Greeley Philharmonic to Create Youth Orchestra

The Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra (GPO), a regional professional orchestra of 110 years, has received support from the Littler Youth Fund to create a youth orchestra under the direction of Dr. Jubal Fulks. Delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the GPYO’s inaugural season will begin in the fall of 2021.

The GPO has not housed a youth orchestra since the 1970s. Beginning with a chamber orchestra, Nick Kenny, executive director of the GPO, plans for the orchestra to grow and become self-sustaining. "The GPO has a rich cultural history in the Northern Colorado community, but maintaining consistent educational programs has been a chronic struggle in the arts. The GPYO will offer a missing piece for young musicians who wish to take their orchestral playing to the next level - I am genuinely excited for the creation of this program and how it will grow and impact our community."

Jubal Fulks, associate professor of violin at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), has been selected as the Artistic Director of the GPYO. Jubal is an award-winning and critically acclaimed artist and teacher who performs music from every historical era through the works of today. As soloist, he has performed with orchestras across the United States and has been heard on National Public Radio’s “Performance Today.” As recitalist and chamber musician, he has appeared at numerous summer festivals and concert series in the United States and has toured extensively in Europe and Asia. 

Fulks is violinist of the Colorado Piano Trio, which has performed across the United States including Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. His orchestral experience includes GRAMMY-nominated performances with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in the San Francisco Bay Area and, in New York City, at the Mostly Mozart Festival at Alice Tully Hall, in the Jazz at Lincoln Center series, and the New York String Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. 

Fulks is a leader of Sacramento-based baroque chamber orchestra Sinfonia Spirituosa and performs regularly with the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado and Boulder Bach Festival. Dr. Fulks is currently Professor of Violin at the University of Northern Colorado, has also taught at the University of Alabama, Luther College (Iowa), State University of New York-Stony Brook and Michigan Technological University, and conducts master classes at universities throughout the country. During the summer months he teaches and performs in Burlington, Vermont at Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and has been on the summer faculties at Kinhaven Music School, Montecito International Music Festival, and at Lutheran Summer Music Festival in Iowa. He lives in Greeley, Colorado with his wife, hornist Lauren Varley, and their children Patrick, Finnian, Oliver, and Flannery.

The GPYO will begin the recruitment and audition process in Northern Colorado in the summer of 2021, with rehearsals to begin when schools return in the fall. For more information about the Youth Orchestra and audition information and requirements, please visit greeleyphilyo.org