Summertime Stories & Music

This summer series is in partnership with the Roaring Fork Valley’s Historical Societies in effort to amplify the often unheard voices of those who has shaped our communities. These stories celebrate what brings us together, from different corners of the world, different struggles and challenges, blessings and turns of opportunities.

Why Aspen? | a collaboration with the Aspen Historical Society

on the Aspen Historical Society’s Wheeler/Stallard Museum Grounds, , Aspen, CO

VOICES and The Aspen Historical Society presented Summertime Stories & Music: Why Aspen? Indigenous & Immigrant Stories. This program amplifies local voices from various origins including people from the Ute Tribe, Italy, Mexico, Ivory Coast, and more. Storytellers Trary Lamee, Skyler Lomahaftewa, Sandra Prado, Judith Ritschard, and MinTze Wu explore their individual and ancestral journeys to find and eventually settle in Aspen. Vocalist Josefina Méndez, pianist Tim Fox, and violinist MinTze Wu will perform musical interludes.

Storytellers & Musicians of Why Aspen?

STORYTELLER | JUDITH RITSCHARD was born in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. In the early 80s, her family left Mexico and relocated to Aspen. She went through the Aspen schools and became the first member of her family to attend a four-year university. For the last 14 years, Judith has lived in Carbondale with her husband and her two sons. For several years she contributed an Op-ed in the Sopris Sun where she often shared stories about her family and her opinion on everything, through an immigrant’s lens.

STORYTELLER | SANDRA PRADO is the instructor and founder of Aspen Polynesia. Sandra moved to Aspen in 2018 from Mexico City and works as a Facility Supervisor at the Hotel Jerome. This will be her third project with VOICES. She loves spending time outdoors and considers skiing her second passion after dancing.

STORYTELLER | SKYLER LOMAHAFTEWA is an enrolled member of the Ute Tribe of the Uinta and Ouray Agency located in northeastern Utah on his mother's side, and of Hopi/Choctaw descendancy on his fathers' side. Skyler is the Bear Dance Chief of Randlette in Utah. He grew up with traditional cultural influence and moved to the Roaring Fork Valley many years ago to follow another passion of his, snowboarding. Skyler works as a snowboard instructor for the Aspen Skiing Company.

STORYTELLER | TRARY LAMEE is a Theatre artist, and was a member of the original Women’s VOICES Theater Project ensemble. Her family of Italian and German origins came to Aspen in the early 1900’s, and has now lived and worked in the Roaring Fork Valley for six generations. Trary grew up in Aspen, currently lives in Glenwood Springs, and works in Carbondale.

STORYTELLER & VIOLINIST | MINTZE WU is also the Executive & Artistic Director of VOICES and is also an accomplished violinist and non-profit arts leader. She is the founder of the Sounds of Lyons Music Festival and BenFeng Music Productions where she has served as producer and artistic director to several signature productions.

SINGER | JOSEFINA MENDEZ was born in Buenos AIres, Argentina, and moved to the USA in 2001. Singing in English, Spanish and Portuguese, she blends the North and South American styles of jazz, from swing to bossa nova, from tangos to boleros. Josefina has been mentored by Tim Fox, and she is a regular favorite performer in the valley.

PIANIST | TIM FOX graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Music Education. He has played trumpet and/or piano in the Chicago area, around Colorado's Western Slope, and on the road, with the likes of "The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra," under the direction of Buddy Morrow, "The Temptations" and "The Four Tops," Eric Alexander, Ed Soph, Ernie Watts, Red Skelton, Barbara Eden, Connie Francis, Mitzi Gaynor, and with many more. He is currently a freelance musician, a member of the Colorado Mesa University Faculty Jazz Quartet, a member of the Josefina Mendez Jazz trio, and works in the RE-1 School District. Tim also facilitates, with the generous support of Jazz Aspen Snowmass, the Roaring Fork Jazz Workshop. Check out sample performances with Josefina Mendez Jazz on YouTube.

HerStory | a collaboration with the Carbondale Historical Society

at the Historic Thompson House Grounds, Carbondale, CO

VOICES Summertime Stories & Music presented HerStory, celebrating strong women in Carbondale, then and now, in collaboration with The Carbondale Historical Society. Storytellers Amy Kimberly, Laurie Loeb, Jeannie Perry, Charlotte Graham, and Andrea Harris reflected on their love of Carbondale’s land, impact on local life, and connection with women before their time. Music was performed by violinist MinTze and nyckelharpist Sandra Wong.

Storytellers & Musicians of HerStory

STORYTELLLER | LAURIE LOEB, known as the Queen of Drum Circles, saw the beginning of Mountain Fair in 1972 and led the drum circles since then. Growing up a tomboy in a culturally Jewish upbringing, Laurie lived a life as a musician throughout USA, a solar tech in Southern America, and taught workshops combining hand drumming and personal growth.

STORYTELLER | JEANNIE PERRY, a native of the Roaring Fork Valley, is a columnist and a community activist. Her column, Ps & Qs, reflects ontological observations and is featured in the Sopris Sun. Jeannie lives in Satank with her husband and two dogs, Ziggy and Gus.

STORYTELLER | AMY KIMBERLY was the Executive Director of Carbondale Arts for 12 years and Director of the Carbondale Mountain Fair for 19. She won the Governor's Leadership in the Arts Award in 2018 and is currently co producer of the Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival. When not working, she can be found adventuring in nature or visiting her two daughters and three grandchildren!