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Aspen Music Festival and School

A premier classical music festival and school in Aspen, offering concerts, education, and cultural enrichment in a stunning mountain setting.

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The Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS) is a renowned classical music festival held annually in Aspen, Colorado. Founded in 1949, it combines world-class concert programming with musical training for young-adult students. The eight-week summer season features over 400 classical music events, including concerts by multiple orchestras, solo and chamber music performances, fully staged opera productions, master classes, and lectures.

A brief summary to Aspen Music Festival and School

  • Monday 9 am-5 pm
  • Tuesday 9 am-5 pm
  • Wednesday 9 am-5 pm
  • Thursday 9 am-5 pm
  • Friday 9 am-5 pm
  • Saturday 9 am-4 pm

Local tips

  • Check the AMFS website for a detailed schedule of events, including free performances and master classes.
  • Take advantage of the free transportation options in Aspen, such as the RFTA bus service, to get to AMFS venues.
  • Arrive early for popular events, as seating is often first-come, first-served.
  • Consider attending a Music on the Mountain event for free classical music and a picnic atop Aspen Mountain.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From downtown Aspen, the Aspen Music Festival and School is approximately a 15-20 minute walk. Head west on Main Street, then turn onto N 3rd Street. Continue onto Music School Road. The campus will be on your left.

  • Public Transport

    The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) provides free bus service to the Aspen Music Festival and School facilities. From Rubey Park in downtown Aspen, take any RFTA bus that services the Meadows and Bucksbaum campuses. Check the RFTA website or call (970) 925-8484 for specific schedules. The service is free within Aspen and Snowmass.

  • Taxi/Ride-Share

    Taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are readily available in Aspen. A taxi from Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (ASE) to the Aspen Music Festival and School costs approximately $13-$29. From downtown Aspen, a short taxi ride to the festival will likely cost between $10-$15.

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Discover more about Aspen Music Festival and School

The Aspen Music Festival and School (AMFS) is a prestigious summer program that traces its roots to the Goethe Bicentennial Convocation and Music Festival held in Aspen in 1949. Chicago businessman Walter Paepcke and Elizabeth Paepcke founded the festival as a two-week celebration of the 18th-century German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The event’s success led to the formation of both the Aspen Institute and the AMFS. The AMFS has since become one of the top classical music festivals in the United States. The eight-week summer season includes more than 400 classical music events, drawing 70,000 audience members. These events include concerts by five orchestras, solo and chamber music performances, fully staged opera productions, master classes, lectures, and children's programming. In the winter, the AMFS presents a smaller series of recitals and Metropolitan Opera Live in HD screenings. As a training ground for young classical musicians, the AMFS draws over 650 students from around the world, with an average age of 22. Students participate in lessons, coaching, and public performances in orchestras, operas, and chamber music, often playing alongside AMFS artist-faculty. The AMFS has two main concert venues: the Michael Klein Music Tent and Harris Concert Hall. The Bucksbaum Campus houses teaching, rehearsal, and performance spaces.

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