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HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.hpc.20240124.amendedAGENDA ASPEN HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION January 24, 2024 4:30 PM, City Council Chambers - 3rd Floor 427 Rio Grande Place Aspen, CO 81611 I.ROLL CALL II.MINUTES II.A Draft Minutes - 1/10/2024 III.PUBLIC COMMENTS IV.COMMISSIONER MEMBER COMMENTS V.DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST VI.PROJECT MONITORING VI.A Project Monitoring VII.STAFF COMMENTS VIII.CERTIFICATE OF NO NEGATIVE EFFECT ISSUED IX.CALL UP REPORTS X.SUBMIT PUBLIC NOTICE FOR AGENDA ITEMS XI.OLD BUSINESS XII.NEW BUSINESS XII.ADiscussion of Letter Regarding the Re-naming of the Benedict Music Tent - NOT A PUBLIC HEARING minutes.hpc.20240110_DRAFT.docx PROJECT MONITORING.pdf Benedict Music Tent Re-Naming Memo.pdf DRAFTLTRAMFBOARD.pdf AMFS Klein Gift Announcement FINAL.pdf 1 1 XIII.ADJOURN XIV.NEXT RESOLUTION NUMBER TYPICAL PROCEEDING FORMAT FOR ALL PUBLIC HEARINGS (1 Hour, 10 Minutes for each Major Agenda Item) 1. Declaration of Conflicts of Interest (at beginning of agenda) 2. Presentation of proof of legal notice (at beginning of agenda) 3. Applicant presentation (20 minutes) 4. Board questions and clarifications of applicant (5 minutes) 5. Staff presentation (5 minutes) 6. Board questions and clarifications of staff (5 minutes) 7. Public comments (5 minutes total, or 3 minutes/ person or as determined by the Chair) 8. Close public comment portion of hearing 9. Applicant rebuttal/clarification (5 minutes) 10. Staff rebuttal/clarification (5 minutes) End of fact finding. Chairperson identifies the issues to be discussed. 11. Deliberation by the commission and findings based on criteria commences. No further input from applicant or staff unless invited by the Chair. Staff may ask to be recognized if there is a factual error to be corrected. If the item is to be continued, the Chair may provide a summary of areas to be restudied at their discretion, but the applicant is not to re-start discussion of the case or the board’s direction. (20 minutes) 12. Motion Updated: November 15, 2021 2 2 REGULAR MEETING HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 10TH, 2024 Chairperson Thompson opened the regular meeting of the Aspen Historic Preservation Commission at 4:30pm. Commissioners in attendance: Roger Moyer, Jodi Surfas, Kim Raymond, Barb Pitchford, Jeffery Halferty, Riley Warwick and Kara Thompson. Absent was Peter Fornell. Staff present: Amy Simon, Planning Director Kirsten Armstrong, Principal Planner Historic Preservation Stuart Hayden, Planner - Historic Preservation Kate Johnson, AssistantCity Attorney Mike Sear, Deputy City Clerk MINUTES: Ms. Thompson motioned to approve the draft minutes from 12/13/23. Mr. Moyer seconded. Roll call vote: Mr. Moyer, yes; Ms. Surfas, yes; Ms. Pitchford, yes; Ms. Raymond, yes; Mr. Warwick, yes; Mr. Halferty, yes; Ms. Thompson, yes. 7-0, motion passes. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Ms. Kelly Murphy with the Aspen Historical Society introduced herself and her colleague Lisa Hancock. Knowing that this was Amy Simon’s last meeting, they wanted to come and give her an official farewell. She noted that they had worked with Ms. Simon on many things and that Ms. Simon was leaving Aspen a better place than when she first came. Ms. Hancock went over several projects that Ms. Simon had worked with the Historical Society on. She mentionedthat the Aspen Historical and Aspen Modern websites that Ms. Simon helped launch were a great resource that the Historical Society uses often. Ms. Laura Smith form the Aspen Music Festival said that she heard that the board may be discussing the Music Tent, and she was in attendance to be a resource and to answer any questions. Ms. Suzannah Reid saidthat she and Ms. Simon had know each other for a very long time working together through HPC. She said that Ms. Simon had been an incredible mentor and friend and they had been through a lot together and that she would definitely miss her. COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS: Mr. Moyer started by thanking Ms. Murphy for her work with the Aspen Historical Society. He said that after a number of tumultuous years, the organization has been running so well under her as Chairman and President. Mr. Moyer then wanted to bring up the Music Tent naming issue. He would like for the HPC members to send a letter to the Music Associates as he found it appalling. He had known Fritz Benedict for a very long time, and he thought it was amazing that the Music Associates would take his name off the Tent just because somebody gives a lot of money. He wanted to hear the other member’s thoughts. Ms. Thompson said she did not think she had enough information to speak on the issue. Mr. Halferty thought it was a touchy thing. He had known Mr. Benedict as well and thought the Benedict family were staples in the development of the community. He thought it was a challenging subject. He did not think it was within the guidelines of the board to talk about the naming of historic resources. He said he supported the Music Associates. Ms. Thompson asked for some guidance on this from Ms. Johnson. 3 REGULAR MEETING HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 10TH, 2024 Ms. Johnson said that in this area the board did not have decision making authority, but as a citizen board, they could send a letter in support of one position or the other if they wanted to. They could also, as a board or individuals, write a letter to City Council asking them to take a particular position. Ms. Thompson asked if Mr. Moyer could potentially distribute some more information to the members and that they could discuss this at their next meeting, as she felt she did not have enough information. Ms. Pitchford said that it is more of an existential question. She noted that they are a citizen board that follows some really clear guidelines about preserving structures. She believed these types of situations are coming up more frequently as money is power and with that you tend to lose culture and the history of town. She said that she knew Mr. Klein and that he was a great guy, but she felt that the history of town is being chipped away. Ms. Raymond said she would also love to get some more information. She said that when she first heard of the name change, she thought it was a bit of a slap in the face. She thought that being able to pay to change the names of things is disregarding their history. Mr. Warwick said that they should discuss whether or not they were going to write a letter as a board and vote on that first and then come up with individual decisions on whether each member would want to sign that letter. He also felt he needed to be better informed. Ms. Surfas wanted to know what more information the members would want. Ms. Thompson said more historical information. Ms. Johnson went over the options that the board had regarding putting this item on their agenda for the next meeting for more discussion and information gathering. She noted that any letter that they would vote on would have to come before the members as an agenda action item in a public meeting. Ms. Thompson asked staff to add this to the next meeting’s agenda. Mr. Moyer said he would gather more information. Mr. Halferty wanted to thank Ms. Simon. He said that he and Ms. Simon have been a great friends for a long time and that she was a fantastic asset to our community. He thanked her for her hard work. Mr. Moyer and Ms. Raymond both echoed Mr. Halferty’s sentiments and thanked Ms. Simon for her dedication and friendship. They wished her all the best in her new venture. Ms. Thompson said that while she did not have the experience as other members on the board, she has not known the City without Ms. Simon. She echoed a previous comment that Ms. Simon is definitely leaving the City better than when she came and that her presence will be missed. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: None. CERTIFICATE OF NO NEGATIVE EFFECT: None. CALL UP REPORTS: None. STAFF COMMENTS: None. PROJECT MONITORING: Ms. Armstrong noted that herself and Mr. Hayden would be updating the way they present Project Monitoring and Certificate of No Negative Effect updates. They would be implementing a more thorough Project Monitoring tracking and reporting process for the board. They 4 REGULAR MEETING HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JANUARY 10TH, 2024 are planning on holding a work session at the next meeting to go over this new process and get feedback. She then listed a number of Project Monitoring requests and approvals that have occurred since the last HPC meeting. These included: 410/414 E Hyman Ave. 111 S Garmisch St 420 W Francis St. 227 E Bleeker St. 110 W Main St. She then showed pictures of each project and went over specific details of each of them. ELECTION OF CHAIR & VICE CHAIR: Ms. Johnson went over the board’s option for how to proceed with the election pursuant to the Municipal Code. The members all mentioned they would like to maintain the current Chair and Vice Chair. MOTION:Ms. Pitchford motioned to have Ms. Thompson stay on as Chair and Mr. Halferty to stay on as Vice Chair. Mr. Moyer seconded. Roll call vote: Mr. Moyer, yes; Ms. Surfas, yes; Ms. Pitchford, yes; Ms. Raymond, yes; Mr. Warwick, yes; Mr. Halferty, yes; Ms. Thompson, yes. 7-0, motion passes. 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW: Mr. Hayden noted the addition of himself and Ms. Armstrong to the HP staff for the City as well as the addition of Mr. Warwick and Ms. Raymond as members of the HPC board. He went on to present several slides highlighting details and statistics from the many HPC meetings from the past year as well as highlighting the many projects that had been reviewed by the board during 2023. He then went over a brief history of Ms. Simon’s career with the City of Aspen’s historic preservation program. Mr. Moyer asked if there were any updates on staff’s work on the painted brick buildings in town and the maintenance guide they were working on. Ms. Armstrong mentioned that both items have not been forgotten and staff would continue to work on them going into 2024. She mentioned that some other pressing things had come up recently, such as wildfire considerations that also need addressing. ADJOURN: Ms. Thompson motioned to adjourn the regular meeting. Ms. Pitchford seconded. All in favor; motion passes. ____________________ Mike Sear, Deputy City Clerk 5 HPC PROJECT MONITORS - projects in bold are permitted or under construction 1/4/2024 Kara Thompson 300 E. Hyman 201 E. Main 333 W. Bleeker 234 W. Francis Skier’s Chalet Steakhouse 101 W. Main (Molly Gibson Lodge) 720 E. Hyman 304 E. Hopkins 312 W. Hyman 520 E. Cooper 931 Gibson 1020 E. Cooper Jeff Halferty 110 W. Main, Hotel Aspen 134 E. Bleeker 300 E. Hyman 434 E. Cooper, Bidwell 414-420 E. Cooper, Red Onion/JAS 517 E. Hopkins Lift 1 corridor ski lift support structure 227 E. Bleeker 211/213 W. Hopkins 211 W. Main 215 E. Hallam 500 E. Durant 413 E. Main Roger Moyer 227 E. Main 135 E. Cooper 110 Neale 517 E. Hopkins Skier’s Chalet Lodge 202 E. Main 320 E. Hyman (Wheeler Opera House, solar panels) 611 W. Main 132 W. Hopkins 500 E. Durant Jodi Surfas 202 E. Main 320 E. Hyman (Wheeler Opera House, solar panels) 611 W. Main 602 E. Hyman Peter Fornell 304 E. Hopkins 233 W. Bleeker 214 W. Bleeker Barb Pitchford 121 W. Bleeker 312 W. Hyman 132 W. Hopkins 214 W. Bleeker 630 W. Main 420 W. Francis 135 W. Francis Kim Raymond 630 W. Main 205 W. Main 216 W. Hyman 6 HPC PROJECT MONITORS - projects in bold are permitted or under construction 1/4/2024 Riley Warwick 420 E. Durant/Rubey Park 420 W. Francis 400 E. Cooper 7 Page 1 of 1 130 South Galena Street Aspen, CO 81611-1975 | P: 970.920.5197 | cityofaspen.com MEMORANDUM TO: Aspen Historic Preservation Commission MEETING DATE: January 24, 2024 RE: Benedict Music Tent Re-naming BACKGROUND: At the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) meeting dated 1/10/2024, HPC Commission member Roger Moyer broached the re-naming of the Benedict Music Tent during Commission Member Comments. Mr. Moyer was interested in drafting a letter, to be signed by the HPC, to express concerns about the re-naming of the tent. The consensus of HPC was to hold a discussion at the next HPC meeting, so that commission members had time to research and think about the issue before providing a potential response. Mr. Moyer has provided a timeline and article for consideration. Staff has no position and no recommendation as this is an issue not governed by the land use code. ATTACHMENTS: Exhibit A: A Brief Outline of Fredrick Allen Benedict Exhibit B: Aspen Times: Ayers and Hancock: History of Benedict Music Tent naming 8 Aspen Painting, Inc. PO Box 2013 Aspen, Colorado 81612 PH: 970-925-2248 Fax 970-925-1577 Roger@aspenpainting.com A brief outline of Fredrick Allen Benedict (FRITZ) life in Aspen: Arrived: 1914 Medford, Wisconsin Received Bachelor and Master degrees in Landscape architecture. Worked for and studied with Frank Lloyd Wright 1938-1941 1941 first visit to Aspen as ski racer in National Championships. 1941 drafted into Army. Trained at Camp Hale with numerous trips to Aspen and inquired about purchase of ranch on Red Mt. Served as Intelligence officer in Italy. 1945 after end of war moved to Aspen and purchased ranch on Red Mt. Became friends with Herbert Bayer and wife Joella. The Bayers invited Joella’s sister Fabi, to Aspen and introduced her to Fritz and the soon after married. Fabi encouraged Fritz to leave the ranch and return to architecture and he worked on many projects with Herbert. Most famous local project was the “Waterfall House” located 202 midnight mine road and very much influenced by F.L. Wright finished in 1961. 1960’s designed a base village for Snowmass Ski Area which was rejected for building’s built along the slope. First chairman for Aspen Planning & Zoning commission. Served on Pitkin County Planning & Zoning commission. Founder Aspen Beautification task force & Pitkin County Parks Association. 1977 ventured to France for a trip on the famous Haute Route to experience the design, huts and ambiance across the French & Swiss alps with 10 friends and future members of the 10th Mountain Hut Association; Fritz, Nicolas Benidict, Elizabeth Boyles (Who designed the first Hut), Gene Perrow, Alex Halpern, Margie Musgrave, Dr. Jack Frishman (Fritz best friend), Pietro Danieli, Tim Estin (family donated funds for future hut), Peter Looram (Became Director of 10 MT Huts), Roger I Moyer (worked on trail locations and some help with Construction of future huts). 1958-1992 served on board of Aspen Music Festival. 1985 Became chairman when disagreements between board and musicians jeopardized the Very existence of the festival. His leadership brought in a new board enabling continuance of festival. Understanding the need for summer student housing Fritz worked out a land trade with the City creating more open space up Hunter Creek Valley thus trading space for housing on far South east corner of Marolt open space. Fritz was until his passing an integral part of the community with fresh ideas, willingness to Assist whatever board or group encouraging the formation of our own body HPC. He could Often be found for breakfast at the Wienerstube Restaurant sitting at the Stammtisch, ready Enlightening discussion, ideas for the community or thoughts about winter sport. Departed: 1995 9 Aspen Painting, Inc. PO Box 2013 Aspen, Colorado 81612 PH: 970-925-2248 Fax 970-925-1577 Roger@aspenpainting.com Comment: Fritz and Fabi were community members, raised their children here, built there home(s), celebrated, participated, and helped an old mining town become an enterprising ski town. I was fortunate to be with, work for, engage with, ski with, travel with and simply learn from Fritz Benedict and Fabi who brilliantly managed a dreamer and kept him financially on a prosperous path much to the amazement of us all. I trust this will help all of you who did not know Fritz and of course I have many fun stories along with the photos of us on the Haute Route trip. Sincerely, roger PS: Ask me about the Waterfall House 10 1/19/24, 8:06 AM Ayers and Hancock: History of Benedict Music Tent naming | AspenTimes.com https://www.aspentimes.com/opinion/ayers-and-hancock-history-of-benedict-music-tent-naming/1/2 Ayers and Hancock: History of Benedict Music Tent naming The former Benedict Music Tent has been renamed "Michael Klein Music Tent." Alex Irvin/Courtesy photo Perhaps there are some in the community who wonder why the Aspen Music Festival Tent was named for Fritz and Fabi Benedict. Here is some history. Around 1985, the Board of Trustees had a donnybrook with the then-administration over scal management. Around two-thirds of the trustees resigned, several suggesting that the festival should be allowed to collapse, then would rebuild it from scratch. Among the few who did not resign was Fritz Benedict. For those of you who didn’t have the pleasure of knowing him, he was an icon of the community. One of the founders of both the 10th Mountain Hut System and Aspen Valley L and Trust, an incessant, but highly-respected, advocate of making public use of the Roaring Fork River waterfront in town, a land developer, architect, and community builder. His stature helped rebuild the festival board with like-minded community members. He led the festival for years as chair and gave it the community credibility that it lacked at a critical time. Funds were raised by a community that understood the uniqueness of the festival and school and the value of its enviable summer economy. The students and faculty returned, and concerts were performed for delighted audiences. By 1989, the New York-based administration was given the recognition it justly deserved for creating a world-class festival and school that Aspen could be proud of. Then-President Gordon Hardy gave his support to a leadership transition process, and new administrative leadership was chosen. Robert Harth, at 34 years old, took on the job, full of enthusiasm and drive. He knew Aspen well. His parents had been music faculty members, and he spent years in Aspen as a boy. He wanted to x the tent, which would bring greatly needed improvements for faculty and guest performers and for those who sat through concerts under an umbrella when it rained. He also recognized the need for student housing, a decent rehearsal hall, and an endowment fund to provide scholarships for the world’s best student musicians. As like now, Aspen was chang ing then. For years, community members with a spare bedroom had housed a student in their home. As more and more newcomers came to town, those spare rooms were no longer available. Student housing became a crisis. The festival couldn’t afford Aspen’s land prices on which to build student housing. YOUR AD HERE » Opinion F O L L O W O P I N I O N | Dec 14, 2023 Debra Ayers and Judy Hancock Guest Commentary ✕2 11 1/19/24, 8:06 AM Ayers and Hancock: History of Benedict Music Tent naming | AspenTimes.com https://www.aspentimes.com/opinion/ayers-and-hancock-history-of-benedict-music-tent-naming/2/2 Fritz, in his inimitable way, saw a solution. The Marolt Deeded Open Space that provided a green entrance to town was just down the road from the music school campus. It was a log ical place for the students to live. The Benedicts knew the community would never allow the Marolt Open Space to be sacriced for such a project, but the Benedicts owned considerable land in one of Aspen’s favorite hiking areas: Hunter Creek Valley. They offered to deed some of their land as open space if the community would allow the student housing to be built. The community voted to accept the trade. Today, the Marolt Student Housing and Dining Hall not only accommodates young musicians, but also houses workers in the winters. Note that there is no nancial record of the gift at the festival. No money changed hands because the festival never owned the Hunter Creek property. The debt to Fabi and Fritz, however, was – and continues to be – substantial. The way chosen to acknowledge it was to name the tent after them. Herbert Bayer designed the previous tent. It was called the Bayer tent to distinguish it from the earlier Eero Saarinen-designed tent. Although Bayer and Fritz were married to half-sisters, they did not seem to share in their architectural endeavors. The tent was called the Bayer Benedict Tent until the new tent – designed by Harry Teague – was built. Then this was appropriately called the Benedict Tent. There is value in remembering a community’s roots and the people who contributed to making it the kind of place we enjoy calling home. There is also value in acknowledging those who continue the tradition of enriching our lives with their generous g ifts of time, talent, and funds. Debra Ayers is a former communications director, and Judy Hancock was a former development director at Aspen Music Festival. The Benedict Music Tent was recently renamed the “Michael Klein Music Tent” ahead of AMFS’ 75th season. The main entrance of the Music Tent was named the ‘Benedict Entrance’. ✕2 12 13 EMBARGOED until Friday, December 8, 2023 at 12 pm NOON MT Press Contacts: Laura E. Smith Jessica Moore VP for Marketing and Communications Director of Marketing lsmith@aspenmusic.org, 970-618-9321 jmoore@aspenmusic.org ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL AND SCHOOL ANNOUNCES NAMING GIFT FOR MUSIC TENT The third name of the AMFS Music Tent in its history will be the “Michael Klein Music Tent” in honor of Mr. Klein’s six years of board leadership and decades of investment in the festival’s work. The main entrance will continue to honor the Benedict name and a new plaque describing Fritz Benedict’s pivotal role in the AMFS’s history will be installed at this Benedict Entrance. This gift leads into the celebration of the AMFS’s 75th anniversary in summer 2024 and inaugurates a n ambitious fundraising campaign to be launched in the new year, investing in the institution’s next 25 years. 14 ---------------------------- ASPEN, COLORADO — The Aspen Music Festival and School, America’s premier center for classical music performance and training, today announced an historic gift to the organization, given by current board chair Michael Klein. The gift is the second largest in the institution’s history. To honor this significant donation, and in recognition of Mr. Klein’s history of financial and leadership contributions, the AMFS will name its main performance venue, the 2,050-seat Music Tent, in his honor for the next 25 years. This gift structure is designed to thank the institution’s most committed supporters while creating the opportunity for future investment. The new name will be the “Michael Klein Music Tent.” The gift comes at a time the festival and school is investing significant funds to renovate the nearly 24- year-old structure, is creating plans for increased costs for operating and especially housing, and is expanding its community-based music education programs. This gift will provide key support to the institution overall and will help ensure its ability to offer the world’s finest classical music performance and education in Aspen. For most of its history, the AMFS’s main venue has been known simply as the “Music Tent” or, further back, the “Aspen Amphitheater.” In 1993, it was dedicated with its first official name, the “Bayer- Benedict Tent,” honoring its two architects, Herbert Bayer and Fritz Benedict. When the next generation of the tent, designed by Harry Teague, opened in 2000, it became the Benedict Music Tent in honor of Mr. Benedict’s longtime board membership and leadership. The AMFS will continue to honor Mr. Benedict at the main entrance of the Music Tent, renaming it the “Benedict Entrance” for the duration of the use of the current structure and adding a plaque describing Mr. Benedict’s role with the AMFS. “This gift reflects the deepest belief in the mission and work of the AMFS, from one of the world’s most generous and principled philanthropists,” says AMFS President and CEO Alan Fletcher. “Mike steered the festival through the pandemic with strength and wisdom, and he gives this gesture of belief and confidence at the perfect moment, at the beginning of our 75th anniversary season.” Continues Mr. Fletcher, “This milestone anniversary is the perfect time to both honor our roots and invest in our future, a key balance at every nonprofit. We are grateful to Mike for leading us into our next 25 years this way, and we remain grateful to Fritz Benedict and others who gave so much of themselves to make the festival what it is today. I hope everyone in Aspen can join us for our 75th anniversary community party before our opening Sunday concert next summer to celebrate the many people who together have made this institution truly great.” Says Mr. Klein, “It is an honor to be able to give a gift like this to an organization I believe in so much. Having watched the miraculous work of the young musicians of the festival and school close-up, literally, for more than thirty years, I am convinced that the work here is some of the world’s most inspiring and uplifting. The world needs the brilliant, hopeful work of our young musicians, faculty and visiting artists, and I’m proud to be able to support it this way.” 15 ---------------------------- ABOUT THE AMFS MUSIC TENTS The original Music Tent, designed by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen, was first used at the Goethe Bicentennial in 1949, and sat 900-1000 on its benches. It was disassembled and re-assembled for use every summer until 1965, when it was replaced by a new structure designed by Bauhaus designer/artist Herbert Bayer. This “Bayer-Benedict Tent,” as it came to be named in a dedication on August 8, 1993, reflected the work of both Bayer and his partner architect Fritz Benedict. It accommodated 1,750 and the canvas top and sides were taken down and put up again each season. The Bayer-Benedict Tent stood until 2000 when a new permanent structure was built, designed by Harry Teague and using Teflon-coated fiberglass instead of canvas as the main material. It seats 2,050 and is surrounded by the David Karetsky Music Lawn, which was endowed by Gerri Karetsky around that same time to be free for outside concert-goers in perpetuity. Without a naming donor at the time, it continued to carry the “Benedict” name in honor of Mr. Benedict’s important role on the AMFS board. More on the tent designed by Saarinen: www.aspentimes.com/news/willoughby-aspens-temporary- tent-with-staying-power/ More on the Bayer-Benedict Tent: -www.aspentimes.com/news/bauhaus-benches-at-the-music-tent/ -www.aspentimes.com/news/legends-legacies-the-1960s-building-boom/ - On Bayer and his Aspen connection and architecture www.architectmagazine.com/design/how-the- bauhaus-came-to-aspen_o More on the Benedict Tent: https://mlaspen.com/aspen-iconic-benedict-music-tent-celebrates-its- 20th-anniversary ---------------------------- ABOUT MICHAEL KLEIN Michael Klein has been coming to Aspen for more than 40 years, lives in Aspen and Washington D.C., and is an innovator in both business and philanthropy. He has long been on the board of the Aspen Music Festival and School and has served as Board Chair since 2018. He also sits on the board of The Aspen Institute. His background as a securities lawyer led him to believe in the importance of information for efficient decision-making, and that belief inspired him to envision and support several other organizations that use information technology to contribute to the betterment of society by providing real time online access to information that might enable us as citizens to improve our governance. In 1987, he co-founded CoStar Group, Inc., now a public company, to address the issues 16 that led to the collapse of the savings and loan industry in the 1980s. CoStar, included in the S&P 500 Index and the NASDAQ 100, declares its mission “to digitize the world’s real estate, empowering all people to discover properties, insights and connections that improve their businesses and lives.” Mr. Klein remains chairman of the board of CoStar, and is also chairman of the board of Zenith Gallery, Inc., vice chairman of the board of Perini Corporation, having formerly served as lead director of several other public companies including National Education Corporation, Steck-Vaughn Publishing Company, SRA International; and director and co-owner of Astar Air Cargo, Inc., among other businesses. Mr. Klein applied the same principles to co-found a non-profit entity The Sunlight Foundation in December 2005 to improve the transparency and thus the accountability and performance of our democratic government. In 2020, Sunlight was merged into The Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, which Mr. Klein has supported and endowed. In the aftermath of the Newtown school massacre, Mr. Klein founded and remains the Chairman and CEO of Gun Violence Archive, Inc., a nonprofit entity that maintains an online archive of information providing free access to information about all verifiable incidents of gun use in the United States in order better to inform the debate over gun regulation issues. He also co-founded the Global Warming Mitigation Project, which awards prizes for each year’s most promising new ideas to mitigate global warming and arranges internships for outstanding climate science students. Mr. Klein also is a leadership philanthropist in the realm of arts and culture. From 2007 through 2021, he served as the chair of the Board of Trustees of the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington D.C., which endeavors to be the nation’s leading force in the presentation and preservation of classic theater, by presenting the classics in an accessible, imaginative American style. One of its two venues is named in his honor. Mr. Klein has been associated with a number of non-public businesses, currently including as a director of Jose Andres’s ThinkFoodGroup, Inc. a restaurant and food organization engaged in implementing disaster relieving food programs internationally. Mr. Klein also serves as a director of DC Central Kitchen which provides culinary training for the previously incarcerated. In 2022, in honor of his support for it, DCCK’s new headquarter facility was named the Michael R. Klein Center for Jobs and Justice. Mr. Klein has long been involved in a wide array of cultural, business and philanthropic organizations, including board chair of The Shakespeare Theatre Company, President of the PEN Faulkner Foundation, Chairman and founder of two of America’s first nouvelle cuisine restaurants (Le Pavillon and Le Paradou), the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. and as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board of Harvard Law School and The American Himalayan Foundation, among others. Find more information see www.mikeklein.com. 17 ---------------------------- ABOUT THE ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL AND SCHOOL The AMFS is the United States’ premier classical music center for performance and education, presenting more than 400 musical events during its eight-week summer season in Aspen. The organization draws top classical musicians from around the world for a rich combination of performances of orchestral works, opera, chamber music, recitals, contemporary music, works by new or previously unrecognized voices, popular genres, family events, and talks, competitions, and classes. About 500 music students from 40 U.S. states and 40 countries come each summer to play in four orchestras, sing, conduct, compose and study with more than 100 artist-faculty members who come from the orchestras of Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas, the Metropolitan Orchestra, and the leading conservatories and music schools like The Juilliard School, The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, and The Colburn School. Students represent the field’s best talent; many have already begun their professional careers, and others are on the cusp. The AMFS is deeply committed to community and many events are free. Seating outside the Music Tent on the David Karetsky Music Lawn and in the Kaye Music Garden is always free. Regular livestreams are free anywhere in the world. The AMFS also runs popular music programs in-school and after-school at most schools in the Roaring Fork Valley. Renowned alumni include violinists Joshua Bell, Sarah Chang, Midori, Gil Shaham, and Robert McDuffie; pianists Joyce Yang, Orli Shaham, Conrad Tao, Yuja Wang, and Wu Han; conductors Marin Alsop, James Conlon, Leonard Slatkin and Joshua Weilerstein; composers William Bolcom, Philip Glass, David Lang, Augusta Read Thomas, Bright Sheng and Joan Tower; vocalists Isabel Leonard, Jamie Barton, Sasha Cooke, Danielle de Niese, Renée Fleming, Dawn Upshaw and Tamara Wilson; cellist Alisa Weilerstein; guitarist Sharon Isbin; bassist Edgar Meyer; and former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. ---------------------------- Season Information The AMFS’s 75th anniversary season will run June 27 to August 18, 2024. The program will be announced in mid-February and tickets will go on sale in mid-April. Aspen Music Festival and School 970-925-9042 box office phone 225 Music School Road, Aspen, CO 81611 970-925-3254 administration phone www.aspenmusicfestival.com info@aspenmusic.org ---------------------------- Photo credit: Grittani Creative ### 18