Denver’s first lady Mary Louise Lee promotes music in the schools.
The First Lady of Denver’s 6th Annual Bringing Back the Arts Music Competition will be Sunday, April 30th, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. at the Denver Gothic Theater, located at 3263 South Broadway, Englewood, CO 80113
To enter, you must attend a Denver high school (open to public, private, and faith-based high schools). Please download and complete the entry form (to be found on the website listed below) and submit with your best song (no more than 5 minutes long) to Rachael.bbta@gmail.com.
Submissions are due no later than midnight on Saturday, April 15th, 2017. Those interested in participating are encouraged to contact the music teacher at their school or email BBTA at Rachael.bbta@gmail.com for more information!
About Bringing Back the Arts
The First Lady of Denver, Mary Louise Lee, created the Bringing Back The Arts Foundation to restore art programs in Denver Public Schools, expand access to our city’s cultural institutions for all residents and spotlight local performing artists.
Restore arts programs in Denver Public Schools
Due to the recent recession, schools have been faced with tough decisions because of hefty budgets cuts. Unfortunately, arts programs are often on the receiving ends of those cuts. Nowadays art classes like music, dance and theatre are becoming a privilege as opposed to a requirement like they used to be. That’s why the BBTA Foundation works tirelessly to raise money to revitalize arts programs in Denver schools.
Expand access to the arts for all Denver residents
Denver is home to a number of premier cultural institutions such as the Denver Art Museum, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance and the Colorado Symphony. But many of our city’s adults and students never have the chance to visit them. That’s why BBTA Foundation is working to enhance partnerships throughout the city so all residents can have the opportunity to access Denver’s world-class arts facilities.
Spotlight our city’s talent
BBTA embraces the philosophy that we should be “growing our own talent” by nurturing emerging artists and giving kids the opportunities to receive the spotlight that they deserve. The BBTA Foundation has hosted youth concerts at the Bluebird Theatre and displayed young students’ artwork at professional galleries in Denver in order to showcase the talent of our city’s youth, as well as work with local artists to uplift their work and provide them professional opportunities.
About the First Lady of Denver, Mary Louise Lee
At age three, Denver’s First Lady Mary Louise Lee found her lifelong passion for the arts when she began singing in her church choir. A proud native of Denver, MaryLouise has had a professional performing career for more than 20 years. Her theatre resume includes work at the Arvada Center, Denver Center, the Country Dinner Playhouse and she is the lead singer of the Mary Louise Lee Band. Ms. Lee has become ambassador to the city’s local arts community when her husband, Mayor Michael Hancock was elected in 2011. For more than 15 years, Lee has also been a strong advocate and mentor for youth, helping them make positive life decisions and preparing them for careers in the arts.
Bringing Back the Arts’ Board of Directors
Mary Louise Lee, Founder – First Lady of Denver
Mary Valdez, Chair – Denver Arts & Venues
Rachael Valdez, Executive Assistant
Anthony Aragon – Senior Advisor Community Affairs
Nate Green, Internship Program Director – Youth Career Development Services
Joseph DeMers, Dance Consultant – Director of South High School Dance Company
Julie Weir – Denver Public Schools, Visual Art Teacher
Sara Kate Baie – Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
Greg Berger – Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Isaac Points – The Jakarta Band
Khadija Haynes
Gerri Gomez Howard – Gomez Howard Group
Jennifer Robinson – AEG
The First Lady of Denver Mary Louise Lee and AEG Live Rocky Mountains have been proud to host five annual Bringing Back the Arts (BBTA) music competitions for Denver high school students! The competitions feature Denver high school students who play in a band, rap or sing. Each year, finalists are selected to compete at a FREE concert for a chance to win cash prizes!