Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
One of the most competitive and prestigious programs for aspiring professional musicians happens in Colorado Springs … and it’s free.
The Colorado College Summer Music Festival chose 53 fellows from hundreds of applicants, many of whom were drawn to the festival’s hallmark features: renowned educators and mentors and zero-dollar tuition in large part due to donors.
“I think the fact that it’s free is a huge draw for a lot of us, especially when we're at this stage in our lives as emerging professionals,” said Sydney Hoehl, one of this year's fellows. “We don't have the money to spend thousands on other summer festivals.”
Other festivals in the country can cost thousands of dollars for the fellows, making many opportunities inaccessible. On top of free tuition, fellows are also getting direct coaching from world-renowned musicians like Scott Yoo, artistic director of the Mexico City Philharmonic and host of PBS's Now Hear This. He's been a faculty member at the festival for more than 20 years.
"There's just such a culture of enthusiasm here in Colorado Springs for music, and this is such a cultured place," Yoo said.
Many of the fellows are completing higher education in music, while others are preparing for professional jobs at the end of the summer. Yoo sees the festival as a “finishing school” before entering the professional world.
Due to the competitive nature of the festival, this festival tends to attract an older demographic than a typical program of this kind. Yoo said a large part of the festival’s impact comes from the fellows.
“I still remember most people's names over the 25 years,” Yoo said. “I haven't seen them for 10 years, but you still remember their names because it's so intense and there is some kind of an indelible mark it leaves on your soul to spend time with these people.”
Read more at rmpbs.org/news
Produced by Chelsea Casabona with reporting by Sarah Shoen
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: bit.ly/3zeF6Ch
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• Newsletter: rmpbs.org/newsletters
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One of the most competitive and prestigious programs for aspiring professional musicians happens in Colorado Springs … and it’s free.
The Colorado College Summer Music Festival chose 53 fellows from hundreds of applicants, many of whom were drawn to the festival’s hallmark features: renowned educators and mentors and zero-dollar tuition in large part due to donors.
“I think the fact that it’s free is a huge draw for a lot of us, especially when we're at this stage in our lives as emerging professionals,” said Sydney Hoehl, one of this year's fellows. “We don't have the money to spend thousands on other summer festivals.”
Other festivals in the country can cost thousands of dollars for the fellows, making many opportunities inaccessible. On top of free tuition, fellows are also getting direct coaching from world-renowned musicians like Scott Yoo, artistic director of the Mexico City Philharmonic and host of PBS's Now Hear This. He's been a faculty member at the festival for more than 20 years.
"There's just such a culture of enthusiasm here in Colorado Springs for music, and this is such a cultured place," Yoo said.
Many of the fellows are completing higher education in music, while others are preparing for professional jobs at the end of the summer. Yoo sees the festival as a “finishing school” before entering the professional world.
Due to the competitive nature of the festival, this festival tends to attract an older demographic than a typical program of this kind. Yoo said a large part of the festival’s impact comes from the fellows.
“I still remember most people's names over the 25 years,” Yoo said. “I haven't seen them for 10 years, but you still remember their names because it's so intense and there is some kind of an indelible mark it leaves on your soul to spend time with these people.”
Read more at rmpbs.org/news
Produced by Chelsea Casabona with reporting by Sarah Shoen
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: bit.ly/3zeF6Ch
------------------------------------------------------
Follow Rocky Mountain PBS on our other platforms, too.
• Newsletter: rmpbs.org/newsletters
• Facebook: facebook.com/rmpbs
• Instagram: instagram.com/rmpbs
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/rocky-mountain-pbs
