Music Encounters transforms lives
In 2002 Augustana Arts established the Music Encounters program which offers violin, viola, and cello lessons to children from low-income families in the Denver metropolitan area. The program exposes ’at-risk’ children to music, but it also helps them to attain other educational goals by teaching self-discipline and developing self-confidence.
Music Encounters programs encourage a love of music, but more importantly, it offers a supportive environment for these children to:
develop discipline by establishing practice pattern
increase self-esteem through achievement of a difficult skill
generate family interactions in rehearsal and performance
Music Encounters is proud to receive significant support from the citizens of the SCFD and the generous trustees of the Augustana Foundation, Take Note Colorado, and others.
Are you a teacher interested in bringing Music Encounters to your school? Reach our to Education and Outreach Coordinator Lindsay Genadek at Lindsay@augustanaarts.org.
Are you a parent interested in getting your children involved with Music Encounters? Please register HERE.
¿Es usted un padre interesado en involucrar a sus hijos en Encuentros Musicales? Por favor, regístrese aquí.
Meet our Teachers
Ash Mach
Ash Mach is pursuing an MM in viola performance and an MA in music theory at the University of Denver Lamont School of Music. They earned their BM with honors in viola performance at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2020. Ash teaches private violin, viola, and piano at New Cottage Arts and Colorado Music Institute and group violin for City Strings at Augustana Arts. Ash is a music theory teaching assistant at Lamont and thus tutors AP and college-level music theory. You can see Ash perform with the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, Nebula Ensemble, and Lamont Modern Music Ensemble.
Shianne Cruz
Shianne is a fourth-year student at MSU Denver studying music education, she has been playing violin for ten years and learned viola, cello, and piano along the way. Alongside with City Strings, Shianne teaches privately at the Littleton School of Music and Conservatory at home. She is excited for another year with City Strings to bring the love of music to the kids of Denver!