FAQs
Why is the Health & Wellness Community Orchestra (HWCO) called a true community orchestra?
The HWCO isn't simply based in our community with professional musicians playing for a fee. Our musicians live right here in our the Northern Colorado community and they play for the sheer love of playing music together for a local audience. They are not paid, and they don't audition to play in our orchestra. Because they believe that live, high-quality classical music should be available for free to everyone in our community, most of our musicians even donate up to $100 to help pay our expenses for each concert.
How did the Orchestra get started?
The HWCO was started in 2008 by Ann Yanagi, MD, who knew there were many talented musicians in the medical community at Poudre Valley Hospital. Her violin teacher, Leslie Stewart, suggested that they may be interested in performing orchestral music together, and the rest is history. Leslie Stewart conducted the orchestra, first in UCHealth (then PVHS) facilities, including the opening of the Cancer Center, then eventually at Griffin Auditorium. It has grown from the original 30 players to a roster of about 120 musicians, all volunteers. We still have a few of those original players and enjoy the thrill of making music together.
Why is this musical group called the "Health & Wellness Community Orchestra"?
The name, Health and Wellness, honors our past and also affirms our belief that experiencing live classical music - onstage or in our audience - can have an uplifting effect on anyone's well-being and outlook on life. Our orchestra was originally formed with members drawn from the local medical community, so it was naturally named the Health & Wellness Orchestra. Today we draw our members from all walks of life in the Northern Colorado community, but we sill believe in the great power of music!
Why doesn't the HWCO sell tickets to its concerts as most other musical groups do?
All HWCO concerts are free, because we believe the joy of experiencing one of our live concerts should be available to everyone in our community, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We also want parents to feel comfortable bringing their children to our concerts - without worrying about the cost or having to leave a little early if their kids get too wiggly!
Since you don't charge admission for your concerts, how do you cover the costs of the rehearsal space, renting music, photocopying and printing, administrative support, the concert hall and other expenses?
The HWCO relies on grants, gifts, fundraising and grass roots donations from members of our community In addition, most of our musicians donate up to $100 to help fund each concert.
The HWCO isn't simply based in our community with professional musicians playing for a fee. Our musicians live right here in our the Northern Colorado community and they play for the sheer love of playing music together for a local audience. They are not paid, and they don't audition to play in our orchestra. Because they believe that live, high-quality classical music should be available for free to everyone in our community, most of our musicians even donate up to $100 to help pay our expenses for each concert.
How did the Orchestra get started?
The HWCO was started in 2008 by Ann Yanagi, MD, who knew there were many talented musicians in the medical community at Poudre Valley Hospital. Her violin teacher, Leslie Stewart, suggested that they may be interested in performing orchestral music together, and the rest is history. Leslie Stewart conducted the orchestra, first in UCHealth (then PVHS) facilities, including the opening of the Cancer Center, then eventually at Griffin Auditorium. It has grown from the original 30 players to a roster of about 120 musicians, all volunteers. We still have a few of those original players and enjoy the thrill of making music together.
Why is this musical group called the "Health & Wellness Community Orchestra"?
The name, Health and Wellness, honors our past and also affirms our belief that experiencing live classical music - onstage or in our audience - can have an uplifting effect on anyone's well-being and outlook on life. Our orchestra was originally formed with members drawn from the local medical community, so it was naturally named the Health & Wellness Orchestra. Today we draw our members from all walks of life in the Northern Colorado community, but we sill believe in the great power of music!
Why doesn't the HWCO sell tickets to its concerts as most other musical groups do?
All HWCO concerts are free, because we believe the joy of experiencing one of our live concerts should be available to everyone in our community, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We also want parents to feel comfortable bringing their children to our concerts - without worrying about the cost or having to leave a little early if their kids get too wiggly!
Since you don't charge admission for your concerts, how do you cover the costs of the rehearsal space, renting music, photocopying and printing, administrative support, the concert hall and other expenses?
The HWCO relies on grants, gifts, fundraising and grass roots donations from members of our community In addition, most of our musicians donate up to $100 to help fund each concert.