As the summer concerts wind down for the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College, we prepare for an exciting season beginning this September. But before we jump into the details of our 2025-26 Reflection: Performing Arts Series, we look back on a summer filled with events and music.
The summer started in June with seven free “Concert Hall at the Park” concerts, ending with Leon Timbo on Aug. 7. During our 13th year and with an average attendance of between 1,500 and 2,000 people, the summer concert series has become a beloved tradition that we plan to continue for many more years. Thanks to access to Buckley Park, the amazing staff of the Concert Hall, city of Durango staff, FLC, Alpine Bank, FLC’s KDUR Community Radio, Four Corners Broadcasting, Hutton Broadcasting, the city of Durango Arts and Culture Fund, Wanderful Wheels Custom Campervans, food from Grassburger – and, of course, our community – the evenings are enjoyable and safe for everyone.
The Community Concert Hall has been lively this summer, keeping staff members busy with a full schedule of events and preparations. In July, the Concert Hall hosted the Music in the Mountains Classical Music Festival, a long-standing summer tradition at the venue since 1997. August brings the arrival of FLC students, who are welcomed to campus with orientation events held at the Concert Hall. Staff members also look ahead to the upcoming “Nashville Songs and Stories – Writers in the Round,” presented by the Southwest Search and Rescue Foundation at the end of the month, with all proceeds benefiting La Plata Search and Rescue. Behind the scenes, essential maintenance and planning continue through August and into September as the team prepares for the 2025-26 season, which features over 100 performances and rehearsals and draws more than 40,000 guests annually.
Our 2025-26 Reflection: Performing Arts Series takes inspiration from the artwork on the outside of the Concert Hall building titled “Reflection.” The series offers an inspiring mix of music, comedy, dance and cultural storytelling that explores the many ways art reflects identity, memory and imagination. From large stage productions to intimate storytelling sessions, the 2025-26 season encourages audiences to pause, listen and reflect – not just from the seats, but right alongside the performers.
Included in the Reflection season, we continue our Backstage Pass Concert Series – an intimate experience where the audience and artist share the stage in a 100-seat listening room setting. These close-up concerts deepen the season’s theme by offering powerful, personal encounters with artists whose stories and songs reflect a variety of cultures and life experiences. Whether through the grand spectacle of Pilobolus Dance or the heartfelt intimacy of Matt the Electrician, Reflection is more than just a theme – it’s an invitation to connect more deeply with the world and with one another.
For tickets and more information, visit durangoconcerts.com or call 247-7657 (Monday through Friday, 1 to 5 p.m.).
Charles Leslie is the director of the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
