Hamilton Conductor Brings Arts Education to 1,000+ Denver Students

Denver, CO — Community Art Reach, founded by Hamilton Associate Music Director Peter van Reesema, is dedicated to making arts education accessible to all and has recently made a powerful impact on Denver's youth. Through workshops held at schools across the city, including CU Boulder, El Sistema Colorado, School of Rock Denver, Highlands Ranch High School, Castle View High School, Mountain Vista High School, Frederick High School, Littleton High School, Douglas County High School, and Fairview High School, over 1,000 students have experienced the transformative power of the performing arts.

In one of the standout collaborations, Community Art Reach partnered with Frederick High School's Unified Theater program, led by Mrs. Kendle Butterworth. This workshop brought together special needs students and their peers, known as "Actor Buddies," to explore singing and dancing in a supportive environment. Mrs. Butterworth, the Theater Director, expressed her gratitude for the workshop, saying, “Having guest artists in the performing arts classroom is an invaluable experience. Sometimes hearing a teaching point or life lesson from an experienced professional is just the nugget they need to really take on and understand a technique. Also, for the students that want to go into this field after high school, it is an unparalleled experience for them to make connections and learn real-world skills from others in their field.”

This weekend, Community Art Reach will lead an orchestral workshop for El Sistema Colorado, a free music education program based in downtown Denver. This workshop will be conducted alongside Leslie DeShazor, a violist and violinist from Hamilton’s orchestra, and will give roughly 80 students, ages 8-18, the chance to develop their musical skills with guidance from professional artists. This partnership was made possible through an introduction by Monika Vischer at CPR Classical, and thanks to this connection, the seniors of El Sistema Colorado had the opportunity to attend Hamilton at a discounted rate, adding to the inspiration they’ve gained from these workshops.

The workshops have left a lasting impression on students, with participants sharing how much the experiences have shaped their musical journeys. "I learned how important it is to keep music in your life, even if it’s not professionally, but something you hold on to as an outlet," said Alejandra, a 10th-grader at Frederick High School. Ninth-grader Payton shared, "It’s important to make mistakes because then you know how to fix them." Hailey, an 11th-grade orchestral student, noted the professional exposure she gained: "I learned a lot about sight reading, feeling the groove, and was exposed to many new rhythms! It gave some exposure to playing professionally and was honestly a ton of fun!" Shalom, a 10th-grader at Castle View High School, reflected on the career insights gained: "I learned that everyone's journey in the music industry is completely different, and that's a good thing! Also, I learned that having even the smallest connections in the community is important!"

Peter van Reesema reflects on the organization’s mission: “Our goal is to help students find joy and confidence through music and performance, teaching them that life is truly what they make of it. By connecting them with professional artists, we hope to inspire and nurture creativity in every young person we work with.”

Community Art Reach is excited to continue its work across Denver, fostering a love for music and the arts in the next generation.