I had the honor of attending the Aspen Music Festival this summer as a vocalist in the Aspen Opera Center. My experience at Aspen was filled with incredible musical growth and amazing colleagues to match. As the premier classical music festival in the country, Aspen was in many ways a sight to behold. Rarely can one be completely engulfed in a space surrounded by people who love what they do. The amazing level of camaraderie and support at AMFS helped to produce student performance projects and three fully staged operas. In this sense, Aspen was incredibly affirming as a long term professional goal that had come to fruition.
With an open mind, I boarded my connecting flight from Dallas to Aspen on a tiny American Airlines charter. Before boarding, I was shocked to see a familiar family waiting at my gate. The parents and only two children from the, “19 Kids and Counting” clan were on my flight…….Why where the Duggar’s going to Aspen, I wondered?! At that moment I sensed that there would be more to Aspen than I initially assumed.
Upon arrival in Aspen I was in awe of the sheer beauty of the mountains. I was psyched to go on outdoor adventures. A bus took myself and few other students into the city center so we could relax before the dorms opened later that evening. The city center was quaint, rustic and chic all at once. After getting some food I wanted to find a convenience store to pick up a few things. I approached a young lady and asked her where the closest Walgreens or CVS was (all towns have this right?!….wrong). I was like, okay well maybe I could find a mall….also wrong. She told me that the only place I could go was a mom and pop shop or the one and only grocery store within walking distance. For shopping she said that the closest mall was outside of the city center and “only had a JCPenny and Ross”, as if those stores wouldn’t suffice. Simple items would not come with simple prices. I then took a stroll downtown and saw the likes of designer stores ranging from Dior, Rolex and Burberry. Totally within a grad-student budget!?!. The main streets were sprinkled with eateries, perfectly manicured foliage and decorative weed dealers outwardly marketed like Godiva chocolate shops.
The local financial realities were interesting to observe. I remember sitting in a coffee shop listening to a posh yet pregnant mother interviewing a potential nanny. After outlining how she was dissatisfied with her current nanny, she went on a long train of questioning. She described how the new nanny would need to cope with her child’s busy schedule and need to be available at random times because she wanted to hang out with friends or travel freely between her international and domestic homes lol. I promise you, I’m not making this up.
The sunshine and brisk mountain air created a deceptive sense of seclusion from the ills of the world. Did theft occur in a place where most people had all they needed and more? I saw children frolicking in parks unattended and riding the bus at a young age because parents trusted the sleepy community. Aspen was such a beautiful space to be in for the two months, but at times felt slightly distorted from a sociocultural standpoint. One evening, I was walking downtown and a young black man rushed up to me just to introduce himself because he was so happy to finally see another black person. His final words were, “Let’s do brunch fam.”
Even while observing the dichotomy of music and multimillionaires, Aspen as a place to explore, is filled with many jewels. There are tasty eateries and small shops to explore on a lazy Saturday. Some awesome local restaurants include: Matsuhisa, Grateful Deli, and Paradise Bakery and Cafe. Also, the newly renovated public library is unlike any I’ve seen before. It’s equipped with Mac computers, a station for sewing/crafting and a deluxe 3-D printer. There are also wonderful open spaces to picnic and enjoy the sunshine. Aspen is also one of the most dog friendly places on earth! Even the public bank had a jar of dog treats on the counter for owners to share with their pups.
Outside of the Music Fest one of the coolest things to attend was the Aspen Ideas Festival which features speakers from around the world in varying fields. The Aspen Institute as an organization is pretty incredible. This summer the CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, was interviewed about the responsibilities organizations have towards their communities. Hearing him speak on the civic duties of companies and the importance of valuing people over profit was so refreshing. As a special treat, Schultz brought along rapper Common who is a social advocate in his own right. They had partnered on several projects and developed a friendship over the years. I was glad to hear the Starbucks leader talk…..,but I HAD TO MEET COMMON. He is artistic bae………and a kindred spirit to say the least (we share the same birthday). Outside of the Idea Fest, Aspen brings world class artists to the Benedict Music Tent through Jazz Aspen Snowmass. This summer Diana Ross came to perform her greatest hits. It was epic! Her afro and voice are everything one dreams lol. Even if you don’t get a ticket to music tent events, the lawn is open for free and allows people to picnic and listen to music from outside the tent.
Finally, you can’t go to Aspen without hiking or taking the ski lift to the top of Aspen Mountain. Adjusting to the altitude in Aspen definitely takes a few days to get used to (staying hydrated and getting enough sleep are essential in adjusting). Once you overcome this minor hurdle, traversing the mountains is breathtaking. Hiking was without a doubt one of my favorite activities. There are also beautiful streams and inspiring views that left me in amazement. The key is taking the time to stop and appreciate them. Being in Aspen really helped me to see how much physical beauty exists in our country. I know the U.S. is known for NYC and LA, but the mountains are definitely underrated. After two months of music making and exposure to mountain life I’ve gained a new awareness of a lifestyle that is unlike my daily routine. Regardless of the incredible material wealth held by many of it’s residents, Aspen offers a wealth of stunning landscapes and lush beauty that can be appreciated by all. This city will indeed quench your adventurous side and leave you wanting more.
