The CSU Spur Music Lab is a free space for learning and playing music, either alone or as a community. Join us for FREE from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every month on 2nd Saturdays to sing and play pianos, guitars, ukuleles, percussion, accordion, or your own instrument.

The Music Lab provides space for students to learn with others, practice musical projects with support from music teachers, or work on their own. All ages and skill levels are welcome; no experience required.

Join the CSU Spur Music Lab mailing list

Upcoming on Aug. 8

  • 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Peter Collins special performance
  • 12-2 p.m.: Music Lab Live with Kayla Marque

Check out the full 2nd Saturday Music Lab schedule.

A collaboration between CSU Music Education and Take Note Colorado

Led by CSU Music Education students and supervised by licensed Colorado music educators, the CSU Spur Music Lab collaborates with local guest performing artists from Take Note Colorado to provide community-responsive music activities.

CSU Spur Music Lab works to provide meaningful musical experiences in underserved communities, celebrating diverse musical cultures, and empowering all participants to engage in active musical lives. The Music Lab also strives to prepare music educators with community-responsive teaching frameworks and experiences to successfully adapt to a variety of teaching environments in today’s public and community music programs.

FAQs and resources

The CSU Spur Music Lab is FREE!

Individuals can visit by personal transportation or with other visiting programs. Learn more about how to visit CSU Spur, including driving directions and parking information.

Groups can contact Katrina Hedrick at [email protected] to help plan a visit.

More resources coming soon!

Music Lab faculty

Faculty are sponsored by Take Note Colorado and the CSU Music Education Department in the School of Music, Theater and Dance.

Professor Katrina Hedrick is passionate about cultivating students’ personal artistry to live an active musical life and using music to build community. Her modern music education approach encapsulates community-responsive teaching practices, socio-emotional learning, elemental music process teaching, and National Core Arts Standards, with music ensemble rehearsal and performance strategies for learners of all ages and skills. Katrina is a specialist on the ways active musical engagement specifically empowers adolescent and preadolescent learners, serving as an agent of personal catharsis, along with college and career opportunities.

Katrina’s 15 years of education experience include vocal, instrumental, and general music programs in small Colorado secondary public schools, both rural and urban; post-secondary music teacher education; and seasonal programming for elementary, adolescent, and adult learners. After earning a BA in music education and percussion from Fort Lewis College in 2010, Katrina taught at her alma mater’s middle and high school music program on the land of the Southern Ute Tribe in Ignacio, Colorado for five years. Along the way, she completed her Orff Schulwerk Teaching Certification at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and helped establish the Four Corners Orff Schulwerk Association Four Corners Chapter. After earning her Master’s in music education from CSU, Katrina spent five years cultivating a modern secondary music program at Bruce Randolph School in central Denver. She now serves as an adjunct professor of music education at CSU, coordinator of CSU Spur’s Music Lab, and as a supervising instructor for student teachers with Metropolitan State University of Denver. Katrina is also a published author and active professional development clinician for music educators for regional, state, and national organizations.

Connect with Katrina at [email protected].

Olivia Calzaretta is a third-year music education student at CSU in Fort Collins. Her primary instrument is the saxophone, which she has played for ten years, but music has always been a huge part of her life. Outside of music, she does art projects, including painting, sewing, and scrapbooking. Apart from all forms of art, Olivia loves long walks with her dog, hanging out with friends, or attending concerts/musicals.

Hayley Price (she/her) is a fourth-year music education student at CSU in Fort Collins. She is a vocalist involved in choir, opera, and a cappella music in college—she can remember a love for singing and music as long as she’s been alive. She has taught at CSU Spur as a music instructor for Upward Bound and is excited to be working with the 2nd Saturday team! Hayley is from Longmont, Colorado, and also enjoys crochet, drawing, and spending time with family.

Lamarana Baldé (she/her) is a third-year music education student at CSU in Fort Collins. Her primary instrument is the violin, which she has been playing for nine years, but she also plays other instruments such as viola and ukulele. Outside of her love for music, she enjoys reading, crocheting, making jewelry, and drawing. As a first-generation Guinean-American Queer woman, Lamarana strives to create inclusive spaces for all regardless of identity and is looking forward to being a part of the CSU Spur team!

Emma Lee (she/her) is a third-year music education student at CSU in Fort Collins. She is from Colorado Springs and has always loved singing and choir. She is a voice student involved in choir and opera, and is a music director for the competitive a cappella group on campus. She is so excited to share her love for music with everyone on 2nd Saturdays!

Kailey Jeffs is a third-year music education student at CSU in Fort Collins, with a concentration in voice. She began her musical journey through middle school theater and high school extracurricular ensembles, and her passion for teaching has only grown since then. Outside of music, Kailey enjoys outdoor adventures like canoeing and hiking, as well as spending time with friends and exploring new creative projects.

Cameron Becker (he/him) is a third-year music education student at CSU in Fort Collins. He is a percussionist involved in orchestral, wind band, and chamber settings. He is also heavily involved in the Colorado gigging and marching scene. Cameron is from Plano, Texas, and he also enjoys rock climbing, skiing, and collecting vintage percussion gear. He is incredibly excited to join the 2nd Saturday team!

Blake Stepan is a Denver‑based bassist, songwriter, and collaborator known by Colorado’s indie‑folk and Americana scenes for his melodic approach and fluency on both double bass and bass guitar.

Before joining Denver’s music community, he studied paleontology, sociology, and poetry, ultimately graduating as valedictorian from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Jazz Bass Performance. After graduating, Blake spent a formative period homesteading in rural Alaska, where he also did youth outreach working with at-risk teens and developed a profound appreciation for building community.

Blake’s collaborations span some of Colorado’s most adventurous projects, and he has toured nationally for nearly two decades. He was an early member of Dovekins, has long worked with Stelth Ulvang (of The Lumineers), and contributed to the chamber‑folk storytelling of Spirits of the Red City. He is best known today for his role in Heavy Diamond Ring, where his playing supports the band’s sound, contributing equal parts rhythmic complexity and melodic counterpoint. He also supports a range of local artists onstage and in the studio.

For the past 10 years, Blake has taught and mentored students at DSST Cole High School, one of Denver’s most diverse and resilient communities, and has also taught bass at MSU’s DIME program. His decade in the classroom has shaped his approach to music as much as his approach to teaching — emphasizing empathy, listening, creative problem‑solving, and the belief that people thrive when they feel seen and supported. Many of the same values that guide his work with bands now guide his work with his students: collaboration, trust, and a commitment to elevating the collective sound.

Juno Okins is a percussionist and music educator from Pueblo, Colorado. Juno loves teaching various instruments of all kinds but especially the drums. Juno is constantly looking to expand their musicianship and can’t wait to learn new things while teaching!

“While we teach, we learn” —Seneca

Bella Penna (she/her) is a junior in music education with a concentration in viola, as well as a military science minor and a senior in CSU’s Army ROTC. Bella has been playing for 13 years and is proud to be one of the principals of the CSU Concert Orchestra since the fall of 2022. Bella was born and raised in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, but is obsessed with mountains and being active, so Colorado has always been a dream. She loves chamber music, especially when playing romantic era pieces! Working out and doing things other people think are crazy is Bella’s favorite pastime: Last semester she ran two marathons in two weeks! Bella also the Officer in Charge of Ramtown and Color Guard for Army ROTC, as well as the Bataan Death March Marathon team. In addition to that, Bella is a third-year RA in the dorms. Her favorite color is pink, and her favorite artist has been Tate Mcrae since 2019! Don’t hate, but Bella is a big Boston sports fan — especially the Bruins and Red Sox. She is happiest with her boyfriend, John!

Brooklyn McDonald is a junior choral music education student at CSU and a proud member of the competitive a cappella group, Mainstreet. He loves making music with others and enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and learning new instruments in his free time. Brooklyn is passionate about creating a welcoming learning environment where every student feels seen, supported, and confident as both a learner and a musician, and he is excited to share music with the community at Spur.

Karin Sotillo, originally from Venezuela, is a third-year student majoring in music performance with a concentration in flute at CSU in Fort Collins. She has been playing the flute for over 14 years and, together with her father and brother, is part of a musical group they formed called Guayana Acústica, which performs traditional Venezuelan music as well as a variety of Latin music. In her free time, Karin enjoys playing the guitar and singing, watercolor painting, preparing traditional Venezuelan desserts, and spending time in nature.

Maddie McGinnis (she/her) is a third-year music therapy student at CSU. Her primary instrument is voice, but she also plays piano and percussion. Outside of music, she enjoys sewing, being outdoors, and spending time with friends and family. She is looking forward to being a part of the CSU Spur Music Lab team!

Tirzah Rowe (she/they) is a third-year music therapy student at CSU, with concentrations in voice and guitar. Her musical journey began as a young child with her father, singing before bed, eventually playing cello, singing in honor choirs, and singing in Colorado All-State Choir. She participates in opera, Evergreen Jazz Choir, Rams Improv Comedy, and also researches music. In her spare time, Tirzah enjoys running, hiking, tabletop games, and spending time with friends and family.

Michael Millian is a graduate teaching assistant at CSU studying music education. With multiple years of teaching experience and a bachelor’s degree in jazz piano performance from the University of Northern Colorado, Michael’s familiarity with performing and teaching different instruments and styles makes him a versatile collaborator.

Prior to working at the CSU Spur Music Lab, Michael served as the associate program director for the Middle School Outreach Ensembles (MSOE), designing and facilitating undergraduate staff training and overseeing the program’s weekly operations. Michael also served as the collaborative pianist to the choirs at Windsor High School under the direction of Amy Murphy.

Concurrently, he teaches private piano, voice, guitar, and bass lessons at School of Rock Fort Collins.

It is Michael’s philosophy that everyone should get the chance to explore their musical artistry in a safe and affirming environment. Music is a tool for expressing larger-than-life emotions and for facilitating self-discovery. Everyone should have access to music no matter a person’s race, creed, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Michael looks forward to supporting students at the CSU Spur Music Lab as they grow as artists.

Taylor Morris is a first-year music choral education major at CSU. She is from Longmont, Colorado, and loves bringing music to the community. Taylor enjoys singing, paddle boarding, learning new things, and anything to do with her family. She can’t wait to share her love and passion for music with the lovely community that is CSU Spur.

Guest artists

2MX2 is a Latin Pop/HipHop group out of Colorado. They are known for their modern renditions of traditional Latin music into danceable urban rhythms that explore topics such as immigration, health, education reform, and other matters of our time. Band members are Owen Trujillo (aka 01), who was born in Zacatecas, Mexico; and Denver natives Juice ET Hugo, Lolita, DMD, and Kenny O.

Lolita Castañeda is a rising Mexican-American Latin pop artist who burst onto the streaming scene in 2018. Lolita combines a variety of compositional elements to form her unique and authentic sound. Artist, activist, and advocate for the arts, Lolita facilitates and encourages people, organizations, and companies that have a humanitarian objective. To date, Lolita has amassed hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify, including her recent release, ‘I’m Not Waiting.’

From jazz to soul, hip hop to Afro-Latin, Denver-based vocalist Venus Cruz has opened for artists such as Gregory Porter, Hiatus Kaiyote, Black Thought of The Roots, Meshell Ndegeocello, Saul Williams, Zap Mama, Al Green, Guru, Vieux Farka Toure, Tinariwen, Big Freedia, GoGo Penguin, Corey Henry and Mark De Clive Lowe, to name a few.

Her projects include What Young Men Do and Super Distant Boyfriend, among others. She’s opened for Grammy-nominated artists Hiatus Kaiyote and Emily King. In 2016, Venus opened for Grammy winner Gregory Porter at The Chautauqua Amphitheater in Boulder and played at Denver’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) and City Park Jazz. In 2014, Cruz organized, directed, and performed in the Billie Holiday Centennial Celebration at Denver’s Union Station, bringing in a record performance crowd for the space. Cruz also performed at the Prince Tribute at Red Rocks. She’s a yearly performer at the UMS festival in Denver.

DCI Tour is an incubator of innovation, healing, and connection. Music education and community events are the modes in which we create and hold space for innovation to come together, individuals to lean into their personal power, and for us all to work toward synergetic communities. We partner with libraries, schools, youth programs, correctional facilities, and senior centers to facilitate songwriting workshops as a means of connecting through storytelling, collaboration, and liberatory practices. We also host community events that showcase the songs that come out of those workshops, highlight local artists and small businesses in some of the best outdoor spaces and unique venues.

Ana Luna is a multi-talented artist who seamlessly blends her skills as a violinist, immersive performer, and movement artist to create captivating and innovative experiences for all audiences. With a deep passion for pushing the boundaries of traditional violin playing, she utilizes mediums such as circus and theatrical performances to introduce modern audiences to the enchanting world of string playing. Recent highlights include performing with Ms. Lauryn Hill and the Fugees, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Johan Lenox and Quixotic Fusion. In 2022, Ana performed as the violinist for the Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Immersive Experience in Denver, produced by Netflix, Shondaland and Fever. She joined the Yuri K Productions team as their violin lead for the Cirque Holiday experience in residency at the Gaylord Rockies in November 2024.

Ana is an active member of the Colorado Symphony’s Education Committee and the Levitt Pavilion’s Bodies of Culture Board. She is also an official artist for NS Design Electric Violins.

Kid Astronaut is a time- and dimension-traveling artist making futuristic R&B. Kid Astronaut (@kidastronavt) was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. His music is a heartfelt mixture of soul, pop, and engaging storytelling through lyrics that are an honest and revealing look into the soul of this adventurous songwriter. He is also the Co-founder of CONSCIOUS CREATIVES (@conscious.creatives), a Denver-based artist collective that believes in the idea “you are the creator of your reality, why not make it great?”

Ryan McCurry grew up on Colorado’s Front Range and fell in love with the piano at a young age. He enjoyed performing in school concerts, recitals, and shows and set out to study wildlife biology in college. While attending Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, his plans shifted as he pursued a B.A. in Classical Piano Performance by day while gigging with rock, funk, jazz, salsa, reggae, and country bands by night. Ryan returned to the Front Range in 2022 after two decades of performing and teaching in after-school and adult music programs in Durango. He is a versatile player and an intuitive educator, and he believes that fun is the foundation of learning. Ryan feels fortunate to be living his dream – sharing in the joy of music with audiences and students alike.

Pink Hawks are master-level world musicians garnering comparisons to sonic innovators such as Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat and Mulatu Astatke’s Ethiopiques Jazz. “Sun Ra’s melodically off-the-rails piano playing, and the languid, sonically adventurous atmospheres of Yo La Tengo.” (Tom Murphy, Westword) Put on your dancing pants as Pink Hawks set the floor on fire.

Same Cloth is a genre-bending, Denver-based, Black woman-led band that uses their peculiarities to share meaningful art. Same Cloth performs original music and creative cover arrangements, combining the diverse traditions of Black American music to create an energetically eclectic and emotionally elevating live music experience.

JoFoKe: It is rare to find a vocal artist who can maneuver between genres while maintaining a genuine authenticity of each and the integrity of her voice. Spanning from classical to gospel to jazz through to rock, blues, pop, funk, and soul, singer JoFoKe does this with ease. To enhance her sound, JoFoKe formed a group of equally versatile vocalists and instrumentalists. This band, “aNem” (and them), uniquely fuses the improvisatory aesthetic of modern jazz with gospel and R&B/soul. The repertoire of the group is eclectic, comfortably placing jazz standards alongside funky covers and soul-tinged originals. JoFoKe aNem creates an experience that is both musically and spiritually enriching.

Solomon was first exposed to the world of classical music when he began formal piano lessons with the late Marie J. Clark at nine years old. Extracting from these lessons, and under the musical direction of his mother, Solomon began to serve as the lead pianist of St. John Church of God in Christ in Denver, Colorado. Through countless liturgical and academic performances, he became a gospel accompanist and collaborator in various music ministry projects across his hometowns of Aurora and Denver. Despite his fondness for instruction, directing, and performance, Solomon’s love for music composition remains most zealous. He has most recently written for the Parlando School for Musical Arts’ 2021 and 2022 Commissioned Composer Project. His work has also been featured in local ensembles such as Rhythm of Life Community Chorus, MSU Denver Wind Ensemble, and the ColomboAmerican Medellín’s Jazz Camp and Festival in Colombia, South America.

Tony Schiess is a guitarist, educator, and composer from Denver, Colorado. He has performed and taught all over the United States and gigs throughout Colorado with The TSB. Originally from Atlanta, Tony graduated from the University of North Carolina-Asheville with honors and Departmental Distinction while recording and performing in diverse groups such as the indie rock band Halfeven, The Jamie Thomas Acoustic Band, and jam band Rent Party. He has frequently performed alongside professors in local jazz clubs and orchestra pits for Asheville Theater Festivals. In addition, Tony was the guitar chair in The UNC-Asheville Big Band and a member of the school’s prestigious IAJCE Jazz Combo.

Verena is a Mexican singer-songwriter now based in Denver, known for her emotionally charged blend of contemporary pop, R&B, and neo-soul, enriched with her Latin American heritage. Through her lyrics, she fearlessly explores themes of vulnerability, authenticity, and the multifaceted human experience, particularly from the perspective of a woman, person of color, friend, daughter, and partner. Verena has successfully used her music to amplify her own stories and the voices of those like her, making her music exceptionally relatable and meaningful.

Verena’s live performances have been a consistent highlight of her career over the past five years. Her captivating shows have taken place in various venues, including the iconic Lunario del Auditorio Nacional in Mexico City. These venues serve as a testament to her growing influence in the music world, showcasing her ability to connect with diverse audiences.

In 2022, Verena reached a significant milestone with the release of “Till The Day,” a song performed and recorded by the prestigious Budapest Scoring Orchestra and produced by Latin Grammy Award-winning producer Andres Guerrero. This project was accompanied by a visually striking music video that fully embodied Verena’s artistic vision. Her journey includes opening for established acts, such as DeVotchKa, and being featured in Forbes LATAM Magazine. Verena’s dedication to her craft, her commitment to social impact through her music, and her remarkable live performances have solidified her place as a rising star in the music industry.

Tanaya Winder is an author, singer/songwriter, and motivational speaker who comes from an intertribal lineage of Southern Ute, Pyramid Lake Paiute, and Duckwater Shoshone Nations, where she is an enrolled citizen. She is a 2016 National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development “40 Under 40” emerging American Indian leader. Winder co-founded As/Us: A Space for Women of the World, a literary magazine publishing works by BIPOC women. She holds a BA in English from Stanford University and an MFA in creative writing from the University of New Mexico. Winder’s performances and talks blend storytelling, singing, and spoken word to teach about different expressions of love and “heartwork.” Her poetry collections include Words Like Love and Why Storms are Named After People and Bullets Remain Nameless. Her specialties include youth and women’s empowerment, healing trauma through art, creative writing workshops, and mental wellness advocacy.

Alex Newton graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver with a degree in guitar performance and recording arts. Prior to coming to Colorado, Alex was able to study under notable musicians such as G.E Smith, Jorma Kaukonen, and Alex DeGrassi. He also attended the Berklee College of Music twice, for their five-week summer courses in high school. Having studied guitar for 20 years, Alex is well-versed in all styles, with an emphasis on jazz, R&B, soul, funk, and the blues.

Alex regularly performs with groups around the Denver area, and is often recording with many musicians from across the state. Since opening his own home studio in 2019, Alex has been recording and producing for artists across genres. Adding his own flair to each recording, Alex often plays guitar, bass, keys, and anything else needed for the song. With a collection of instruments and microphones, utilizing his production knowledge, Alex creates a universe within the music — which is his main goal.

Alex has spent the last 10 years in Colorado actively teaching, performing, and creating. Alex’s goal is to cultivate a safe and encouraging space to learn and create music. He believes that regardless of musical ability or goals, there is a space for music in every person’s life. Through music, we can learn a lot about the world and ourselves. Alex’s goal is to provide his students and clients with the encouragement and knowledge to find where that fits into their lives.

Chantil Dukart is an award-winning contemporary jazz pianist and vocalist with roots in the Tsimshian and Sugpiaq tribes of Alaska.

Dukart has performed with leading voices in contemporary music, including Esperanza Spalding, Nikki Glaspie (Beyoncé, Dumpstaphunk), Michael Pilot (Hamilton), and Guggenheim fellow Nicholas Galanin at notable venues including the Kennedy Center, The Smithsonian, Kuumbwa Jazz Center, and the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival.

Explore the rich soundscape of Jeanette//Streight, a jazz/R&B duo and band rooted in the vibrant music scene of Denver, Colorado. Comprising vocalist Elyse Midgyett, instrumentalist Dylan Streight, and occasionally additional talented bandmates, the group embodies a harmonious blend of diverse musical influences and genuine passion.

Elyse, born and raised in Denver, has been an active presence in the city’s music landscape since 2017, collaborating with various artists like Emma Mayes & the Hip, Kid Astronaut, Teresa Suydam, and +Ultra. Her musical journey, rooted in church starting at the age of seven, then honed at the Denver School of the Arts through her later childhood and adolescence, reached new heights with a degree in music industry studies from the University of Colorado Denver. Her vocal versatility shone on a national stage, traveling the country with an award-winning a cappella group.

Dylan, a pianist since early childhood who picked up guitar shortly thereafter, spent his teenage years performing ska/alt-rock across Toledo and Columbus, Ohio. His academic journey led to a B.S. in music with a recording arts emphasis from the University of Colorado Denver, leading him to shape an original sound that merges alternative with R&B undertones while staying true to his musical origins.

The fusion of Elyse’s soulful vocals and Dylan’s instrumental finesse forms the core of Jeanette//Streight. Their journey is a convergence of individual achievements, reflecting their shared love for music and a collective need for a jazz-styled musical outlet. Beyond personal triumphs, the duo embodies a harmonious blend of creativity and authenticity.

As Jeanette//Streight takes center stage, their performances resonate with a down-to-earth and creative energy that sets them apart. From gracing notable venues like City Park Jazz to opening for Mac Ayres and leaving their mark on the Underground Music Showcase, the duo is on an upward trajectory. Looking forward, their vision extends beyond the present, with plans to infuse more R&B into their cocktail jazz stylings, modernizing their sound, and captivating audiences in new and exciting ways.

Kayla Marque is a singer-songwriter who was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. In 2020, Marque released Brain Chemistry, a transcendent double album that dives deep into themes of self-love, trauma, and mental health through the concept of examining the right brain and left brain. In 2021, Kayla Marque’s side project “The Grand Alliance” with Sur Ellz (Khalil Arcady) and Crl Crrll (Carl Carrell) released its funky, genre-bending self-titled debut, The Grand Alliance. As the program manager at Diversify the Stage, Kayla Marque is looking to the future. Her next solo project promises to continue in a more playful energy, exploring themes of beauty, pleasure, and fantasy, while still grounded by the raw honesty that ties all her music together.