Tiny Tots
Passport to Music
WELCOME! Children are welcome to move during the program. Feel free to let little ones get up, dance, and participate in the interactive moments. Adults are asked to remain seated throughout the program unless you need to take a child out of the space. Have any questions or concerns? Find a volunteer or staff member with an Inside the Orchestra name tag and we'll be happy to help!
ABOUT US 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.
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Holidays December 2026
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For a limited time, you can apply your full-price ticket purchase toward a 26-27 Family Pack! For a 2-person Family Pack, use code UPGRADE40 for $40 off For a 3-person Family Pack, use code UPGRADE60 for $60 off For a 4-person Family Pack, use code UPGRADE80 for $80 off LEARN MORE www.insidetheorchestra.org
CONDUCTOR & ARRANGER Dan Leavitt
Dan has a Master of Arts in Music from the University of Denver and has been the conductor and arranger for Tiny Tots for 6 years. He has written 500+ arrangements that are played all over the world. Dan has taught at the University 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 a passion for conducting, performing, composing, and music education.
TEACHING ARTIST
Paola, Denver Center for the Performing Arts Paola Miranda (She, Her, Ella) was born and raised in San Juan, PR to a family of actors and performers. She is a bilingual actor, choreographer and teaching artist in and around Denver. Most of her performance work is in Theatre for Young Audiences and she recently debuted as a playwright with her first TYA bilingual play called The Adventures of Juan Bobo.
SINGER
Bella Mallow, Central City Opera Mezzo-soprano Bella Mallow is a Denver native who performs frequently around the region as a singer, dancer, and actor. She received her master’s degree in vocal performance from Louisiana State University in 2020, and since relocating back to her home state she has enjoyed many performance opportunities with local companies including Boulder Opera, Loveland Opera Theatre, Opera Fort Collins, Opera Colorado, Bravo! Vail, and more.
AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS Savannah Jackson (Oct 13, 18, 22) & Kelsey Beers (Oct 17, 24)
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Dec 12 - Denver Museum of Nature & Science Dec 13 - Parker Fieldhouse Dec 19 - Stanley Marketplace Hangar Dec 20 - EPIC Campus in Littleton Dec 23 - History Colorado Center
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MUSICIANS VIOLIN
BASS
Annamaria Karacson Desiree Ward Lionel Young Jackson Bailey Robyn Sosa
Mike Fitzmaurice
FLUTE
VIOLA
Kathryn Simpson
James Shaw Sarah Richardson
Cora Crisman
OBOE
Wayne Templeman Jennifer Fouse
HORN
Devon Park
TROMBONE Mark Bennet
BASSOON Deborah Torp
CELLO
TRUMPET
Dawn Kramer Dan Leavitt
PERCUSSION Peter Cooper
Our professional musicians are members of the Denver Musicians Association, a local union chapter of the American Federation of Musicians. We are committed to supporting professional musicians with fair compensation.
THANK YOU TO OUR CULTURAL PARTNERS
PROGRAM NOTES Funga Alafia - We welcome you to Passport to Music 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. Airplane Song – Laurie Berkner, featuring Bella Mallow (Central City Opera) Let’s take flight! We’ll hop into our imaginary airplanes and soar around the orchestra, visiting each section: brass, strings, woodwinds, and percussion. Along the way, you’ll hear musical “postcards” from famous pieces like Eine kleine Nachtmusik, William Tell Overture, and even September. Each section has its own special sound—listen for how they’re different as we travel. La Bamba - Ritchie Valens recorded this song in 1958. It was based on a Mexican folk song of the same name that originated in the 17th century. Valens’ version combined the Mexican folk elements with rock and roll. Valens is considered to be the forefather of the Chicano Rock movement, and La Bamba is the only song on Rolling Stone Magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list not to be written or sung in English. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - This Serenade was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Austria in 1787. The title translates to “a little night music.” A dancer from T2 Dance will join us to show us how the choreography, or dance movements, changes with the tempo, or speed, of the music. Jasmine-East of the Sun - Mike Fitzmaurice, our contrabassist, joins us on this 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! www.insidetheorchestra.org
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Nearly 19,000 people experienced live music 166 interactive music programs More than half of attendees participated for free or at a reduced cost
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Thank you for helping children discover the joy of music.
PROGRAM NOTES, CONTINUED Habanera - This aria is from an opera called Carmen, which was written by French composer Georges Bizet. The songs are sung in French, but the story takes place in Spain and the music was inspired by Spanish music, including the underlying, repeated rhythm that gives it the name “habanera.” Bella from Central City Opera joins us in singing the role of Carmen. In the Hall of the Mountain King from Peer Gynt Suite - by Edvard Grieg tells the musical story of a boy who must escape from a troll. It begins with a quiet dynamic and slow tempo, and becomes louder and faster as the piece continues. You might recognize this as being used in the film Trolls, but this music was actually composed in 1875! De Colores - This is a Mexican folk song that is over 400 years old. This version is played by our orchestra alone, but the original Spanish lyrics speak about a love of all the colors of springtime. Stars and Stripes Forever - is a march composed in 1896 by the “March King,” John Philip Sousa. In 1987 by an act of Congress, it was officially adopted as the national march of the United States of America. Like all marches, it has a strong, quick pulse. Little ones are welcome to march along to this piece. William Tell Overture - This excerpt, titled The March of the Swiss Soldiers, is recognizable from its frequent use in pop culture and, most famously as the music from the Lone Ranger. It was composed as part of an opera by Italian composer Gioachini Rossini. Listen for the trumpet fanfare at the beginning and a galloping tempo. Pretend you’re riding horses with us in this fast-paced finale! Arrangements by Dan Leavitt. www.insidetheorchestra.org
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Keep the music going at home with our learning resources packet!
Want to keep listening to music from today’s concert? Check out our Spotify Playlist!
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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
Kettering Family Foundation
Robert & Judi Newman