Who we are
For more than 40 years, Swallow Hill has offered music lessons, presented and promoted concerts, and provided music education in under-resourced communities. Based in Denver, we offer a unique suite of services. Our mission is to bring the joy of music to life every day.
Founded in 1979, Swallow Hill Music began as an outgrowth of the Denver Folklore Center, a music store in Denver’s Swallow Hill neighborhood that offered music lessons and performances to the community in the 1960s and 1970s. When the Folklore Center closed temporarily in the late 1970s, a group of committed volunteers formed Swallow Hill Music as a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “bring the joy of music to life every day.” Since then, we have become a cultural asset and a distinct thread in Colorado’s musical fabric.
Swallow Hill is a community for individuals and families who want to learn about, listen to and perform music. We host exceptional musical experiences featuring world-class artists who enrich the local arts scene and range from noteworthy local performers to seasoned national and international acts. Our music school welcomes students into an inclusive community where they make social connections through music. With more than 200,000 musical connections made each year, Swallow Hill is building a dynamic and innovative community of music listeners and learners.