Classical music has been proven to improve your mood, cognitive function, and memory. Bring some enrichment to the new year with a free six-week course about German composer Richard Georg Strauss.

Over the past 17 years, music professor Dr. Derald DeYoung has been leading a popular music study course in Estes Park. Previous courses have covered the music of Stravinsky, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Bach, and many others. In January, Dr. DeYoung will be teaching a series focused on composer and conductor Richard Strauss (1864-1949), one of the most influential composers of our time.

A prominent conductor in Western Europe and the Americas, Strauss was admired for his interpretations of the works of Liszt, Mozart, and Wagner, in addition to his own compositions. The class will explore Strauss’s colorful and exciting orchestral masterpieces, each of which has a story to tell, along with the history of his life, including his friendship with fellow Romantic music composer and conductor Gustav Mahler.

This series is sponsored by the Estes Valley Library and will be offered on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 16 through Feb. 20, 2024. Participants may choose to register for a morning (10 a.m.—12 p.m.) or afternoon (1—3 p.m.) session. The morning session will be offered in person and on Zoom; the afternoon session will be offered in person only. Please note that attendees may not alternate between morning and afternoon sessions.

Instructor Dr. DeYoung is Professor of Music Emeritus from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he taught for 27 years before moving to Estes Park full time in 2005. All classes will take place at the Estes Valley Library, and there is no cost to participate. No previous musical experience is required.

Space is limited so advance registration is required. Sign up now at estesvalleylibrary.org/strauss.