About us
Inside the Orchestra brings music to children, cultivating music appreciation and enhancing their education through engaging, interactive experiences with orchestral music.
Our Values
Increase equity among metro Denver’s communities by reducing barriers to the performing arts and ensuring that orchestra music is accessible, approachable, and enjoyable for all children.
Respect the children we serve by providing relevant, authentic, engaging, and professional programming.
Listen to the community and anticipate needs by soliciting and incorporating feedback from all stakeholders, including attendees, musicians, volunteers, and donors.
Demonstrate that the arts are important to community health and vitality by providing fair compensation to artists, promoting arts education, and cultivating a lifelong appreciation of the arts in young audiences.
Feedback is so important to us:
We always want to keep an open line of communication between us and parents, caregivers, and teachers to bring excellence to our programs. Please let us know what you think. We receive feedback from teachers directly, as well as anonymous feedback in evaluation forms completed by Tiny Tots attendees.
Our History
Junior Symphony Guild Established
Inside the Orchestra (IO) is a professional orchestra company solely dedicated to children’s music education and formerly known as the Junior Symphony Guild (JSG). The guild was established in 1958 by a group of “junior” (40 and under) aged women whose original mission was to support classical and symphonic music programs in the Denver metropolitan community. The JSG broadened the overall Guild agenda, originating the Tiny Tots program. In 1979, the Junior Symphony Guild became an autonomous, independent organization of its own, and in 1983 applied for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. In 2012, Inside the Orchestra legally changed its name from Junior Symphony Guild.
Tiny Tots program was created
In the 1980s, the women of the Guild recognized a need for vibrant educational programs to introduce young children to orchestral music, and a need to provide a diverse set of students and families with the opportunity for exposure to orchestra music in a way they would not receive otherwise. Music Director, Tom Jensen, was hired and the Tiny Tots program was created and became a favorite family tradition within the Denver metro community. Tom was the leader of the organization for many years, ensuring that many young people had the opportunity to fall in love with orchestral music. The staff and musicians of Inside the Orchestra often hear from parents at performances who remember attending a show when they were young – we are humbled by this tradition.
Furthered Equity and Inclusion
In 2018, under the leadership of Executive Director Shelby Mattingly, the organization formally adopted values around equity and inclusion, further committing to a future where the organization helps reduce barriers to the performing arts and orchestra music by ensuring accessibility, affordability and representation of diverse composers. Inside the Orchestra worked with the Latino Leadership Institute and Tony Pares (Who served as the President of the Board at the time) to introduce multilingual programming; a project that was made possible thanks to the appointment of Conductor Steven Aguilo-Arbues.
Program Expansion
The organization grew with the creation of a series of Tiny Tots performances with different themes and curriculums; further, virtual content and curriculum was established in 2020, ensuring that programming continued throughout the pandemic.
Staff
Meet Our Staff
Executive Director
About Tiffany
tiffany@insidetheorchestra.org
With a background in community outreach, arts education, philanthropy and partnership development, Tiffany is on a journey to advance equity in arts education and the workplace. Over her 20-year career, Tiffany has worked with Colorado Ballet, the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Book Trust and Swallow Hill Music and she has served on multiple nonprofit Boards of Directors.
Tiffany graduated from Regis University with a Masters in Nonprofit Management. Her undergraduate studies at Colorado State University include a BS in Early Childhood Development, and a BA in Performing Arts. Additionally, Tiffany completed the Institute for Leaders in Development program at Denver University and is a member of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce 2021 Leadership Denver class.
Music and arts education has meant the world to Tiffany. She loves any chance to talk about music, preferably over coffee or wine. She lives in Lakewood (where she grew up) with her two beautiful and chatty boys (ages 12 and 8).
Program Director
About Valerie
Valerie@insidetheorchestra.org
Valerie has been playing flute with IO since 2011. She has an extensive and impressive educational background, including a doctorate in Musical Arts from CU Boulder. Her talents, experience and expertise in orchestral music and music education make her the ideal Program Director. And her passion for Inside the Orchestra is so encouraging and contagious.
Music Director
About Dan
Dan has a Master of Arts in Music from the University of Denver. He has written over 500 arrangements that are played all over the world. Dan has taught music at the University of Colorado Boulder, Metropolitan State University, Colorado Christian University and Cherry Creek High School. He is currently the conductor of the Mercury Ensemble. He has also conducted the Colorado Ballet and the Denver Municipal Band. Dan has performed with numerous recording artists including Andrea Bocelli, Diane Reeves, Mel Tormé, Melissa Manchester, Barry Manilow, Natalie Cole, Bernadette Peters, Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, Lyle Lovett, Neil Sedaka, Dionne Warwick, Michael W. Smith, Leslie Uggams, Amy Grant, John Denver, Bob Hope, Charlie Pride, Chuck Berry, Charlie Daniels, Kenny Rogers, The Canadian Brass, The Irish Tenors, The Moody Blues, Mannheim Steam Roller, The O’Jays, Kool and the Gang, Dave Brubeck, Phil Woods, Aaron Copland, Richard Stolzman, Andre Watts, and many more. He has performed four times for Presidents of the United States. He can be seen in the recently released PBS special 3 Mo’ Divas. He has recorded with the Colorado Symphony, The Boulder Brass, Rare Silk, and can be heard on Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman by Joan Tower. He has performed with the The Denver Brass, Denver Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Chamber Players, Forever in Blue Jeans, Central City Opera, The Colorado Symphony, Mercury Ensemble and many touring Broadway shows such as Phantom of the Opera, Annie, The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Annie Get Your Gun, Big, Peter Pan, and others. Dan has taught at the Grenoble Jazz Summer camp in Grenoble France. Dan is very excited to be conducting Tiny Tots. He has a passion for conducting, performing, composing, and music education. “The role of an orchestra in the 21st century isn’t just playing, it’s about developing future audiences and performers.” – Leonard Slatkin
Conductor
About Steven
Argentinian-American Steven Aguiló-Arbues enjoys his roles as a conductor, vocal coach, répétiteur, and recitalist. Outside of his work with Inside the Orchestra, he conducts the Boulder-based choir The Renaissance Project (specializing in Renaissance a cappella choral music). His love for opera has led him to work with companies like Central City Opera, Sarasota Opera, Opera Colorado, The Atlanta Opera, Crested Butte Music Festival, and the Miami Music Festival. He has also served on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music, Centro Studi Lirica in Italy, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Colorado (Boulder) and a Master of Music degree as well as Professional Studies Certificate from the Manhattan School of Music. Mr. Aguiló-Arbues is also fluent in Spanish and English, helping him to communicate with countless students while educating them in music.
Thank you to our Partners and Sponsors
In Memory of
Tom Jensen, Music Director.
Inside the Orchestra has deep gratitude for the immense contributions of Tom. Thank you to Pete Vriesenga for producing this video in honor of Tom’s contributions – We hope you enjoy:
Our Agreements
In addition to our values statements, our staff also committed to a set of agreements when it comes to programming and program design. They are as follows:
- We will hire performers and guest artists of a variety of ages and cultural heritages, and always seek to diversify the cultural representation of musicians and artists in our programming.
- We will continue to invest in communication with our patrons, and make sure our programming is responsive to their needs rather than prescriptive.
- We will work to ensure that programming consistently features music written by non-white and non-male composers.
- We will continue to building bigger/better pathways for adults and children with special needs to have successful experiences at our programs.
- We will seek collaborations with organizations that come from different artistic spaces than we do.
- We will seek out collaborations and partnerships with guest artists from diverse organizations, representing communities of color and marginalized communities, and we will work with these guest artists using a model of collective leadership.
- We will vet our leadership and programmatic decisions using the framework of our values statements and these agreements.
- We will gauge our progress by talking with the communities we serve, consistently and diligently analyzing and assessing our own work, reviewing demographic information of attendees served, and seeking out professional development for staff and leadership to continue to self reflect and learn.
- We will not assume that we are right, as an organization or individuals. We will always assume that we have something to learn.
- We will hold ourselves accountable.
Our Anti-Discrimination Statement
Inside the Orchestra does not and shall not discriminate basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender (sex), sexual orientation, gender expression, age, national origin, ethnicity, disability, union activity, political affiliation, military status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff and performers, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.
Inside the Orchestra is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.