The Story
of Torrey
Inspired by the natural beauty of the landscape in and around Torrey, the festival's founders wanted an opportunity for the local community to enjoy exceptional musical performances in this idyllic setting - pairing beauty of sound with beauty of place.
The festival began in 2017 with a performance by Denver-based Violamore Duo and a masterclass with students of Lynsey Shelar's Sleeping Rainbow School of Music. Since then, TCMF has expanded to bring ensembles of distinguished artists from around the world who perform thrilling and varied concerts in and around Torrey. The festival program also includes a Strings Camp workshop for young musicians.
Our Mission
The Torrey Chamber Music Festival's mission is to create intimate and inspiring musical experiences and to foster community through engagement with chamber music. With its captivating programming, audience interaction, free community concerts, and youth education programs, TCMF is committed to making great classical music accessible to all.
Meet the Team
Torrey Chamber Music Festival is a program of the Entrada Institute, a non-profit organization that has worked in Torrey for 20 years. The Entrada Institute is dedicated to preserving the red rock country, the Colorado Plateau, and its heritage through arts and education.
Founder
Ada Mae Crouse
Ada Mae grew up playing chamber music with family and friends, experiencing the joy and closeness that brings. She studied violin at the Juilliard School of Music and chose to combine her love of music with her interest in helping others in her career as a music therapist. She began to dream of creating a place for family and friends to share chamber music in Torrey over 30 years ago, when she first bought her property in Torrey. It is now it her great joy to see how the TCMF is reaching out to the community with concerts and opportunities to work with young students. Ada Mae is a State-Certified and Board-Certified Music Therapist with more than 35 years of experience in clinical music therapy, and recently worked at the La Europa Academy in Salt Lake City, UT.
Co-Artistic Directors
Leah Kovach & Koko Dylugerski
In addition to performing together as the Violamore Duo, they both enjoy varied careers as orchestral and chamber musicians. Koko and Leah are based in Denver, where they perform regularly with the Colorado Symphony, Central City Opera, and Opera Colorado Orchestras. They can also be seen with the Utah Symphony, Houston Symphony, and Philadelphia Orchestras. Leah and Koko believe passionately in the importance of music education and maintain a private teaching studio in Denver. As Co-Artistic Directors of the Torrey Chamber Music Festival, they are excited to present compelling and inspiring chamber music performances and to offer new educational opportunities to young musicians in Leah's home state of Utah.
Interim Artistic Director, 2026
Chris Jusell
Chris has participated in the Torrey Chamber Music Festival nearly every year since its inception, and looks forward to coming back to Utah all year. A member of the North Carolina Symphony since 2023, he has also enjoyed a varied career full of playing in various styles, arranging, and conducting.
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Chris is passionate about both chamber music and music education, and deeply respects TCMF's efforts to bring both to this part of the state. Plus, he gets to play incredible music with some of his best friends in an awe-inspiring place. What's not to love?
A program of the Entrada Institute