$8,128 was the grand total raised during SOPA’s (Supporters of the Performing Arts) 2010 Summer Benefit Series. The series was two fold: 1) to re-instate an awareness of the project, and 2) to showcase quality entertainment to Estes Park’s summer visitors and residents alike.


The season kicked off in June featuring the Steinway Grand Piano that awaits its new home. High School students Kevin Ahfat and friends, all past or present students of local Mia Marletto, gave a dynamic concert in the Stanley Concert Hall which brought a nearly full house to its feet. The screaming trumpets of CHASED from Denver filled Performance Park the weekend after 4th of July to be followed by A canella barbershop/jazz quartet McPhly out of Denver. The season continued with local Oratorio concert presenting Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore followed by the Village Big/Jazz Band and vocalists presenting an evening of jazz greats. The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra (MJO) out of Denver came to fill Performance Park once again the first weekend in August with jazz greats, and the concert series was rounded out with Nashville greats Mark Selby and Tia Sillers on Saturday the 21st of August.

There remains great interest from performance groups wishing to perform in alternative venues in the Estes Park vicinity, yet the lack of adequate space continues to be a problem. Supporters of the Performing Arts continues its drive for a theater and home for the local talent within the community, as well as providing a space for quality entertainment happenings such as the ones listed above. My Way-A tribute to Frank Sinatra is slated for the last weekend in January and first weekend in February and will feature VocalEase (Scott Anderson, Valerie Dascoli, Melissa Westover and Christopher Wood) with the Ray Young trio. To-date, SOPA stands at approximately $2,235,000.00 towards its $6,000,000.00 overall project goal. This includes the $1,000,000.00 commitment from the town of Estes Park. More information regarding the project can be found on our website at www.EstesParkTheater.com or by calling capital campaign chair Christopher Wood at 970-481-6630

Brionne Wright and Kevin Ahfat
seated at Steinway Grand Piano
helped kick off the 2010 benefit Concert Series
at the Stanley Hotel

McPhly sings close-knit harmonies in
barbershop and vocal jazz style

Metrolpolitan Jazz Orchestra (MJO) filled performance park with classic jazz charts

The Oratorio Society of Estes Park,
under the direction of Claudia Urwin,
performed Gilbert and Sullivan's concert version
of HMS Pinafore

Mark Selby and Tia Sillers, Nashville song writers
of "I Hope You Dance" brought
a packed performance park to its feet August 21st
---Courtesy Photo Dick Orleans

VocalEase--Scott Anderson, Valerie Dascoli, Ray Young,
Melissa Westover and Christopher Wood
will perform "My Way- A Musical Tribute
to Frank Sinatra" in January and February 2011