Our Story
History of the Colorado Institute of Music
The Colorado Institute of Music (CIM) has a rich tradition as well as an exciting new outlook! Since 1994, when the institute first moved from Denver to the mountains, things have certainly changed. Starting first in Breckenridge, CSI then moved to Snowmass, and then on to Beaver Creek. After a brief move to Copper Mountain before returning “home” to Beaver Creek in 2021, the Institute has a long history of filling the mountains of Colorado with music. This year we expect to bring together over 300 students and faculty representing multipule countries from around the world for a week of musical experiences in the incomparable Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
CIM operates three educational programs for students ages 2-18 years of age; Colorado Suzuki Institute, Colorado Chamber Music Institute, and Colorado Vocal Institute.
Since 1995 our scholarship fund has made it possible for more than 400 teachers and students to share this Colorado music experience. Over the last 25 years, the Rocky Mountains have echoed with the music of literally thousands of young students.
Former director Gail Seay retired in June, 2017. After a brief transitional period, the Colorado Suzuki Institute is now headed by executive directors Mark Biesterfeld and Leah Creek Biesterfeld. Under this new leadership CIM is continuing to expand its reach into the Chamber Music, Vocal Music and the Suzuki communities.
Our Mission & Core Values
Mission: Colorado Institute of Music is dedicated to unlocking the transformative power of music education in young students’ lives. Whether each child becomes a professional musician or simply enjoys a lifetime of music making, the lessons learned from disciplined practice, friendly collaboration, and brave performance opportunities transform the lives of hundreds of young people each year. At times rigorous musical training, and at other times fun, family music camp, CIM helps to fill the gap left by the decline of public school music opportunities. At CIM we provide a nurturing and inspirational environment where students can become the very best version of themselves within a supportive community of families who value music. Combining music and nature in the mountains of Colorado, young musicians develop a strong sense of self and develop a love of music and a respect for those who create it.
Core Values: Following the philosophy of Shinichi Suzuki, violinist, educator, and humanitarian, we believe that any child who is properly trained can develop musical ability, just as all children develop the ability to speak their mother tongue. The potential of every child is unlimited. Our goal is not simply to develop professional musicians, but to nurture loving human beings and help develop each child’s character through the study of music.
Colorado Institute of Music Staff
Mark Biesterfeld: Executive Director
Colorado native Mark Biesterfeld holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University and a Master of Music degree in Voice from the University of Cincinnati and was a recipient of an Allied Arts Inc. grant and a Corbett Award in Opera. Mark has performed extensively around the country, including appearances with Cincinnati Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Utah Festival Opera and Sarasota Opera. He also appeared as the title role in The Mikado with CU Opera in Boulder. Mr. Biesterfeld’s solo concert credits include Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass with Philadelphia Chamber Chorus and Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with the Wayne Oratorio Society as well as the Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Boulder Philharmonic.
In addition to CIM, Mark and his wife Leah (and co-executive director) operate Petite Musician; a Denver based early childhood music program.
Leah Creek Biesterfeld: Executive Director
Leah Creek Biesterfeld earned a Master of Music in Voice from Indiana University and trained at some of the country’s leading Young Artist Programs, including Santa Fe Opera and Wolf Trap Opera. She also holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She has extensive performing experience in both opera and concert, appearing with opera companies such as New York City Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia and Opera Colorado and was named a national winner of the prestigious Metropolitan Opera National Council Award.
A frequent performer across the Colorado Front Range, Leah performs regularly with Colorado Bach Ensemble, St. Martin’s Chamber Choir, Ars Nova Singers, and Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado. Recent opera appearances include the role of the Second Witch in Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado’s production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.
Recent solo concert appearances include an appearance as alto soloist in Bach’s BWV 80 Ein Feste Burg with Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra and as alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah with both Colorado Bach Ensemble and Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra. Other notable solo appearances include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Boulder Philharmonic, Mozart’s Requiem with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, the Boulder Chamber Orchestra, and Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra, Mozart’s Mass in C Minor with Philadelphia Chamber Chorus.
Ms. Creek Biesterfeld made her Carnegie Hall debut with Mid-America Productions as a soloist in Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and returned twice as the mezzo-soprano soloist in the Duruflé Requiem and the Mozart Requiem. Leah grew up playing Suzuki violin and going to Suzuki Institutes each summer!
Julie Schwabauer: CIM Staff Member
Julie is a Colorado native and grew up in a musical home. She started playing piano at the age of 3 and has had her own piano studio for over 15 years. She taught Music Together classes for Petite Musician for 18 years. Julie is also a vocalist, and has performed at various venues around the Denver area. She loves being a part of the Colorado Suzuki Institute!
Carrie Beisler: CIM Staff Member
Carrie maintains a Suzuki violin studio at St. Joseph’s School of Music and at Ramalynn Montessori Academy, in addition to working in administration over the past decade with the Colorado Suzuki Institute. From 2017 to 2019 Carrie lived in Beirut, Lebanon, founding and co-directing the American Lebanese Suzuki Talent Education Program. Carrie is passionate about expanding the Suzuki community with her work in the USA and Lebanon and loves the experience of teaching across different cultures and bringing students together through music. She is committed to creating the opportunity of quality musical education for students across the world. Growing up a Suzuki student, Carrie began her violin studies with Nancy Lokken in Minneapolis. She received a Masters of Music and Suzuki Pedagogy from The University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Music from The University of Iowa.
