Summertime Stories & Music
Summer 2024
Our Land, Our Voices | presented in partnership with Aspen Valley Land Trust
AUGUST 10 | 6PM, GUIDED RaNCH TOUR & 7PM, SHOW
Coffman Ranch | 1837 Co Rd 100, Carbondale
This program amplifies local voices from conservationists, artists, educators, youth, farmers, and ranchers. Storytellers explore and illuminate their connection to the land on which we all live, work, and play. Meadowsuite, a trio of string musicians, will perform inspired musical interludes. // Realzando las voces locales de conservacionistas, artistas, educadores, jóvenes, agricultores y ganaderos. Los cuentacuentos exploran e ilustran su conexión con la tierra en la que todos vivimos, trabajamos y jugamos con inspirados interludios musicales.
This event will offer live English to Spanish interpretation provided by Convey Language Solutions. // Este evento ofrecerá interpretación en directo del inglés al español proporcionada por Convey Language Solutions.
$10 - $20 suggested donation at the event // Se sugiere una donación de $10 - $20 en el evento
Event will be postponed in case of severe weather // El evento se pospondrá en caso de mal tiempo
Seating and parking is limited. Please RSVP. // Los asientos y el estacionamiento tienen cupo. Por favor responda RSVP
HOW TO GET THERE: Coffman Ranch is located 1.5 miles from Carbondale along the Rio Grande at 1837 County Road 100, Carbondale. Both parking and seating is very limited. Please plan on carpooling or biking along the Rio Grande Bike Path!
WHAT TO BRING: This is a working ranch, so sturdy footwear is strongly recommended. Please be prepared for any kind of Colorado summer weather!
About The Storytellers & Musicians
STORYTELLER | STEPHEN BERSHENYI was born into a ranching family in Glenwood Springs and stewards the family property, the Lazy V Quarter Circle Ranch, a 640-acre high-mountain parcel protected by a conservation easement. An English Literature and German Language double major, Stephen also earned his journeyman card as a control instrument and refrigeration pipe-fitter. Stephen has worked in facilities management and construction, and since 2005, as an artist blacksmith.
STORYTELLER | FRANCISCO “PACO” NEVAREZ-BURGUEÑO is celebrating his 22nd year as the Director of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklórico and has served thousands of children from Rifle to Aspen creating self-esteem, friendships, and beauty through dance. Adventurous at heart, he has empowered students to perform across the United States and internationally. He also founded the M.I.T. Folklórico Company in New York City, and was the recipient of the Governor’s Creative Leadership Award in 2016, and the English in Action Leadership Award in 2023. Paco grew up in Chihuahua, MX, where every dance had a story behind it!
STORYTELLER | AUTUMN RIVERA is a 6th grade science teacher at Glenwood Springs Middle School in the Roaring Fork School District. She is also an adjunct professor at Colorado Mountain College in the Education Department. During her more than 18 years as an educator, she has worked with students from elementary to postgraduate. Rivera empowers her students and strives to provide them with common background experiences. She was named the 2022 Colorado Teacher of the Year and a Finalist for National Teacher of the Year. She is also a Golden Apple and Excellence in Teaching Awardee, PAEMST State Finalist, and the 2023 Association of Middle Level Education Educator of the Year.
STORYTELLER | JASON SEWELL is a fifth-generation rancher and co-owner of the historic Sunfire Ranch. He is passionate about bringing ranching, conservation, community, and education together. As a result, Sunfire Ranch is an inspiring place where thousands of pounds of vegetables are grown annually, cattle are grazed in regenerative rotation, and educational classes happen, such as high-altitude gardening, and more! Jason strives to be an example of what's possible when collaborations happen to create innovative and resilient food systems.
STORYTELLER | BRITNEY ZEPEDA is a 16-year-old from Silt, Colorado. She is an Assistant Crew Leader at Highwater Farm this year, after completing the Youth Program last season. She is passionate about agriculture and connecting with people. Outside of Highwater, she has been a member of the Future Farmers of America club at Cole Ridge High School for the last two years where she has also taken on a leadership role in the Sentinel position, assisting the president with events and communication.
FEATURED MUSICIANS | MEADOWSUITE is a budding ensemble of long-time friends and musical collaborators Delaney Meyers, violin, Harris Jackson, guitar, and Ashton Taufer, bass. Weaving together classical, jazz, and folk traditions, the ensemble explores new sounds in a mix of original and classic compositions.
Summer 2023
Why Aspen? | a collaboration with the Aspen Historical Society
on the Aspen Historical Society’s Wheeler/Stallard Museum Grounds, Aspen, CO
VOICES and The Aspen Historical Society presented Summertime Stories & Music: Why Aspen? Indigenous & Immigrant Stories. This program amplifies local voices from various origins including people from the Ute Tribe, Italy, Mexico, Ivory Coast, and more. Storytellers Trary Lamee, Skyler Lomahaftewa, Sandra Prado, Judith Ritschard, and MinTze Wu explore their individual and ancestral journeys to find and eventually settle in Aspen. Vocalist Josefina Méndez, pianist Tim Fox, and violinist MinTze Wu will perform musical interludes.
Storytellers & Musicians of Why Aspen?
STORYTELLER | JUDITH RITSCHARD was born in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. In the early 80s, her family left Mexico and relocated to Aspen. She went through the Aspen schools and became the first member of her family to attend a four-year university. For the last 14 years, Judith has lived in Carbondale with her husband and her two sons. For several years she contributed an Op-ed in the Sopris Sun where she often shared stories about her family and her opinion on everything, through an immigrant’s lens.
STORYTELLER | SANDRA PRADO is the instructor and founder of Aspen Polynesia. Sandra moved to Aspen in 2018 from Mexico City and works as a Facility Supervisor at the Hotel Jerome. This will be her third project with VOICES. She loves spending time outdoors and considers skiing her second passion after dancing.
STORYTELLER | SKYLER LOMAHAFTEWA is an enrolled member of the Ute Tribe of the Uinta and Ouray Agency located in northeastern Utah on his mother's side, and of Hopi/Choctaw descendancy on his fathers' side. Skyler is the Bear Dance Chief of Randlette in Utah. He grew up with traditional cultural influence and moved to the Roaring Fork Valley many years ago to follow another passion of his, snowboarding. Skyler works as a snowboard instructor for the Aspen Skiing Company.
STORYTELLER | TRARY LAMEE is a Theatre artist, and was a member of the original Women’s VOICES Theater Project ensemble. Her family of Italian and German origins came to Aspen in the early 1900’s, and has now lived and worked in the Roaring Fork Valley for six generations. Trary grew up in Aspen, currently lives in Glenwood Springs, and works in Carbondale.
STORYTELLER & VIOLINIST | MINTZE WU is also the Executive & Artistic Director of VOICES and is also an accomplished violinist and non-profit arts leader. She is the founder of the Sounds of Lyons Music Festival and BenFeng Music Productions where she has served as producer and artistic director to several signature productions.
SINGER | JOSEFINA MENDEZ was born in Buenos AIres, Argentina, and moved to the USA in 2001. Singing in English, Spanish and Portuguese, she blends the North and South American styles of jazz, from swing to bossa nova, from tangos to boleros. Josefina has been mentored by Tim Fox, and she is a regular favorite performer in the valley.
PIANIST | TIM FOX graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Music Education. He has played trumpet and/or piano in the Chicago area, around Colorado's Western Slope, and on the road, with the likes of "The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra," under the direction of Buddy Morrow, "The Temptations" and "The Four Tops," Eric Alexander, Ed Soph, Ernie Watts, Red Skelton, Barbara Eden, Connie Francis, Mitzi Gaynor, and with many more. He is currently a freelance musician, a member of the Colorado Mesa University Faculty Jazz Quartet, a member of the Josefina Mendez Jazz trio, and works in the RE-1 School District. Tim also facilitates, with the generous support of Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the Roaring Fork Jazz Workshop. Check out sample performances with Josefina Mendez Jazz on YouTube.
HerStory | a collaboration with the Carbondale Historical Society
at the Historic Thompson House Grounds, Carbondale, CO
VOICES Summertime Stories & Music presented HerStory, celebrating strong women in Carbondale, then and now, in collaboration with The Carbondale Historical Society. Storytellers Amy Kimberly, Laurie Loeb, Jeannie Perry, Charlotte Graham, and Andrea Harris reflected on their love of Carbondale’s land, impact on local life, and connection with women before their time. Music was performed by violinist MinTze and nyckelharpist Sandra Wong.
Storytellers & Musicians of HerStory
STORYTELLLER | LAURIE LOEB, known as the Queen of Drum Circles, saw the beginning of Mountain Fair in 1972 and led the drum circles since then. Growing up a tomboy in a culturally Jewish upbringing, Laurie lived a life as a musician throughout USA, a solar tech in Southern America, and taught workshops combining hand drumming and personal growth.
STORYTELLER | JEANNIE PERRY, a native of the Roaring Fork Valley, is a columnist and a community activist. Her column, Ps & Qs, reflects ontological observations and is featured in the Sopris Sun. Jeannie lives in Satank with her husband and two dogs, Ziggy and Gus.
STORYTELLER | AMY KIMBERLY was the Executive Director of Carbondale Arts for 12 years and Director of the Carbondale Mountain Fair for 19. She won the Governor's Leadership in the Arts Award in 2018 and is currently co producer of the Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival. When not working, she can be found adventuring in nature or visiting her two daughters and three grandchildren!
STORYTELLER | CHARLOTTE GRAHAM WHITNEY lived in Marble for 27-plus years. She felt called here for a reason she did not know at the time: to capture stories of ancient ancestors and elders—from the First People, the Utes to those who’ve come thereafter to the Crystal River Valley between Marble and Carbondale. Thank you, Creator!
STORYTELLER | ANDREA M.P. HARRIS, Master of Education, is a CLDE coach at Bridges HS. She is a board member for Carbondale Arts, a Creative Collaborator for Colorado Creative District, and a teaching fellow for the We Are America Project. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from UTSA & a Master of Education with a CLD endorsement from Western Colorado University.
NYKELHARPA INSTRUMENTALIST | SANDRA WONG has toured nationally and internationally as a solo artist and in numerous musical collaborations exploring a diverse range of genres. Sandra is passionate about sustainability and donates a percentage of all CD sales and concert ticket sales to organizations working to create sustainability in all aspects of life.
VIOLINIST | MINTZE WU is also the Executive & Artistic Director of VOICES and is also an accomplished violinist and non-profit arts leader. She is the founder of the Sounds of Lyons Music Festival and BenFeng Music Productions where she has served as producer and artistic director to several signature productions.
