Altar de Muertos: String Quartet Masterworks Performance

The Playground Ensemble String Quartet presents a performance of Gabriela Ortiz’s ceremonial “Altar de Muertos” in celebration of Día de los Muertos.

This is a free event on October 22nd at Friedhoff Hall in the Green Center on the Colorado School of Mines campus in Golden. Each show features a theatrical element with water drums, traditional ankle rattles, masks made by local Mexican artist Josefina Calzada and a post-show Q&A with the musicians. Attendees are invited to honor loved ones by bringing an offering for the ofrenda before the show.

Thursday, October 22, 2026 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Friedhoff Hall in the Green Center on the Colorado School of Mines campus - 924 16th Street, Golden, CO, 80401
Free to attend. No ticket required.

About the Performance Ortiz’s piece is divided into four parts — Ofrenda, Mictlan, Danza Macabra and La Calaca — each describing diverse moods, traditions and the spiritual worlds which shape the global concept of death in Mexico, plus the artist’s own personal concept of death. As she explains: “The tradition of the Day of the Dead festivities in Mexico is the source of inspiration for the creation of [this] work for string quartet, whose ideas could reflect the internal search between the real and the magic, a duality always present in Mexican culture, from the past to the present.”

The Playground String Quartet features Sarah Whitnah, Violin; Jackson Bailey, Violin; Don Schumacher, Viola; and David Short on Cello.

About Playground The Playground Ensemble is a group of professional musicians, composers, educators and fans dedicated to presenting chamber music as a living art form. Their goal is to provide stimulating performances, expand common perceptions of both contemporary music and the chamber ensemble, and nurture a community around this music that they love. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, they cultivate a thriving local composition community through a robust commissioning program and extensive education/outreach programs. For more information, photos, and a complete list of concerts and events, please visit the Playground Ensemble website at www.playgroundensemble.org.