This will be the final season for director Cynthia Katsarelis
By Peter Alexander Oct. 2 at 10:28 p.m.
Boulder’s Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra made a major announcement over the weekend.
Actually, it was two announcements: first, the concert dates and repertoire for the coming season; and second, that the season would be conductor Cynthia Katsarelis’s last with the orchestra that she founded in 2007 and has led since. She has taken a position in South Bend, Ind., and will return to Boulder to conduct all three concerts on the current season. No replacement has been announced.
All three concerts will be held at the Mountain View Methodist Church at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays Oct. 28, Dec. 2 and April 6. Full program listings and ticket information are given below.
The announcement noted several highlights of the coming season: the world premier of a new work by University of Colorado graduate student Jessie Lausé, a performance of the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah, and collaborations with local soloists including guitarist Nicolò Spera, soprano Jennifer Bird-Arvidsson, and bass-baritone Ashraf Sewailam.
Each of the three programs includes a work by a woman: Lausé’s Periphery on Oct. 28, Florence Price’s Adoration on Dec. 2, and the Symphony No. 3 in G minor by little-known 19th-century French composer and virtuoso pianist Louise Farrenc on April 6.
Katsarelis released a statement when she announced her departure. “I’m really excited about this season.” the statement reads. “It gives me the opportunity to express my gratitude to all our supporters and patrons, as well as our tremendous musicians, soloists, and artistic partners, and we end on mission, with tremendous works by women composers on each concert.”
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Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra
Cynthia Katsarelis, conductor
2023-24 Season
“Passione!”
With Stacy Lesartre, violin
- Jessie Lausé: Periphery
- Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major (“Turkish”)
- Haydn: Symphony No. 49 in F Minor (“Passione”)
Saturday, Oct. 28, Mountain View United Methodist Church, 355 Ponca Pl, Boulder
“Messiah!”
With Jennifer Bird-Arvidsson, soprano; Nicole Asel, alto; Steven Soph, tenor; Ashraf Sewailam, bass-baritone; and the Boulder Chamber Chorale, Vicki Burrichter, director
- Florence Price: Adoration
- Mozart: Divertimento in D Major
- Handel: Messiah, Part I, Christmas
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, Mountain View United Methodist Church
“Nicolò!”
With Nicolò Spera, guitar
- Joaquin Rodrigo: Fantasía para un gentilhombre
- Louise Farrenc: Symphony No. 3 in G Minor
7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, Mountain View United Methodist Church
TICKETS for all three concerts
Sharps & Flatirons 
For those interested, my position is at Notre Dame as a professor of conducting and conductor of a professional chamber orchestra that I’m modeling after Pro Musica Colorado. I’m deeply grateful for the support of classical music lovers in Boulder and hope to see everyone at the concerts this season!