The Pagosa Springs community rallied to support local arts education on December 7, as Pagosa Peak Open School’s Strings Orchestra Club hosted its debut concert at the Pagosa Center for the Arts. The evening was a resounding success, drawing a full house of 120 people and raising an impressive $1,200 to benefit the school.
The funds raised will directly support PPOS’s mission to provide a holistic education, one that prioritizes the arts and hands-on learning.
“Integration of the arts is a crucial component to Project-based Learning (PBL),” PPOS school director Emily Murphy said. “Providing students multiple modalities to think about academic concepts makes learning equitable and pushes everyone as an individual learner. Students who do not normally see themselves as an artist or performer have opportunities to try new things through enrichment opportunities like these.”
The Strings Orchestra is a new after-school program this year that meets twice a week. The debut performance featured 16 students from PPOS alongside 9 students from outside the school, demonstrating the program’s reach and its positive impact on the broader Pagosa community.
The success of the evening is a testament to the dedication of several key individuals and organizations. PPOS extends its heartfelt gratitude to Payton Mcintyre, the orchestra club’s passionate teacher and organizer, for her hard work in building the program and preparing the students for the stage. Mcintyre, who works with Stillwater Music, believes in the power of orchestra experiences for students.
Students, many of whom had never played an instrument before, echoed the sentiment of shared success.
“I was so nervous before we started,” PPOS student Anderson said. “But it went really well! And if there are other kids who are thinking about joining, I want to say – just do it. Because you can do it! Even for kids who join late, they get caught up and they can practice at home, too.”
The program would not have been possible without the extraordinary generosity of the Be Frank Foundation, which graciously donated the instruments. Their contribution eliminated a major barrier to participation, allowing these talented students to access music and share their gifts.
“I wanted to join orchestra because I love hearing beautiful sounds and I wanted to be a person who makes those beautiful sounds,” PPOS student Ellie said. “I’m so happy we have this program at our school!”
The community’s enthusiasm, from the students on stage to the audience filling the seats, proved that the arts are thriving in Pagosa Springs, with PPOS supporting the next generation of performers.
Pagosa Peak Open School is a free, K-8 district charter school focused on implementing a project-based learning (PBL) curriculum in a Restorative Practices environment. The school offers multiple enrichment programs after school.
To learn more about PPOS, visit pagosapeakopenschool.org.
Emily Murphy is School Director at Pagosa Peak Open School, the first District-authorized charter school in Archuleta County. Prior to her appointment as School Director, Emily filled various roles at PPOS including Project-Based Learning advisor, instructional coach, and assistant director.