About Creative Music Works

Mission statement

Creative Music Works is a Colorado arts nonprofit organization providing educational and performance opportunities for musical innovators. Our goal is to enrich the cultural landscape by carving new space for creative music from a multitude of traditions, including composed and improvised music.

What we do

Creative Music Works is one of the few performing arts organizations on the Front Range to provide consistent and significant support for high quality musical innovation. We endeavor to bring musical diversity, imagination and uniqueness to area audiences through concert performances, educational events, workshops and artist lectures.

Organization

Our working board of directors is responsible for making the music happen. Drawing from a diverse cross section of the community the current board includes music educators, business retailers, audio recording engineers and political organizers. Creative Music Works is funded by members, individual and small business donations, ticket revenues, and grant and foundation money.

Achievements
  • Hundreds of local, national and international performers have taken the stage for audiences of thousands. 
  • Thousands of students have taken part in educational presentations and performances exploring the history of jazz and creative music. 
  • Eighteen years of service in the community 
  • Three National Endowment for the Arts Awards 
  • Regional grant and foundation awards including the Scientific Cultural Facilities District, Denver Mayors Office, Denver Foundation and the Gay and Lesbian Fund 
  • Partnerships and collaborations with business and non-profit organizations including Black
    and Read Books and Music, Swallow Hill Music Association, ReR USA, Twist and Shout, KGNU radio, and KUVO radio. 
  • Numerous press and public recognitions for outstanding achievement from the Rocky Mountain News, Denver Post and Westword , including: Best Avant Garde Producer, Best Jazz Big Band 
“At times Creative Music Works has stood alone in presenting new & vital music, and it
certainly has always been a leader. I consider it one of the signatures of our community.
It’s incredibly important,”
- Ron Miles, Colorado’s vanguard trumpeter and Metropolitan State College of Denver professor.

History

Creative Music Works was born of founder Alex Lemsk’s vision of uncompromising freedom of expression for musicians. Creative Music Works first shows were intimate house parties where the best and brightest of Denver’s jazz contemporary avant garde musicians pushed musical boundaries. Among these early collaborators were Fred Hess and Ron Miles. Over the years, Creative Music Works has shown impressive growth in membership, funding, partnerships, educational outreach, and number and variety of performances, thus demonstrating it has an important role in the Colorado and western regional music scenes.
Board of Directors
President Andrew Starr
Program Director & Treasurer Paul Riola
Secretary Rhiannon Wisniewski
Board Member At Large Jason Ruby
Board Member At Large Ray Wentz
Advisory Board Member Fred Hess
Advisory Board Member Matthew Garrington
Advisory Board Member Conrad Kehn
Advisory Board Member Glen Whitehead