Popular music classes with Dr. Derald DeYoung. Six-week series begins January 19.

Over the past 15 years, music professor Dr. Derald DeYoung has been leading a popular music study course in Estes Park. Beginning this January, Dr. DeYoung will be teaching a six-week course focused on Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953), one of the most important and prolific composers of the 20th century.

This series is sponsored by the Estes Valley Library and will be offered on Wednesdays, January 19 through February 23, 2022. Participants may choose to register for a morning or afternoon session. The morning session runs from 10 am to 12 noon, and the identical afternoon session runs from 1 pm to 3 pm.

Sergei Prokofiev (1891 – 1953)

CLICK HERE to sign up for the morning sessions

CLICK HERE to sign up for the afternoon sessions

Since space is limited, students must register in advance and choose either the morning or afternoon sessions and may not alternate between sessions. All classes will take place at the Estes Valley Library, and there is no cost to participate. No previous musical experience is required to enjoy the content.

Classes will focus on Sergei Prokofiev’s life as a Soviet artist and introduce his music through video recordings of his orchestral, ballet, and piano music. His music is always tuneful, yet also flavored with interesting and unexpected harmonies.

“I abhor imitation,” Prokofiev once wrote, “and I abhor the familiar.” “The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians” writes: “At all periods [Prokofiev] concerned himself with music for the stage, having a sharp sense of drama and character; but he was also one of the most notable 20th-century contributors to the genres of symphony, concerto and piano sonata.”

Dr. Derald DeYoung

Instructor Derald DeYoung has taught previous courses on the music of Haydn, Mozart, Debussy, Ravel, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Schubert, Bach, and Schumann. 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.

Contact the Library at 970-586-8116 if you need any assistance with registration.