It’s hard to conjure a dark sky full of stars while enjoying a bright, clear day in Breckenridge midway through July. But music has transportive powers, and the National Repertory Orchestra swept its listeners into the galaxies during its annual Family and Kids concert on July 16 at the Riverwalk Center. 

Conductor Jason Seber narrated a charming tale about two aliens, “Piu Piu” from the planet “Eah” and “Claire” from the planet “Lune” (yes, Debussy’s Claire de Lune was part of the program) who discovered beautiful pieces of music while they ventured through space. John Williams’ energetic anthem from the Star Wars movies set the tone right away, jetting young listeners into far-off galaxies. 

Ambient sounds of children playing in their chairs and whispering to their parents joined the orchestra’s music. Little ones stood up and twirled at the front of the auditorium to the gentle sounds of “Nimrod” composed by Edward Elgar. Claps and giggles joined the crash of cymbals during Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter.” In welcoming children into the performance space, the NRO seemed to usher in an atmosphere of joy as well. 

A highlight of the performance were the two, young soloists who shared the stage with the professionals. Ten-year-old Aiden Chan’s fingers flew across the piano’s keyboard and landed with precision to execute the piano solo in Johann Sebastian Bach’s 15-minute-long Concerto No. 1. Nine-year-old Charlotte Jiang plied the keys with carefully poised arms and weighted fingers while performing the solo for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17.

Both Chan and Jiang were awarded enthusiastic applause from the audience. Jiang received a bouquet after her solo that was so big for her young frame, she nearly lost her balance on stage, to the delight of conductor Sebert who said it illustrated how great the accomplishment was for such a young person. The giddy joy of a job well done was further captured when Jiang’s peers almost tackled her with hugs as she rejoined the audience. 

Chan and Jiang were the first-place winners of The Yamaha Piano Competition at Classic Pianos in Denver, a competition held since 1988. The competition is open to young artists ages 5-19, and the first-place winners of the advanced divisions get to perform with the National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge. 

The National Repertory Orchestra hosts their family concert every summer to ensure their music is accessible to everyone, explained Kelly Sanders, director of administration and community relations. Rehearsals are also free and provide a relaxed environment for young families, whose children may not be ready to sit through a two-hour concert, to come and go, said Sanders. There’s also a family seating section during every performance that includes a coloring station. In addition, tickets for children 17 years old and younger are only $5.   

The group also seeks to support the young musicians of Summit County through music lesson scholarships. Applications for this year’s funding will open later this month and more information will soon be released, according to Sanders.  The National Repertory Orchestra’s final performance of the year is scheduled for Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 6 p.m. in the River Walk Center. Conductor Michael Stern will lead the orchestra through a performance titled, “Discover … Awe,” including pieces by Mozart and Mussorgsky. For more information on tickets, visit NROMusic.org.