko drums since the age of six as a member of Denver Junior Taiko, One World Taiko, and Mirai Daiko. Meg works in artistic administration at Central City Opera.
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER
Elli Streifer, October 6, 17, and 22.
Elli is an ASL Interpreter currently working in the Denver Metro Area with interpreting experience in the Deaf community as well as specialized skills within DeafDisabled, DeafBlind, and disability communities. She is the Program Manager for the Colorado Community Intervener Program at the Colorado Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind (CCDHHDB), which pairs interveners with DeafBlind children outside of school hours for more meaningful community integration and communication development. She is also a DeafBlind Consultant with CR Vision, where she consults with families, educators, and therapists of DeafBlind children about accessibility and communication.
THANK YOU TO OUR CULTURAL PARTNERS
FEATURED SOLOISTS
Mike Fitzmaurice, Erhu, Inside the Orchestra
Lionel Young, Electric Violin and Voice, Inside the Orchestra
Dan Leavitt, Trumpet, Inside the Orchestra
Colorado Youth Mariachi Program
Talented young musicians will perform on traditional mariachi instruments, including violin, guitarron, and vihuela.
Dancers from T2 Dance, Killian von Holdt, Claire Fisher, Breegan Kearny, and Beck Stewart
VIOLIN
Byron Hitchcock
Michael Brook
Takanori Sugishita
Lionel Young
Kathy Thayer
Gyongi Petheo
Désirée Suàrez Ward
Annamarie Karacson
VIOLA
James Shaw
Lora Stevens
Sarah Richardson
CELLO
Wayne Templeman
Anna Leavitt
Jennifer Fouse
MUSICIANS
Mike Fitzmaurice
Ron Bland
Andy Holmes BASS
FLUTE
Cora Crisman
OBOE
Kathryn Simpson
CLARINET
Mary Jungerman
BASSOON
Deborah Torp
TRUMPET
Derek McDonald
Dawn Kramer
HORN
Devon Park
Ron Torp
Sue McCullough
TROMBONE
Justis Williams
TUBA
Mike Dunn
PERCUSSION
Peter Cooper
Our professional musicians are members of the Denver Music Association, a local union chapter of the American Federation of Musicians. We are committed to supporting professional musicians with fair compensation.
PROGRAM NOTES
Funga Alafia - traditional west African folk song - We welcome you to Tiny Tots with this traditional welcome song from west Africa. Funga Alafia means “welcome” in the Yoruba language. Little ones are invited to get up and move their bodies with this piece of music.
Cacalotl - Cacalotl, or Raven, is a song of healing composed by guest singer and Indigenous American flutist, Atekpatzin, rooted in the musical style of Native American traditional form. Raven is a creature of metamorphosis and symbolizes change and transformation. The song is a call for humanity to release discordant habits and embrace a harmonious and inclusive future.
Londonderry Air - is a traditional Irish air. It is more commonly known today as the tune of Danny Boy. Although the tune originated in Ireland, Margaret Weatherly, the daughter of an Irish immigrant, created the song Danny Boy as we know it while in Ouray, Colorado, when she set the words from a 1910 poem by her brother-in-law Frederic Weatherly to the tune.
La Virgen de la Macarena - This traditional song from Spain, sometimes called The Bullfighter’s Song, was made famous by Mexican virtuoso trumpeter Rafael Mendez in the 1950s. As a young trumpeter, Conductor Dan saw the great Rafael Mendez in concert in Gunnison, Colorado, and we are pleased to feature Conductor Dan as our trumpet soloist today.
PROGRAM NOTES, CONTINUED
Dale Dale Dale - isatraditionalMexicanchildren’ssong.Itissung atpartiesaschildrenswingatapinata(apapermacheanimal filledwithcandy)withastick.“Dale”translatesas“hit.”The talentedyoungmusiciansoftheColoradoYouthMariachijoinus forthispiece.
Lullaby - isamovementfrom Five Pieces for Violin, composedby BlackColoradoMusicHallofFamecomposerGeorgeMorrison Sr. (1891-1974).Hewasaviolinist,composer,andjazzband leaderwhotaughtandplayedintheDenverareaandhada profoundimpactonthelocalmusicallandscape.
Shojoji - is a Japanese folk song all about an animal called a tanuki, or a Japanese raccoon dog. The title translates to The Hungry Raccoon. Our guest, Meg Ozaki Graves, from Central City Opera, joins us for this piece to sing and play the traditional Japanese Taiko.
Early in the Morning - This song is sung and played by our very own violinist, Lionel Young, who, in addition to playing with Inside the Orchestra, is also the leader of the Lionel Young Band, an award-winning blues band. Lionel joins us on electric violin for this piece.
Jasmine--East of the Sun - Mike Fitzmaurice, one of our bass players, joins us on this self-composed mashup of a Chinese Folk song, Jasmine, and jazz standard, East of the Sun and West of the Moon. He will play the erhu, an instrument that originated in China over 1,000 years ago!
PROGRAM NOTES,
Waltzing Matilda - is a “bush ballad,” or Australian folk song. We are joined on this piece by a dancer from T2 Dance Company. The initial “choreographic cell” was created by T2 Dance’s Erin Turnbridge, who is a Boulder-based dancer originally from Australia. Today’s dancer will create an interpretive improvisation based on the initial “choreographic cell” in order to create an entirely unique performance!
Rocky Mountain High - This song by John Denver and Mike Taylor was sung and recorded in 1972 by John Denver. It is a “folk rock” song and is one of two official state songs of Colorado and was inspired by the beauty of Aspen, Colorado.
Inside the Orchestra is committed to representation. Over 40% of our programming comes from the artistic body of BIPOC and/or female artists, or is from the folk traditions of historically underrepresented cultures. Scan the QR code to learn more.
Keep the fun going! Follow this link to our Resource Packet for Kids!
Want to keep listening to orchestra music? You can find a playlist with some of the music from today’s program here!
THANK
