Boulder Philharmonic

Some news worth sharing — your Boulder Phil is playing Boulder Roots Music Fest this August 27-30, 2026. Four days of music, art, and food taking over Pearl Street in downtown Boulder.

What makes Boulder Roots Music Fest different is it's a community-built celebration of creativity, culture, and the music scene that makes this corner of Colorado what it is. Last year the festival brought the whole city out for one weekend. Year two is shaping up to be even bigger, and we're excited to be a part of it again!

If you've been on the fence about tickets, this is the time. Prices go up as the festival gets closer.

🎟️ https://www.boulderrootsmusicfest.org/tickets

What a beautiful way to welcome summer. ☀️

Music filled the air at Planet Bluegrass on Sunday as we gathered in one of Colorado’s most special places. From the performances to the laughter and conversations shared across the grounds, Spring Into Summer Festival was a joyful reminder of what music can inspire.

Thank you to everyone who joined us. Whether you supported us through your presence, your generosity, your efforts behind the scenes, or on the stages, you help make the Boulder Philharmonic what it is, and you are an important part of our family.

As another season comes to a close, we are grateful for all that we've accomplished together and look forward to sharing more music with you in the seasons ahead.

Until then, enjoy your summer—and keep playing. 🎶

Special thanks to the amazing pic contributions of Harmon Dobson Photography and Ruth Clement of Cellists for Change.

MORE ❤ TO: Planet Bluegrass, The Colorado Trust, Cellists for Change, Sanctuary Doulas & Family Care, HBWoodsongs, TooSteppin, Boulder Ballet, Local Theater Company Sunday, Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company - BETC, WOW Children's Museum, Fiske Planetarium, Space Science Institution, University of Colorado Boulder, Liberty Puzzles, Limelight Boulder, Patagonia, Fox Hill Club, Boulder County Club, Lake Valley Golf Club, Schapell Jewlers, Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center, Chibby Wibbitz, Big Belly Brothers BBQ, Ben & Jerry Ice Cream, Lyons Locale, Lyons, CO and extra

Less than 24 hours until the festivities begin!

We may have been a little quiet on socials, but only because good things have been brewing behind the scenes. Our Boulder Phil musicians are tuned up, Music Director Michael Butterman will be your MC for the afternoon, and the grounds are set for a day of music and celebration.

A huge pre-thank you to our incredible sponsors, community partners, donors, volunteers, staff and supporters. Tomorrow's lineup is packed with live music, family activities, exciting raffle prizes, and silent auction experiences we can't wait to share with you (see pics for some teasers).

Tickets are still available online and at the gate. Doors open at 1:30 PM.

Rain today. Sunshine tomorrow. Music all afternoon. See you at Spring Into Summer Festival! ☀️BoulderPhil.org/Spring-Into-Summer

BIG

One of the beautiful things about an orchestra is that it’s always evolving — shaped by the people on stage, the relationships built over years of rehearsals, and the musicians who grow alongside one another season after season.

After several auditions this year, we’re excited to share some wonderful news from the Boulder Phil family.

Congratulations to Ross McIntosh on winning the position of Assistant Principal Viola, and to Ian Buckspan on winning the position of Clarinet 3/Bass Clarinet.

We’re also especially happy to celebrate Allyson Stibbards as she steps into the role of Principal Viola — a meaningful transition from within the orchestra itself.

Please join us in welcoming Ross and Ian, and in congratulating Allyson on this new chapter. We can’t wait for audiences to hear these musicians in the 26/27 season ahead—learn more at BoulderPhil.org.

What does it sound like when fireflies begin to speak in light? This weekend, we had the chance to experience it together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Light in Rhythm: Fireflies & Music—an evening shaped by curiosity, connection, and shared discovery.

A special thank you to our musicians—Dr. Fernanda Nieto, piano; Kisa Uradomo, violin; and Heewon Lee, cello—for bringing depth, clarity, and warmth to every moment of the program. Your artistry gave voice to something both delicate and expansive.

We’re especially grateful to the Peleg Lab for their inspiring work. Their research into firefly communication didn’t just inform this program—it became its foundation, offering a lens through which music and nature could meet in a new way.

And to Tessa Moore, thank you for a beautifully crafted new work that transformed those patterns into sound with imagination and precision.

Our appreciation to Boulder County, the amazing Craft-Crew, and Martin Ogle for his engaging and interactive learning corner on energy—bringing more layers of creativity, insight, and discovery to the evening.

What if sound could shimmer like light?

In Constellation III: Solais, composer Clarice Assad creates a sound world we’ll bring to life in performance this Saturday at Niwot Colorado's Niwot Hall —points of light flickering, gathering, and shifting like stars across a night sky. (“Solais,” meaning light, hints at the piece’s luminous core.)

We’ve had the joy of sharing Assad’s music in recent seasons, and it’s a privilege to return to her work here.

Her music often draws from both the natural world and inner landscapes, blending rhythmic vitality with moments of stillness and glow. In this piece, delicate gestures and pulsing energy echo the quiet brilliance of constellations—patterns we recognize, yet never fully grasp.

In a program inspired by fireflies and the language of light, this offers another perspective: not the flicker close to the ground, but the vast, radiant patterns above.

LIGHT IN RHYTHM: Fireflies & Music with the Boulder Philharmonic
Registration for this free event has reached capacity, but if you’re in the area, we welcome you to stop by just before 6 PM—there may be a few seats available, though we can’t guarantee it.

With thanks to Boulder County for presenting this concert.