How to help Colorado’s music community affected by the Marshall Fire

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Hart Van Denburg/CPR News
The remains of a car underneath a collapsed tree in Superior, Colorado, on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, after the Marshall fire. The Marshall fire ignited Dec. 30, 2021, in Boulder County and destroyed nearly 1,000 homes in and around Superior and Louisville, and left thousands of people scrambling to evacuate, driven by winds that sometimes exceeded 100 mph.

Updated February 8, 11:24 am ~

Above the Ashes: A Virtual Concert for Marshall Fire Relief - WATCH: YouTube premiere February 19 at 7 pm. Colorado Public Radio partners with front range media and music organizations for an online performance with a variety of local musicians, including classical artists: Takacs Quartet, Ars Nova Singers, Boulder Bach Festival, cellist Joshua Halpern and CU, Boulder faculty Chas Wetherbee, violin with David Korevaar, piano. CPR Classical's Matt Weesner and Indie 102.3's Alisha Sweeney help host the event, produced by Fox Tracks Music and The Muse Performance Space.

Parlando is offering free instrument instruction (including voice) for families who have lost their homes or been displaced due to the fires.  Parlando is also helping with instrument replacement.  In-person lessons are happening in Parlando's Boulder studios (located in the Dairy Arts Center) as well as online.  Please contact [email protected] for more information or to support these efforts.


The Marshall Fire was the most destructive in Colorado’s history. The blaze destroyed nearly 1,000 homes, as well as valuable instruments and music. For many musicians, those instruments often mean their livelihood. Musical organizations in the Denver/Boulder area are raising funds and offering help to those affected. 

Boulder Philharmonic - the Boulder Philharmonic is raising funds for three of its musicians who lost instruments and homes in the fire. They are hosting a fundraiser to provide direct assistance to these musicians. 

Colorado Music Festival - the Colorado Music Festival is offering practice facilities, waiving tuition and building their instrument and music library for victims. They are taking donations to help with this effort. 

Future Arts Foundation - All donations made to the FAF donation page through the end of January will go toward replacing instruments lost during the Marshall Fire. They also provide information on how to request a replacement if you experienced loss. 

Spark Music Lesson Studio - Spark Music Foundation is collecting donations, accessories and instruments for students from Boulder Valley School District affected by the Marshall Fire. They provide a list of instruments and accessories needed and are also taking monetary donations. 

If you have been impacted and are in need of assistance, a disaster assistance center is now open in Lafayette. Find more information here on water boil orders, lost and found pets, power outages and mental health resources, as well as ways to help or donate. 


If you know of other ways to help our musical community during this time, please let us know. Email [email protected].

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Hear CPR Classical by clicking “Listen Live” at the top on this website, or download the Colorado Public Radio app. Listen on your radio to CPR Classical at 88.1 FM in Denver, or on radio signals around Colorado. You can also tell your smart speaker to “Play CPR Classical."