Symphony Rocks

I will always remember having to sit through the annual orchestra concert for my middle school in Aurora, suffering the absolute worst renditions of old standards from Tchaikovsky and Mozart. For years afterward, that's what I thought all symphony music sounded like.

It took me a long time to get over those memories, but then I was taken, begrudgingly, on a date to a Colorado Symphony Orchestra performance. I was expecting middle-school flashbacks, but to my surprise, I was swept away by the music. It was really quite moving.

As part of the Audio Picnic City Free Concert Series, the CSO will perform live at Red Rocks tonight at 7:30 p.m., turning out music from North and South America. Bring the kids and a basket of treats, then sit back and enjoy. For details, go to www.coloradosymphony.org.