Join the Friends
Friends of the Symphony Programs and Events
The Friends of the Symphony supports many of the Fort Collins Symphony’s wonderful community programs, is a key fundraising partner, and provides much-needed in-kind support throughout the season.
Educational Events
We sponsor Composer Talks with Professor Dawn Grapes, and provide light refreshments. These events are fun and informative for all!
We sponsor the Symphony’s annual Family Concert, which is a musical event for children and the young at heart, with the goal of educating, inspiring and promoting a lifelong love of symphonic music. Performances are specifically designed to engage and excite young audiences, highlighted by theatrical narration and ballet.
We host “Meet the Artist” evenings, where members and music lovers can spend an informal evening at a member’s home or other small venue experiencing an intimate performance by the guest artist and getting to know them.
Fundraising
As an organization, we sponsor and help underwrite one of the Symphony’s Signature Concerts each season.
Earnings from the Friends of the Symphony Endowment Fund (Endowed Chairs) are contributed to the Symphony to sustain operations and musicians’ paychecks.
We support the Symphony in securing season subscribers. Most members of the Friends are season ticketholders, but that is not a requirement.
We provide hours of volunteer support that help reduce the Symphony’s operating expenses.
We work with the Symphony to secure grants from the City of Fort Collins, foundations and community organizations.
We sponsor Dr. Ed Siegel’s quarterly concerts held at Julian’s in Old Town. These are fun, family-oriented, piano-accompanied sing-alongs that raise money for the Symphony.
Dr. Seigel is a member of the Friends and one of the Symphony’s most generous benefactors.
In 2025, the Friends will provide $5,000 in seed money for FCS Up Close, the Symphony’s new Chamber Music Concert Series.
Also in 2025, through our International Music Exchange Program, we contributed $1,500 to support Maestro Kenney’s participation in the Ferenc-Fricsay International Conducting Competition.
Social Events
We host three music-themed social events every year, in addition to our annual luncheon. Our social events are a great way for members to renew/strengthen their friendships and share their love of classical music!
All-Around Support
As once described by Wes Kenney, we are the Symphony’s best friends, standing ready to support the Symphony and sustain classical music and the arts in Fort Collins. We assist the Symphony as requested in providing volunteers, securing in-kind donations and filling special needs.