With the Boulder Philharmonic, Fernanda Nieto makes classical music more accessible

Born in Mendoza, Argentina, she emigrated to the United States when she was 25 years old for a scholarship at Ohio University. 

"At the time, we did VCR auditions,” Nieto recalled with a laugh. “We couldn't travel to come audition in person. So, I sent in my cassette tape, and that was my audition." 

Nieto explained how immigrants who arrive to the U.S. carry in their suitcase many dreams, fears and doubts. 

"There was cultural shock, and learning to adjust myself to a new culture,” Nieto said. “But there was a part of me that wanted more adventures and more music, and I longed for that.” 

She attended the University of Colorado in Boulder and completed her doctorate in piano performance in 2009.  

Her work at the Boulder Philharmonic plays a very important role in the growth of children through music. 

"Part of our mission is to connect people to music and people to people,” Nieto said.  

One of the ways her team does this is by visiting students from kindergarten through high school.

"We bring music and music programs to schools, to community centers, to retirement homes and to facilities that work with individuals with disabilities," Nieto said. “And we're bringing this music in a variety of ways. We bring chamber music concerts. We bring piano and other instrument concerts. We bring shows where kids can participate and ask questions, play instruments, and move and dance." 

Fernanda and her community team also want to end the stereotype that classical music and concerts are only for wealthier people. 

“It’s changing, and that is part of what I'm proud about,” she said. “In my job, we connect with the community, finding what the community needs and where they are. And they give us a lot too, by allowing us to partner with them. This is the work we do together. But the fact that the orchestra is an institution that by tradition has played in a concert hall, where people come in and dress up and clap at the end, is something that we work hard to change. We can be in the community where the community wants to listen to music. We do concerts in the park. We do concerts in retirement homes. We do concerts of whatever music is needed. We go with our music.” 

With desire and effort, Nieto said, “we can each make a lot of difference in our society.”

Julio Sandoval is the senior photojournalist at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach Julio at juliosandoval@rmpbs.org.