Concert in Wings of the Tropics

Experience a magical evening where music and nature meet inside Butterfly Pavilion’s Wings of the Tropics butterfly conservatory. This intimate program brings together live chamber music by Concertvation; a nonprofit that explores how artists and scientists partner to translate ecological data into sound. Rooted in the earth itself – from soil and root systems to forests and trees – this upcoming program will reflect on the natural world as both a fragile and a living, interconnected system. 

We invite music and nature lovers alike to step into an immersive experience where sound becomes a way of listening more deeply to the planet. Performances will explore how music can respond to environmental change, grief, and resilience, transforming scientific observation and ecological awareness into reflection, empathy, and action. 

The performance will be interwoven with contextual insights from Butterfly Pavilion naturalist Dave Sutherland, offering perspectives on the ecological systems that inspire the music. Additional immersive elements may include guided reflection, environmental storytelling, or interactive experiences within the space, designed to deepen the connection between audience and the world around us. 

Date and Time:
July 31st, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
August 1st, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Doors will open at 6:00 p.m.

Fee:
$35 for Members
$40 for Non-Members
$35 for Seniors 

Meet the Band:

Violinists:
Byron Hitchcock:  
A Wyoming native whose path through the Cleveland Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, and SUNY Purchase led to concertmaster posts across two continents — from the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra to the Spoleto USA Festival Orchestra. He currently serves as Concertmaster of the Fort Collins Symphony, Central City Opera, Opera Colorado, and Inside the Orchestra in Denver, and has shared the stage with Andrea Bocelli, Itzhak Perlman, and Yo-Yo Ma. 

Adrienne Short: 
Adrienne Short holds a Bachelor of Arts in Violin Performance and a Graduate Certificate in Orchestral Studies from the University of Denver, where she studied under James Maurer, Linda Wang, and Yumi Hwang-Williams. Based in the Denver area, she maintains an active career as a performer, recording artist, and educator. In addition to her private teaching studio, Adrienne serves as adjunct faculty at Red Rocks Community College. She has toured extensively across the United States and Canada, performing and recording with acclaimed artists such as Gregory Alan Isakov and Nathaniel Rateliff. Adrienne regularly performs with the Colorado Symphony as a substitute violinist and was a full-time member of the violin section during the 2017–2018 and 2021–2022 seasons. 

Viola:
Stephanie Mientka 
Dr. Stephanie Mientka has cultivated a diverse career in music, encompassing orchestral and chamber performances, teaching, and concert presenting. An active orchestral musician, she performs with the Boulder Philharmonic and the Colorado Ballet Orchestra, and regularly serves as a substitute musician for Central City Opera the Colorado Symphony.Dr. Mientka has performed an extensive range of chamber music and has collaborated with distinguished musicians from the L.A. Opera, Colorado Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, and the Concertgebouw Orchestra. A dedicated advocate for contemporary music, she is the founding violist of the Deciduous Trio, an ensemble committed to commissioning and premiering new works. Dr. Mientka is deeply passionate about music education and has over fifteen years of experience teaching violin and viola. She is trained in the internationally acclaimed Suzuki Method, emphasizing a nurturing and effective approach to learning. In addition to her private teaching, she serves as the adjunct viola professor at the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Mientka holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Boulder, a master’s degree from Rice University, and earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from CU Boulder. 

Cello:
Amanda Skye Laborete 
Amanda Skye Laborete is a cellist whose work lives at the intersection of artistry, community, and impact. Her adventurous career spans orchestral, chamber, and genre-defying performances, sharing the stage with artists ranging from Yo-Yo Ma to Wu-Tang Clan. Amanda’s performing career includes roles with the Boulder Philharmonic, Compass Resonance and Front Range Chamber Players, as well as past section positions with the Colorado Symphony, Santa Fe Opera and frequent engagements with the Rochester Philharmonic and Albany Symphony. She is the founder of Concertvation, an initiative that unites music and conservation to inspire action for wildlife and the planet. A dedicated educator and advocate, Amanda serves on the board of El Sistema Colorado, guided by her belief in music’s power to transform lives. When not performing or teaching, she’s outside hiking with her dogs Arlo and Louie, snuggling her cat Bubu, or volunteering at the zoo. Whether on stage or outdoors, Amanda listens deeply for the resonance between sound and story, people and place, and art and a world worth protecting.