Outreach
Through free educational outreach, the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra emphasizes the power of music and its ability to improve education and the quality of life in our community – for all ages!
The success of CSO’s education outreach programs is largely due to a strong network of dedicated staff, volunteers, and a rare depth of collaboration with local school teachers, school administration, and local organizations like the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and Laramie County Public Library.
We are exceptionally grateful for your enthusiastic support of music education, and we look forward to seeing you (and your students) at many of the programs listed below!
Adult Music Education
Our primary goal for adult music education is to enhance the concert-going experience, whether that’s by providing a deeper understanding of the pieces being performed, or through creating opportunities for conversation with the musicians themselves.
Program Notes
To enrich your understanding of the pieces CSO will perform this season, we provide informative summaries and notes for each program. (This information will also be included in each corresponding concert program.)
Program notes are written by Dr. William Runyan, Professor Emeritus at Colorado State University and CSO’s former bass trombone player. When the notes are available, we will link them in the text below.
2025/2026 Season Program Notes
October 11, 2025 Masterpiece 1- Of Thee I Sing
November 15, 2025 Masterpiece 2- Land That I Love
February 7, 2026 Masterpiece 3-America The Beautiful
March 14, 2026 Masterpiece 4-This Land is Your Land
April 11, 2026 Masterpiece 5-Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue
Lunch & Learn
Grab lunch and join Maestro Intriligator – along with a rotating cast of guest artists – for an informal, entertaining discussion, featuring musical insights about the composers, their works, and the world of Classical music. The discussions, hosted by the Laramie County Public Library, are free and open to the public at noon the Friday before each concert. Many concert-goers are convinced they enjoy the programs more by attending these fun and informative sessions!
They event videos are available for later on-demand viewing on CSO’s Youtube channel and website. More information can be found at lclsonline.org
Classic Conversations
One hour before each Masterpiece concert Maestro Intriligator presents Classic Conversations, a unique half hour in which he shares insights about the evening’s performance. The conductor may also be joined by the guest artist.
The discussion centers around the music that will be performed and what the audience should listen for, plus gives historical context in which the music was composed, and discusses the meaning behind the music. This information greatly adds to one’s appreciation and understanding of the musical selections performed on the concert.
Watch the Latest Lunch & Learn
Upcoming Lunch & Learn and Classic Conversations Events
Youth Music Education
The goals of our youth music education programs are three-fold:
To expose students to the performance of professional musicians in classroom and concert settings
To provide interesting and unique musical programs that generate interest in music, history and relevant social issues
To support the musical education being offered in the local school systems by bringing musical advancement to interested music students of all ages
It’s a GAS
(Guest Artists in the Schools)
Guest artists visit classrooms to motivate, inspire, and teach students the virtue of discipline. By listening to and interacting with a professional artist, students will learn how to develop criteria for evaluating different career paths, as well as how to achieve successful performances.
It’s COOL
(Conductor Of the Orchestra Leads)
Throughout the season, CSO’s conductor visits a variety of music, band, and orchestra classes. Teaching students from kindergarten through college the importance of choosing an instrument they love to play—and making it fun!—is the Conductor’s top priority during each visit. He also conveys personal lessons he’s learned from playing an instrument all throughout school, and shares the value of having those skills later in life.
When visiting ensembles, the Conductor will conduct and work with the students, providing feedback and tips to help them achieve greater musical results.
FUSE
(Fine Arts Unlocking Student Excellence)
Recent research shows that skills developed in the music classroom can help students achieve in other areas, too. FUSE programs reach students outside the music classroom and help them make connections across the disciplines.
“Music in Words” Writing Contest
CSO’s annual writing contest invites 3rd and 4th grade students to write creative stories in response to music that will be performed at one of CSO’s concerts. Each finalist’s submission is displayed at the Cheyenne Civic Center during the concert, and each winner’s story is printed in the audience’s program insert. During the concert, all student finalists and winners are awarded prizes on stage. (Participants in this program and their families are invited to attend the concert for free.)
Click HERE to read the 2025 Music In Words Finalist’s & Winner’s stories!
“Art in Music” Art Contest
CSO challenges students in grades 7-12 to create works of art inspired by music the CSO performs each season. All submissions are displayed at the Cheyenne Civic Center, then judged by expert adjudicators. During one of CSO’s concerts, students are awarded prizes for their winning submissions on stage. (Participants in this program and their families are invited to attend the concert for free.)
YES!
(Youth Educational Symphony)
CSO’s annual YES! concerts bring nearly 3,000 fifth and sixth grade students from LCSD #1 and #2—as well as parochial, private and home-schooled students—to the Civic Center to enjoy a live symphony performance. Junior high and high school orchestra students also attend these educationally-geared concerts.
Take a SEAT
(Students Enjoy A Ticket)
Throughout the season, CSO distributes nearly 600 free tickets to area students and raises funds to subsidize Masterpiece concert admission for students. We also further subsidize Matinee and Holiday concert tickets, hoping to encourage entire families to attend these family-friendly performances and help nurture a new generation of concert-goers.
Musical Instrument Petting Zoo
A wonderful opportunity for younger children to see, touch, and even try the instruments of the orchestra! The petting zoo is part of our matinee pre-concert activities, musical story times, and other events throughout the year.
CSO partners with local high school music programs to provide volunteer musicians, who demonstrate a variety of instruments provided by Niemann & Sons Music and WYOMusic.
Musical Story Time
Musical story times are free events tailored toward students in pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade, but we welcome children of all ages to come enjoy these free performances!
During these events, a master storyteller will read a children’s storybook, accompanied by CSO musicians. It’s also not uncommon to find yourself singing, dancing, working on story-related crafts, and enjoying a Musical Instrument Petting Zoo, too. Recent story time performances have included “Harold and the Purple Crayon” with oboe, viola and string bass and “Peter and the Wolf” for woodwind quintet.
Celebrate the power of music
Thank You, Sponsors
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