IMPACT REPORT
BY THE NUMBERS
DISCOVER THE NRO
The National Repertory Orchestra’s 2025 season was a resounding success, reflecting our mission to develop diverse, thoughtful, and socially conscious musicians. Over eight weeks, 81 talented young professional musicians came together to perform over 140 events, reaching tens of thousands of audience members across Summit County and beyond. With a focus on accessibility, more than 85% of these performances were offered free to the public, ensuring that the joy of live orchestral music remains open to all.
Our educational impact reached new heights this year, with NRO musicians engaging thousands of local youth and families through concerts, library and classroom visits, instrument petting zoos, and interactive community events. By partnering with local schools, libraries, and day camps, the NRO continues to expand access to world-class music while sparking curiosity and creativity in the next generation.
OUR MISSION
For our orchestra fellows, the 2025 season provided unmatched professional development. NRO musicians gained invaluable tools and experiences through experiential learning guided by Music Director Michael Stern, as well as masterclasses, sectionals, and seminars. Learning under distinguished guest conductors further prepared them to thrive in professional orchestral careers around the world. Alumni from our program are already making their mark in leading orchestras, universities, and music organizations across the globe, underscoring the NRO’s role as a vital bridge from conservatory to career.
The 2025 season was a celebration of discovery — of music, of community, and of the boundless potential of young professional musicians. By blending transformative training with meaningful community engagement, the NRO continues to set the standard for how orchestras can impact lives onstage and off.
The National Repertory Orchestra is a preeminent intensive summer music festival developing diverse, thoughtful, and socially conscious musicians through experiential learning. We inspire young musicians to be great leaders in their communities while Changing Lives Through Music!
23,350 +
PEOPLE ATTENDED OUR PROGRAMS, ONLINE AND IN-PERSON
REACH & AUDIENCE COMMUNITY IMPACT
86%
PROGRAMMING WAS FREE TO THE PUBLIC , AS BOTH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
140 +
FREE AND TICKETED EVENTS ANIMATED SUMMIT COUNTY AND BEYOND
$2,250,000 +
INFUSED INTO THE LOCAL ECONOMY BY THE NRO AND ITS AUDIENCE
PARTNERSHIPS & PEOPLE
27 SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, NONPROFITS, AND COLLABORATION PARTNERS THROUGHOUT SUMMIT COUNTY
94
NET PROMOTER SCORE FOR ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS
4,380 + CHILDREN WERE IMPACTED BY EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
100% OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS AT A FREE PERFORMANCE STATED IT ENHANCED THEIR EXPERIENCE IN SUMMIT COUNTY
6,000 + HOURS VOLUNTEERED THROUGH COMMUNITY LINK
THE ORCHESTRA
Each year, the National Repertory Orchestra attracts more than 800 applicants from the nation’s leading conservatories, universities, and graduate programs. These are highly trained young professional musicians who have already dedicated years to mastering their instruments. Most are standing at the threshold of professional orchestral careers, or are in the final stages of their formal training. With their technical skills finely honed, they are looking for the intensive, real-world experience that will propel them onto the world’s stages.
Applicants are drawn to the NRO because it offers something few programs can match: the chance to perform a vast amount of core orchestral repertoire at a professional pace, while learning from Music Director Michael Stern and collaborating with equally passionate peers. They hope to refine their artistry, expand their networks, and build the confidence and resilience needed to succeed in competitive auditions and professional ensembles. For many, NRO is a pivotal step — a bridge between academic study and the launch of a lifelong career in music.
3 TOP REASONS THIS YEAR’S MUSICIANS CHOSE TO ATTEND THE NRO:
1. Exposure to intensive orchestral repertoire and professional training.
The NRO’s unique focus on performing a large volume of orchestral repertoire at a professional pace simulates the rigors of a professional career.
2. Career development and networking with peers and mentors.
The opportunity to learn under distinguished conductors combined with the NRO’s strong track record of alumni placement in major orchestras was seen as evidence of its career-launching impact.
3. Location and community experience in Breckenridge.
The chance to experience intense music-making surrounded by the beauty of Breckenridge and the sense of community and camaraderie that develops within the select cohort of like-minded peers.
“The NRO has not only equipped me with the skills necessary to succeed in the orchestral field, but it has provided me with a community of incredible musicians. There is no other place where brilliant artistry and undying musical love come together like it does here.”
2025 MUSICIAN FELLOW
The 2025 National Repertory Orchestra provided tuition-free orchestral experiences to 81 musicians representing:
72 CITIES
23 STATES
12 COUNTRIES
This year’s musician fellows have obtained (or will obtain) the following degrees:
100% BACHELOR OF MUSIC
60% MASTER OF MUSIC
3.75% DOCTOR OF MUSIC
91 pieces of repertoire performed throughout the 2025 season from 68 unique composers
“The NRO has provided an invaluable experience that has helped me grow both as a musician and as a person. The fast-paced repertoire, the frequent concerts, and the opportunity to work with so many conductors across a wide range of music have all been incredibly inspiring. Beyond the music, connecting with fellow musicians and bonding with our host families made me feel part of a truly strong and supportive community that I’ll never forget. “
2025 MUSICIAN FELLOW
NRO musicians gained invaluable experience learning directly under world-class conductors and enhanced their professional development through an intensive combination of masterclasses, sectionals, and seminars.
IN THE COMMUNITY
The NRO plays a vital role in Summit County, enriching the region with transformative musical experiences that reach far beyond the concert hall. Each summer, the NRO brings world-class music directly into the heart of the community through free performances in public spaces, partnerships with local organizations, and accessible family programs. These efforts strengthen community bonds, spark curiosity, and inspire audiences of all ages to discover the joy of orchestral music.
A cornerstone of this impact is the work of the NRO Alumni String Quartet, which leads education initiatives designed to engage Summit County’s youngest learners. Through interactive performances in schools, libraries, and day camps, the quartet introduces children to the magic of live music in fun, approachable, and inspiring ways.
“The preschools, day camps, and libraries we went to were extremely memorable. So many kids had never tried a string instrument before, and seeing their faces light up when they got to play them was priceless.”
2025 MUSICIAN FELLOW
FREE EVENT FEEDBACK
“[The CE event] fit right into the community seamlessly and attracted a lot of people who probably would not have heard amazing music otherwise.”
“The interaction between musicians and audience was wonderful. It’s so nice hearing something we don’t typically get to—it expands one’s opportunities to experience new music.”
NUMBER OF FREE EVENTS
offered in venues, parks, schools, libraries, day camps, and public spaces throughout Summit County
Free Concerts | 34%
Free Family and Kids Concert, Riverwalk Center
NRO on the Lake, Dillon Amphitheater
4th of July Spectacular, Rainbow Park, Silverthorne
4th of July Spectacular, Riverwalk Center lawn
Chamber Concert, Riverwalk Center
Free Community Engagement Events | 30%
Instrument Petting Zoos
Music in the Mountains
Symphony in the Streets
Pop-Up Concerts
Keystone Encore
Open Rehearsals | 26%
55 Open Rehearsals open to the public at the Riverwalk Center
Education Programs | 10%
Aspects of Arts Administration Classes
Library and Classroom Engagement
Masterclasses & Sectionals
Community Engagement Seminar
Summit County Music Lesson Scholarships
UNIQUE VENUES IN SUMMIT COUNTY
SILVERTHORNE
CLASSROOM VISIT FEEDBACK
“The NRO musicians coming to Breck Montessori are so inspirational! [My daughter] Harbor always comes home and wants to improvise with whatever we have on hand. In this case it’s a guitar made into a cello. Just speaking from our experience, you can’t imagine the impact. It’s been huge! We talk about it all year long and look forward to it every year!”
EVENTS TICKETED EVENTS
RELATIONSHIP TO SUMMIT COUNTY RELATIONSHIP TO SUMMIT COUNTY
MUSICIAN HIGHLIGHT
I chose to attend the National Repertory Orchestra (NRO) because it offers one of the most complete and rigorous musical experiences available to young professionals. Many of my teachers spoke highly of NRO, and it quickly became clear why. Unlike other festivals, NRO provides an intensive schedule that includes classical masterworks, pops, film scores, and chamber music—all performed in rapid succession. This structure closely resembles the demands of a professional orchestra and felt like a logical next step as I prepare to begin my full-time position as an oboist with the Metropolitan Opera.
This summer has been filled with highlights. Performing as principal on Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony was a personal milestone, and I was especially excited for Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony. The opportunity to play such meaningful repertoire has been immensely rewarding. Equally valuable has been the sense of community. I have reconnected with colleagues from past festivals and formed new friendships that I hope will continue in the professional world.
NRO has challenged me to grow both personally and musically. Working under a variety of conductors, learning to adapt quickly, and maintaining performance readiness have all been vital aspects of my preparation. The demanding schedule—two to three concerts per week—has required me to plan my practice and reedmaking with greater precision. As this is my first time making reeds at high
altitude, it has been an important skill to develop before stepping into a professional role where consistency and reliability are critical.
Every musician at the NRO receives a full-ride scholarship—and that support is essential. Each year, the NRO provides over $800,000 in scholarship funding, making it possible for musicians from all kinds of backgrounds to be here. Without it, many of us simply couldn’t afford to attend. That diversity is what makes this festival so inspiring.
More than a festival, NRO has served as a bridge between my time as a student and the start of my career. I will carry this experience with me for years to come.
Peter Davies Oboist NRO 2025
88% of musicians said it would have created a financial hardship to attend the NRO without the tuition-free model
$810,000+ awarded in merit-based scholarships to each of the 81 musician fellows in 2025
99% of musicians said the NRO has been a crucial part of their musical growth
70% of NRO alumni from the past six years have landed jobs in the music industry; another 10% are still pursuing their higher education