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Broomfield Symphony Orchestra Brings High-Quality Performances with Local Connections
By Kristen Beckman
Did you know Broomfield has its very own symphony orchestra?
Many people don’t, but Music Director David Brussel wants the whole community to know about this unique musical treasure in Broomfield.
The orchestra has been around for nearly 45 years, known previously as the Broomfield Civic Orchestra and now the Broomfield Symphony Orchestra. Made up entirely of volunteer musicians, the nonprofit symphony puts on five productions per year starting in October and running through May.
“Having spent a career working with professionals, it's wonderful and rewarding to work with volunteer musicians because they come to it with an entirely different kind of motivation,” said Brussel. “They do it for love and so they're very dedicated.”
Brussel came to Denver in 1982 to play in the French Horn section of the Denver Symphony, now the Colorado Symphony. He retired six years ago but continues to lead the Broomfield Symphony, which he joined in 2009.
“The quality of our orchestra is very good, and every year I try to program selections that are just a little bit more challenging than the previous year,” said Brussel. “The BSO is very proud of our high standards, attained by hard work and sincere cooperation."
This year, the symphony kicks off its 2024-2025 season on October 19 with a production featuring Joe Lukasik, a local jazz clarinetist and composer who has written two original compositions for the show. The presentation will also include the classic Brahms Symphony No. 2.
In mid-December, the symphony will perform two concerts with the ASTER Women’s Chamber Choir, in keeping with the orchestra’s mission to collaborate with local musicians, composers, performers and ensembles.
February’s concert will be an opera program highlighting selections from Carmen, La boheme, Don Carlo, La traviata, and more, with special guests from the Boulder Opera Company. And in April, the symphony will present a family show including Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, Paul Dukas’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and the ballet The Winter Flower, by Colorado composer Tobias Tenenbaum and featuring the Dance Arts Studio.
The season will wrap up on Memorial Day weekend in May with the young artist concert, featuring the middle school and high school winners of the symphony’s young artists competition.
Brussel chooses the music the orchestra will perform but takes suggestions from the musicians as well as from audiences via surveys. He said planning a production can take up to two years.
“I have great ideas about what we can play, but it's also about where it could fit in, who we can collaborate with, how much it will cost,” he said. “There are many considerations.”
During the pandemic, the orchestra came close to having to shut down for an entire season but creatively pivoted to do a number of outdoor concerts, including one in a parking garage. It also recorded smaller ensembles, before re-launching for a full season in 2021-2022.
The organization also spends time in the community in its off-season summer months, fostering an interest in music among community members of all ages. At Broomfield Days and other community events, volunteers bring instruments for people to try in an ‘instrument petting zoo booth’ concept.
“The BSO truly wants to get the Broomfield community involved and engaged in listening to great music!” said BSO president and Bassoonist Eric Bergstrom. “If you’ve never been to a concert before, you should check out the variety of guest artists we have coming up this season. There truly is something for everyone. Whether you like jazz, opera, or traditional symphony music, the Broomfield Symphony has a little bit of everything going on right in your own backyard.”
For more information, visit https://broomfieldsymphony.org/
