Founded in 1976, the Colorado Music Festival (CMF) hosts a summer series featuring concerts with international guest artists and over 100 musicians in the CMF Orchestra.

Recently, CMF announced the renewal of Music Director Peter Oundjian's contract for five years, extending his tenure through the 2029 summer season, which began in 2019.

Under Oundjian's leadership, CMF has consistently attracted over 20,000 attendees each season. In 2020, he played a pivotal role in transitioning CMF to a virtual festival format due to pandemic restrictions, featuring many planned live performers.

Oundjian's tenure introduced numerous acclaimed artists to CMF for the first time, such as pianists Timo Andres, Jeremy Denk, Simone Dinnerstein, and others, alongside violinists Joshua Bell and Tessa Lark, among others.

He also initiated CMF's Robert Mann Chamber Music Series, showcasing performances by Festival Orchestra members and guest ensembles like the Emerson String Quartet and Takács String Quartet each summer.

Furthermore, Oundjian spearheaded the Festival Fellows Program, mentoring aspiring musicians, and commissioned new works by composers like Timo Andres and Gabriela Lena Frank.

Before CMF, Oundjian served as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for 14 years until 2018, and has been a visiting professor at Yale University's School of Music since 1981.

CMF Executive Director Elizabeth McGuire praised Oundjian's leadership, highlighting his infectious passion for music and dedication to exploring new compositions.

Reflecting on his time at CMF, Oundjian expressed his love for Colorado and emphasized the team's commitment to innovation and audience engagement through both classical masterpieces and new music commissions, promising more surprises in the years ahead.