This weekend, the Aspen Choral Society (ACS) invites all from across the Roaring Fork Valley to “Luminous Night,” a poignant musical exploration of the nature of grief and loss in a moment not only significant for its organization but the world as a whole. Aspen Choral Society, which has performed mixed choral and orchestral concerts […]
Paul Dankers
Posted inLocal Government
For two, Basalt’s new STR fee is too much to bear
In May of 2025, the Town of Basalt held a series of contested public hearings on a potential $2,532 per bedroom per year fee for short term rental (STR) operations in order to generate revenue for affordable housing. The fee was approved by a vote of 4-3, but not without hours of debate between councilors […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Delighting in the dark
At least 100 people sat together in the dark and silence for several long minutes on Dec. 20, accompanying Persephone’s underworld transformation. That may sound mundane — a room full of people doing ostensibly nothing. But it was, in fact, profound. Waves of discomfort rippled through the audience, now participants, in what felt for moments […]
Posted inOpinion
Common Ground: Dialoguing across the aisle
This month, VOICES Radio Hour launches its Common Ground Conversation series with the promise of getting together in a safe and supportive setting to have conversations about tough topics. It’s our firm belief that one-on-one conversations are the way to start chipping away at the walls that have built up between us as a society. […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Aspen Choral Society sings to universal themes in ‘Children of Eden’
This weekend, March 21-23, the Aspen Choral Society will welcome local audiences into the world of “Children of Eden” by Stephen Schwartz with a concert-style performance. The show, which first premiered in 1991, is popular among theater enthusiasts despite a lack of commercial success after plans to take the production to Broadway were scrapped. The […]
Posted inColumns
VOICES Radio Hour: How I found IFS
This month on VOICES Radio Hour — Friday, March 14 at 6pm on KDNK — we kick off our Common Ground series by discussing the ways we can bring our best self to the table for hard conversations. In a conversation with Paul Dankers, who is a psilocybin harm reduction specialist, we discuss Internal Family […]
Posted inNews
TRUU welcomes new music directors with open arms
On Aug. 6, the Two Rivers Unitarian Universalist (TRUU) congregation announced their new music co-directors, married couple Paul Dankers and Michael Schoepe, who they welcomed with open arms on Aug.18 during their weekly gathering at the Third Street Center. In addition to the couple leading musical worship, Dankers has also taken on the responsibilities of […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Aspen Choral Society finds universal resonance
Aspen Choral Society’s spring show is set to dazzle, once again, after pushing the creative edge last year with movement, moody lights, living sculptures and provocative symbolism along the themes of grief and rebirth. Each year, the all-ages, volunteer choir produces Handel’s “Messiah” in the winter followed by a special spring show. According to director […]