Last year, we attended the holiday concert by The Colorado Choir and were absolutely blown away. The sound of this large group, celebrating an amazing 50 years, was so full and beautiful. When we learned about their upcoming concerts in March 2026 featuring the music of Leonard Bernstein, we were happy to publish this article about them.
The Colorado Choir’s Psalms and Passion: The Music of Leonard Bernstein
In March, The Colorado Choir and the Denver Pops Orchestra unite to honor the legacy of Leonard Bernstein, one of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century, in their concert, Psalms and Passion: The Music of Leonard Bernstein. Composer, conductor, educator, and cultural voice, Bernstein played an integral part in shaping American music, from the Broadway stage to the concert hall.
Modern audiences know him best for West Side Story, but most don’t realize the full scope of his impact: Bernstein was the first internationally celebrated American-born conductor, a passionate advocate for the arts, and a recipient of 11 Emmy Awards, 2 Tony Awards, and 16 Grammy Awards.
This program explores both the brilliance and the conviction behind his music.
Chichester Psalms
At the heart of the concert is Bernstein’s masterwork, Chichester Psalms. Written during the social turbulence of the 1960s, the piece blends Hebrew scripture with classical choral tradition in a sweeping, deeply human expression of hope for unity and peace.
It is music that acknowledges unrest without surrendering to it.
The Colorado Choir’s conductor and artistic director, Kelly Parmenter, has long wanted to conduct Chichester Psalms. “With The Colorado Choir’s 50th Anniversary season this year and the opportunity to collaborate with the Denver Pops Orchestra, the time was right,” she says. “In light of current unrest and uncertainty, it is a prayer for peace.”
From Sacred to Theatrical
The evening continues with selections from West Side Story and Candide, first presented by The Colorado Choir, then by The Denver Pops Orchestra, and finally performed together. These works reveal Bernstein’s range: theatrical brilliance paired with emotional depth.
The result is a program that moves between sacred meditation and dramatic storytelling — intimate, powerful, and resonant.
Performances:
Friday, March 13, 2026 at 7:30pm.
Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 4pm.
Location:
Bethany Lutheran Church
4500 E. Hampden Ave.
Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113
Tickets:
$30 Adults
$25 Seniors & Military
$15 Students
$15 Livestream (available through April 30)
Tickets are available at thecoloradochoir.org or at the door. Cash, checks, and major credit cards accepted.
This anniversary collaboration is more than a concert. It is an invitation to pause, to listen, and to experience music that continues to speak across generations.
-By Mindee Forman, The Colorado Choir
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