Larimer Chorale Opens 50th Season With Carmina Burana

The Larimer Chorale opens its 50th anniversary season with Carl Orff's Carmina Burana on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 2 p.m. in Griffin Concert Hall at Colorado State University's University Center for the Arts in Fort Collins.

The concert marks five decades of choral music-making in Northern Colorado by one of the region's longest-running musical organizations. For this performance, the adult Chorale will be joined by the Centennial Children's Chorus, professional soloists, and a full orchestra.

Why Carmina Burana?

The work is best known for its thunderous opening chorus, O Fortuna, and it's a fitting choice for an anniversary. Orff's score explores the unpredictable nature of fortune and the experiences that connect people across generations.

The composer drew on medieval poetry written in Latin, Middle High German, and Old Provençal French. The themes run wide — love, celebration, drinking, gambling, and life's changing fortunes. Musically, the piece swings between thunderous orchestral passages, driving rhythms, humor, and moments of real tenderness.

That range is exactly what makes the collaboration notable. Blending adult and children's voices with professional soloists and orchestra promises a memorable account of a work celebrated for its dramatic contrasts and emotional intensity.

What does the season hold beyond November?

The anniversary program doesn't stop with Orff. According to North Forty News, the Chorale's golden anniversary season includes:

• Holiday concerts in December
• A program of classical favorites in the spring
• A special anniversary concert featuring multiple ensembles associated with the organization
• A world premiere by Colorado composer Misty Dupuis

The premiere signals where the organization is heading: commissioning new work from a local composer, not just reprising the canon.

Fifty years of community singing

The milestone is about more than one concert. For 50 years, the Larimer Chorale has given community singers the chance to perform major choral works while bringing classical music to audiences across Northern Colorado.

Sunday's performance lets audiences celebrate that legacy while hearing one of the most recognizable works in the choral repertoire — whether they're longtime classical listeners or attending a major choral performance for the first time.

Event details

• What: Larimer Chorale presents Carmina Burana
• When: Sunday, November 15, 2026, at 2 p.m.
• Where: Griffin Concert Hall, University Center for the Arts, 1400 Remington Street, Fort Collins
• Featuring: Larimer Chorale, Centennial Children's Chorus, professional soloists, and orchestra
• Tickets: In-person and livestream options available through the Larimer Chorale
• Information: larimerchorale.org/larimer-chorale-concerts

With a world premiere by Misty Dupuis still to come this season, the November 15 concert is the first chapter of a year that pairs a beloved repertoire staple with new Colorado-made music.