Swallow Hill: A Unique Arts & Culture Community

Swallow Hill Music Association is a gem in the cultural crown of the Rocky Mountain region—extremely precious and exceedingly rare. It’s precious because it promotes the joy of learning and listening to roots music. It’s rare because it is one of very few organizations in the country focusing on preserving a unique musical heritage. 

Born out of the Denver Folklore Center that was established by Harry Tuft in the Swallow Hill neighborhood of Denver during the height of the folk movement, Swallow Hill was officially founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 1979. Throughout its growth and myriad changes, Swallow Hill has focused consistently on learning and sharing meaningful music together, enriching the lives of those within its unique community. 

Swallow Hill’s music school provides year-round classes to more than 3,000 adults and children with everything from core guitar classes to specialty skills like swing jazz guitar, from didgeridoo to performance techniques and dance. From clogging to freestyle, we offer classes where you can meet people, have fun and learn. We also offer private classes and special educational programming for preschool, school age and high school students.

Our concert department produces more than 200 concerts and special performance events each year within our three-venue facility and at other locations, such as the Colfax Events Center, where we’ve presented guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel and acclaimed songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, and our annual RootsFest at the esteemed Ellie Caulkins Opera House. The concerts we present feature the best talent in an environment that is intimate and conducive to appreciating the quality of the performance.

In addition to all this, Swallow Hill also provides school outreach programs and preservation activities, houses the Sawtelle Recording Studio for musicians to record their music affordably, and acts as a resource and community gathering place for those who love music. These days, music is often a commodity rather than an uplifting experience. Swallow Hill offers a unique alternative: an experience that nurtures the most precious part of our souls and brings people together in a way only music can.

A recipient of both the Mayor’s and Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts, Swallow Hill has also been recognized by the North American Folk Alliance, been named one of the Top 25 Movers & Shakers in Arts & Culture by the Rocky Mountain News, has won countless Westword “Best of Denver” awards and is a Tier II member of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Like other arts and culture nonprofits, we rely on public support to fulfill our mission. Revenues from our concert tickets and school tuition cover about two-thirds of our costs while donations, memberships, sponsorships and grants make up the difference. Public support is critical for us to deliver the depth and breadth of programming that our community expects and helps us to maintain our facility, our staff and meet our growing costs. 

Staff | Board of Directors | Honorary Advisory Council | History