By Shannon Lukens. Photos courtesy Carl Walker.

 

Band members from Steamboat Springs High School performed Thursday night along with bluegrass legends Tyler Grant, Zach Jackson, and Dylan McCarthy at the Strings School Days Concert Thursday night. The high school band had been practicing for the Strings performance for several weeks.

Pictures courtesy Carl Walker are below.

Strings School Days is an annual event that includes local young musicians in Routt County, on stage with world-class artists.

The next Strings School Days is Thursday, March 27 with students from Steamboat Springs Middle School and Steamboat Mountain School performing with award-winning pianist Alpin Hong.

 

Press Release from Strings Music Festival; March 14, 2025.

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHINE ALONGSIDE BLUEGRASS LEGENDS AT STRINGS SCHOOL DAYS CONCERT

 

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. –  A night of music, mentorship, and celebration unfolded at Strings Music Festival as over 115 parents, family members, friends, and teachers gathered to witness a remarkable performance by Steamboat Springs High School students. These talented young musicians took the stage alongside acclaimed bluegrass artists Tyler Grant, Zach Jackson, and Dylan McCarthy, delivering an electrifying show that highlighted their dedication and musical growth.

Held at the Strings Music Pavilion on Thursday, March 13, the concert marked the culmination of weeks of instruction, during which students had the rare opportunity to hone their skills under the guidance of these accomplished musicians. Their performance was a true testament to the power of music education, as they demonstrated impressive technical ability, emotional depth, and the ability to navigate complex arrangements in a live setting.

The enthusiastic audience responded with applause as students confidently performed solos and collaborative pieces with their mentors. The presence of Grant, Jackson, and McCarthy elevated the experience, offering students not only musical guidance but also an invaluable glimpse into the art of bluegrass performance. For many, this was a defining moment in their musical journey—a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will leave a lasting impact.

The Strings School Days program is vital in nurturing young musicians in Routt County. It brings together world-class artists to share their expertise and inspire the next generation. The evening’s success reinforced the significance of music education in fostering creativity, collaboration, and confidence.

Upcoming Event: Strings School Days with Alpin Hong

Thursday, March 27, 2025 | 7 p.m.

Music lovers of all ages are invited to the next Strings School Days event, featuring students from Steamboat Springs Middle School and Steamboat Mountain School as they take the stage alongside award-winning pianist Alpin Hong. As the first artist to perform in the inaugural Strings School Days program in 2008, Hong returns to inspire and perform with the next generation of musicians. This free event is the next opportunity for community members to witness young talent in action and experience the magic of live music at the Pavilion.

“At Strings Music Festival, we are deeply committed to making the arts accessible to everyone in our community. With over 60% of our programs offered free to the public, we strive to remove barriers so that more people can experience the power of live music. Through our Strings School Days program, and thanks to Strings Music Festival supporters, we proudly provide free music and arts education to more than 3,000 Pre-K through 12th grade students across the Yampa Valley, inspiring creativity, fostering talent, and ensuring that the next generation has the opportunity to connect with the arts.” – Elissa Greene, Executive Director of Strings Music Festival

 

STRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL

Tickets to the following concerts are on sale now:

• Eileen Ivers | Saturday, March 15, 2025 | 7 p.m. Tickets start at $46

• Kevin Nealon | Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 7 p.m. Tickets start at $63.25 (SOLD OUT)

• Richy Mitch & The Coalminers – Aprés Ski Tour | Friday, March 21, 2025 | 7 p.m. Tickets start at $35 (SOLD OUT)

• Big Richard | Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 7 p.m. Tickets start at $40.25

 

About the 2025 Winter Artists

 

• Eileen Ivers | Saturday, March 15, 2025 | 7 p.m.

Grammy Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated Eileen Ivers continues to push the fiddling tradition boundaries from a folk music staple to a fiercely fresh, powerfully beautiful, intensely driving world stage experience. Eileen has performed with Sting, ‘Fiddlers 3’ with Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Regina Carter, Patti Smith, Al Di Meola, The Chieftains, was the groundbreaking Musical Star of Riverdance, a founding member of Cherish the Ladies, a former member of the Hall & Oates band, a featured instrumentalist on soundtracks including Gangs of New York and Back to Titanic, and she is one of the most awarded All-Ireland Fiddle and Banjo champions ever. Eileen has been proclaimed “a national treasure” by NCTA Board Chairman George Holt as she celebrates her 30 plus year career as a performer, composer, producer, songwriter, band leader, educator, multi-instrumentalist, and renowned pioneer in connecting her American, Irish traditional, jazz, blues, and world roots.

 

• Kevin Nealon | Thursday, March 20, 2025 | 7 p.m.

Kevin Nealon, best known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, is an Emmy and SAG-nominated actor and comedian who sets himself apart from other comedic performers with his unique sense of humor, dry wit, and likable demeanor.

 

• Richy Mitch & The Coalminers – Aprés Ski Tour | Friday, March 21, 2025 | 7 p.m.

Richy Mitch & The Coalminers have cultivated a signature style of their own across RMCM [2017], Solstice [2018], and Subliming [2019]. In 2023, the one-minute and 27-second intro to RMCM, “Evergreen,” caught fire on TikTok, and has since generated over half a billion Spotify streams, while the group has averaged north of 20 million monthly listeners on the platform. “Lake Missoula” also piled up over 100 million Spotify streams. They’ve graced the bills of festivals such as Lollapalooza, Under The Big Sky, and Hinterland; collaborated with Mt. Joy and Caamp on new versions of Lake Missoula and Evergreen; and remained prolific with new singles “Signal Sender,” “Careful,” “Northstar,” and “Sierra Vista.” They conclude 2024 with their biggest tour yet, playing to sold-out crowds coast to coast, and are in the middle of finishing their 4th LP. No matter what happens next, the friendship and the music go hand-in-hand for Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners.

 

• Big Richard | Saturday, March 22, 2025 | 7 p.m.

The world-class musicians in Big Richard initially convened in 2021 for a festival date. The quartet showed up bursting with jaw-dropping virtuosity; playfully irreverent stage banter; stunning four-part harmony vocal interlace; imaginative arrangements; a refreshingly eclectic repertoire; and a healthy dose of lady rage. The rest is history.

 

Strings Music Festival presents music of the highest quality in an intimate mountain setting. Our summer festival includes a genre-spanning lineup featuring classical musicians from the nation’s top orchestras and chart-topping popular contemporary artists, all of whom perform in an intimate, 569-seat Pavilion nestled at the base of Steamboat’s mountains. Outside of our venue, we serve the community with a variety of free programming and an in-school education program called Strings School Days. This offering cultivates music appreciation and ability in Northwest Colorado’s K-12 students. Learn more at stringsmusicfestival.com.

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Photo Credit: Carl Walker