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A seasonal music camp for adults - IM leads the way as a non-competitive, non-auditioned, educational orchestra for adult string players.
Origin Story
Intramural Musicians started as just an idea in the spring of 2021. Founder, Sarah Jylkka, had grown up a violinist and converted her love of music into a profession in music education. As many musicians experience, she found herself chatting about her instrument with everyone from coworkers to friends to strangers over the years and a common theme emerged. Most folks wanted to share that they too had played an instrument at some point in their lives. Not only did they used to play, but most also expressed regret that they no longer played their instrument or hope that one day they would get to play again. After a tumultuous year and a half following the initial COVID-19 pandemic, creating a program for intermediate adult string players in her community (Denver, CO) seemed like a great way to spread joy and inspire much needed community in the wake of a bleak worldwide event. With a background in camp counseling and teaching and an amazing network of friends and colleagues who were highly-skilled musicians and teachers in their own right to draw upon, the Denver Adult Strings Camp or, DASC Symphony, came into existence.
the original Denver Adult Strings Camp logo
Founder, Sarah Jylkka, with friend and former student, Meghan N. during the very first camp session in Denver
Founder, Sarah Jylkka
Founder, Sarah Jylkka and Operations Manager, Robbie Cummins, after the Summer 2023 Finale Concert in Denver, CO
The first DASC session was held near Washington Park in Denver, CO during the summer of 2021. The expectation was that 12, maybe 15 players would sign up. In a real stroke of luck, maybe 20 people would want to participate in the program. With just two months of advertising, registration numbers kept climbing and the session started with over 50 participants! Over the three weeks of programming, many things took place: coaches dispensed valuable information and bonded with their groups, adults who hadn't played their instruments in 5, 10, 30 years were able to make music again, friendships were made, an orchestra was formed, and over 50 people from all generations, backgrounds, and skill levels came together to make music. DASC has continued to run in Colorado since 2021 and as the programming continued to build strong community, it became clear that this kind of programming was needed not just in Colorado, but around the country and thus, the non-profit organization, Intramural Musicians was born. Incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2023 IM is an umbrella organization committed to funding successful camps around the country for adult string player.
Through expansion, our goal to come together in an encouraging and educational way remains today and always will remain as the main pillar of our program.
We encourage all to lean in and make music.
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