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Concert in the Dark

with Diane Schuur

 – Thursday, May 4th, 2023, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM –

 – The Masterpiece Theater, Denver, CO –

Tickets are now on sale!

Made possible by Rocky Mountain PBS and KUVO Radio.

Unique Blindfolded Listening Experience

Immerse yourself in music without your eyes.

Experience this unique concert experience being blindfolded during a live performance by the Multi-Grammy-Winning artist, Diane Schuur, and Heart and Music. The lobby will feature sculpture by Trevor Hahn and photography by Robert Weinberg in order to celebrate artists with vision loss Additionally, all of the talent themselves are blind! 

Proceeds of this event support the Audio Information Network of Colorado, a nonprofit that serves Coloradans who are blind or print-impaired.

Black and white photo of diane standing, laughing, with hands together. Wearing glasses and suitejacket.

Meet Diane Schuur

Long regarded as one of Contemporary Jazz’s leading vocalists, Diane Schuur is as eclectic as she is brilliant. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Schuur was blind from birth; but she was gifted with perfect pitch and three-and-a-half-octave vocal range. She initially taught herself piano by ear and later received formal piano training at The Washington State School for the Blind, which she attended until she was 11 years of age.

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Schuur’s latest recording Running On Faith was co-produced by Schuur and Grammy winning saxophonist Ernie Watts. On this very personal musical statement, released by Jazzheads Music Group (JH1243), the vocalist creates new versions of songs for which she has a deep-rooted affection. Performing on piano throughout, Schuur arranges music by some of her favorite performers and songwriters; from Miles Davis to Carole King to Paul Simon. According to the artist, “I’ve been focusing on the condition of our world and chose songs that make a statement about what is and also some songs of hope, about what can be.”

Nicknamed “Deedles” as a child, she grew up surrounded by the world of Jazz embraced by both of her parents: Her father was an amateur pianist, and her mother kept a formidable collection of Duke Ellington and Dinah Washington albums in her home. Not surprisingly, Dinah Washington is often listed as Schuur’s major vocal influence, and she learned the iconic singer’s “What a Difference a Day Makes” while she was still a toddler. She also developed her own rich, resonant vocal style at a very young age.

With a distinguished recording career that spans over three decades, including two Grammy awards (Timeless and Diane Schuur and The Count Basie Orchestra on GRP Records), as well as three additional GRAMMY® nominations, Schuur’s music has explored almost every corner of the American musical landscape. Her musical collaborations include the aforementioned Count Basie Orchestra, B.B. King, Ray Charles, and Jose Feliciano, among countless others. These collaborations have resulted in numerous top Billboard Chart recordings, including Pure Schuur and Heart to Heart with B.B. King.

Ms. Schuur has appeared on PBS and many other television specials as well as a very special visit to the beloved TV show, Sesame Street. She has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and The White House on multiple occasions. She was one of the select musical guests invited to sing for Stevie Wonder at the Kennedy Center Honors when he received his prestigious award. She continues to tour and perform extensively at concert halls and festivals around the world.

Other ways to get involved

Donate

Donate to support your blind and print-impaired neighbors.

Volunteer

Support staff, talent, and guests during the event.

Sponsorships

Let’s work together! We have many packages to choose from.

Practical Info:

Date and Time: May 4th, 2023

Location: The Masterpiece Theater, At Rocky Mountain PBS 2101 Arapahoe St, Denver, CO 80205

Duration: Doors at 5:00pm, music at 6:00pm

Accessibility: The Rocky Mountain PBS building is fully ADA compliant. If you have other accessibility questions about the venue, please contact them directly at 303-892-6666

Food and Drink: Complementary, sponsored by Rocky Mountain PBS.

Discounted tickets: Discounted tickets are available to 1) Those that are blind or visually impaired (BVI) and 2) AINC Volunteers (VOLUNTEER), even if you aren’t volunteering at this specific event and 3) People from the Colorado Retina Associates. Please inquire with penn@aincolorado.org for your discount codes!

Parking:

Please park in the public parking lots near the Rocky Mountain PBS building. There is public parking available at cost on the corner of Arapahoe and 21st, Arapahoe and 22nd, or Lawrence and 21st. See map below for more details.

Parking map with buildings and lots highlighted

Meet our Sponsors

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