Today we’d like to introduce you to Madeline Winkler
Hi Madeline, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always found my community through music. I’m an amateur oboe player and have performed classical music in school and community bands, orchestras, and small ensembles since I was 9 years old. In every city and chapter of my life, I have sought out musical groups as a way to express myself and connect with people.
In 2017, I moved to Seattle and stumbled upon a different breed of music making: the rock orchestra. Unlike classic ensembles that can be stressful, filled with expectation and formality, the rock orchestra was casual and fun. We performed songs that were familiar to both the musicians and the audience, and the energy was palpable. I was hooked.
I never considered myself to be an entrepreneur, but I moved to Denver in 2021 with a vision and unwavering determination: I needed to create Denver Rock Orchestra.
And the community was ready for it. Within 3 months, we were a 30-member full orchestra with rhythm & vocals, filing our 501c3 paperwork, and performing our first show for family and friends. Three years later, we are now 50-members strong with over 15 shows under our belt, each with hundreds in attendance.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the most part, it’s been a smooth road. Our mission to create a unique and fun musical experience has captivated an entire community of musicians and music-lovers alike. We’ve had incredible interest from musicians, and our retention rate is high. We have a dedicated (and ever-growing) fan base. Many local businesses have partnered with us to share their resources for free or at steeply discounted rates to ensure our success as a young non-profit arts organization.
Our biggest challenge has been (and continues to be) building an organizational structure of volunteers that is sustainable and accountable. I am a volunteer with a separate full-time job, as are all of our board and committee members. Doing the hard, behind-the-scenes work that keeps DRO afloat while keeping it fun and stress-free is a balancing act. However, we are making great strides towards creating a democratic and sustainable operational structure by continuing to expand leadership opportunities for our musicians and bringing in skilled community volunteers.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Denver Rock Orchestra is a 501c3 non-profit community full orchestra + rhythm & vocals that brings an orchestral flair to your favorite rock & pop tunes. We’ve performed everything from classic rock to The Spice Girls to the entire Shrek soundtrack. We’re known for our themed shows with the orchestra in full costume. We are run by passionate volunteers who give their time and talents to keep the music playing.
Personally, I’m most proud of the safe and welcoming community we’ve created for our musicians, both on and off stage. We are a diverse group of 50 people from different generations with different backgrounds, orientations, and careers. Many are using their classical instruments to create music in a new and exciting way. We have an entire committee designated to providing social opportunities outside of rehearsals in order to strengthen our connection as humans, as an ensemble, and as a community. This group has become so important to so many in such a short amount of time, and that is the most rewarding outcome of this whole endeavor.
How do you define success?
Success for Denver Rock Orchestra is simple: we’re making music, and we’re having fun doing it. The choice to make DRO a 501c3 non-profit was an intentional one: this is not my organization, it is the community’s organization. As long as we’re creating a safe and welcoming environment for musicians to express themselves musically and as humans, as long as we’re having fun both on- and off-stage, as long as we are keeping our music affordable and accessible for the Colorado community, then we’re succeeding.
Pricing:
- Free shows: $0!
- Ticketed shows: $20-30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://denverrockorchestra.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denverrockorchestra/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DenverRockOrchestra
- Twitter: https://x.com/DenverRockOrch
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DenverRockOrchestra
Image Credits
Lan Vo Photography
Stephanie Gillman
