greeley philharmonic youth orchestra

Doran Azari retired from teaching orchestra in Greeley Evans School District 6 in 2020 after more than 30 years of service in just about every secondary school in Greeley. He was primarily the director of orchestras at Greeley Central High School where the program increased in size during his tenure and received superior ratings for excellence for over three decades. In 2000 the GCHS Symphony Orchestra was showcased at the Colorado Music Educator's Convention as one of the finest orchestras in the state. Mr. Azari also traveled and toured extensively with the orchestra having performed in Los Angeles, New York City, and in Europe five times including performances in Dublin's St. Patrick's Cathedral, Paris, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Vatican City and the Czech Republic-where the orchestra was the first American orchestra to perform following the fall of the Berlin Wall. Mr. Azari also taught violin with the Union Colony Children's Music Academy and with the University of Northern Colorado String Project where he was recognized as an outstanding music educator.

Starting his music career as a violist, Mr. Azari has performed professionally for over 30 years with many orchestras throughout the region including the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra, the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra and the Greeley Chamber Orchestra where he performed as a soloist and was given the honor to conduct the orchestra as well. Mr. Azari has performed many times as a pit musician in various operas and musicals including his first professional performance with the musical South Pacific almost 50 years ago. He has also conducted pit orchestras for You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Little Shop of Horrors, Oliver, South Pacific and 1776. In addition to Doran Azari's performance and teaching activities, he was the festival manager of the Breckenridge Music Institute and Festival "Bach, Beethoven and Breckenridge" for two years. He also served for 10 years in the Colorado Army National Guard-first as a member of A­ team 536 of the 5th Battalion Special Forces (Green Berets), and then as a US Army officer and company commander with the 140th Signal Battalion and finally as an officer with the Selective Service Administration. Mr. Azari serves on many volunteer boards including the Union Colony Civic Center Advisory Board, the UCCC Backstage Stars, the Greeley Chamber Orchestra, the Greeley Arts Legacy, and he is a member of the Historic Preservation Commission for Greeley. He lives in Greeley with his wife Kathy who plays oboe in the Greeley Chamber Orchestra and who herself has had a long and distinguished music career both as a performer and educator.