February 25, 2022 | NEWS | By Will Sylvain
Ever wanted to see campus on national TV? Well now’s your chance: Colorado College’s Summer Music Festival is going to be featured on PBS.
Scott Yoo, host of the new PBS Series “Now Hear This” and faculty conductor of the festival, was in Colorado Springs this summer to film the latest episode in his series. Last Monday he gave a preview at Packard Hall.
The Summer Music Festival has been going on at CC for 38 years and features around 50 of the top music students in the world, along with a group of professional musicians who help these students hone their craft.
These renowned musicians come to the festival to put together professional concerts and to pass their talents on to the next generation. The festival is supported by donors, as well as local residents in the Colorado Springs area.
“Now Hear This” follows Yoo, a famous violinist and conductor of the Mexico City Philharmonic, around the country as he explores the rich history of classical music through its modern connections.
Previous episodes include a trip to the Berkshires to study Beethoven’s work, and upcoming ones will follow the music of Amy Beach and Florence Price. An episode set to air on PBS in late April brought Yoo to Colorado College to highlight the famous late American composer Aaron Copland at last summer’s festival.
Also known as the Dean of American Music, Copland was not only renowned for his incredible composition of classical music, but also for his eagerness to teach the next generation of musicians. Yoo chose to bring the PBS crew here to the Summer Music Festival because it embodies Copland’s ability to inspire younger artists.
The unique partnership between professional musicians and a younger generation aspiring to follow in their footsteps is the perfect place for an ode to a composer who dedicated his life to passing on his passion for music.
Ann Van Horn, assistant director of the Summer Music Festival, agrees that this event is a great place to pay homage to a person like Copland. “[We have] set up an atmosphere where it’s not cutthroat,” said Van Horn.
“The faculty are here to support these musicians, and a lot of festivals can just be so competitive.”
She was extremely excited to have the episode filmed here because it highlights a collaborative side of the festival which often gets overshadowed by the concert performances.
“People just think this festival is all about the concerts, and perfection of musicians who’ve reached the top,” she said. “But really it’s a teaching festival. And that was what was really great to see in this film.”
For students who missed the screening last Monday, the episode will air on PBS on April 29, showcasing scenes from across campus and the city, including Garden of the Gods, Shove Chapel, and even the 4th floor Tutt Library balcony.