Breckenridge Real Estate Blog

Two great and successful Breckenridge mainstays - the front porch of our historic office building and the energetic NRO (National Repertory Orchestra) -  come together again this summer to provide free, hour-long classical music concerts in the late afternoon.  Free sunshine is usually provided, and the equally free, abundant and cool fresh air make the Breckenridge Associates Porch Concerts a great place to meet friends and hear world-class music.

Please join us at our Main Street office on the following days:

Porch Series Performance Dates
Tuesday, June 12 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Thursday, July 5 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Tuesday, July 10 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Tuesday, July 24 4:00pm – 5:00pm

Being a successful business has several perks. One that Breckenridge Associates enjoys is contributing to organizations like the NRO.  This year, the NRO is initiating a new Pop-Up Concert series, which is partially sponsored by Breck Associates* and by the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance. These seven outdoor performances are free to the residents and visitors of Summit County and combine classical music and a brief history story. These hour-long performance of chamber music will be held in various parks in town - under a tent in case of rain - in the presense of some of the Breckenridge public art collection.

Following pop up concert dates and locations

June 14th, Thursday - 1:30-2:30 Blue River Plaza
June 19th, Tuesday - 1:30-2:30 Breckenridge Arts District
June 26th, Tuesday - 1:30-2:30 Riverwalk Center Lawn
June 29th, Friday - 1:30-2:30 Sons of Norway Park*
July 5th, Thursday - 1:30-2:30 Blue River Plaza*
July 10th, Tuesday - 1:30-2:30 Breckenridge Arts District*
July 16th, Monday - 1:30-2:30 Sons of Norway Park
July 19th, Thursday - 3:30-4:30 Prospector Park

More ways to hear the NRO

The NRO brought classical music to Breckenridge before the town had a dedicated and celebrated arts district, before there was a Riverwalk Center. The town built the 'tent' - the same amphitheater but without a permanent roof -  to lure the NRO, and it worked. The orchestra of nearly 100 musicians has performed several times a week at the Riverwalk Center for about two months every summer since 1993.  Each summer the NRO presents a full calendar of live performances at the Riverwalk Center - this year from June through July on most Wednesday and Saturday evenings for a modest ticket price.

They post their rehearsal schedule at the Riverwalk, and invite the public to drop in and listen quietly. Over the 4th of July, the sliding doors on the 'tent' are thrown open and one can lounge on the Riverwalk lawn watching kiddos romp in the Blue River and listen to music.

Again in 2018, Carl Toplow leads the orchestra - his 41st summer - and will welcome several guest conductors, as well. You may be familiar with Topilow, but each year a new orchestra is created from the best young, post-college musicians he can find. Each NRO musician comes to town with a high skill level, having been auditioned and selected by Topilow over the course of the previous year. Most are on track to join a professional orchestra, but vacancies are as rare as a deed-restricted house on the Breckenridge real estate market. Most of the NRO musicians have the freedom to spend the summer in Breckenridge because that rare opportunity is just shy of arrival. Skill and the relative youth of the NRO players produce energetic concerts that vibrantly fill the Riverwalk Center, which was designed for it.  Classical sounds great in this tent.

Local families adopt a Musician

Another way for homeowners to get involved with the NRO is through the Community Link program. Housing is provided for all musicians but locals are asked to 'host' a musician by taking them on a picnic, a hike, having them over for dinner or any other activity that would make the musician feel part of the community. Each musician has an intense performance schedule, and performs in other venues beside the tent: either the pop ups, the Porch Series or other community interactions.  A 'host' can ease their musician's busy schedule with simple advice of where to find something locally or by just arranging some fun. Anyone that would like to participate in the Community Link program should contact NRO board member Barbara Calvin.