World-class chamber music, an international belly-dance guru, a filmmaker who tries to chase down Michael Moore, salsa dancing under the stars, opera/jazz/musical theater, a Juneteenth celebration, and literary readings by compelling authors. ... Must be summertime at Colorado College.

Artwork by Merr Shearn

This fantastic stew of eclectic events is the Summer Festival of the Arts — really four festivals that roll out through the season: the Summer Music Festival, celebrating fine chamber music; Extraordinary Dance! Festival, presenting the most modern dance forms; the Vocal Arts Symposium, staging opera, jazz, and musical theater; and the New Music Symposium, showcasing new composers. In addition, summer on campus is peppered with films, bands, literary readings, theater, and more. A quick look:

Award-winning Denver-based Buntport Theater, comprised of CC alumni, presented the comedy, “Kafka On Ice.” Opera performer-turned-novelist Marc Acito ’90 (author of “How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship, and Musical Theater”) offered an evening of stories, song, and laughter.

As the Summer Music Festival, June 15-July 5, tuned up for its 21st season, the college for the second consecutive year awarded all festival students with full scholarships. Almost 300 young musicians vied for 37 spots. They came from the U.S., Japan, Korea, Poland, Hungary, Malaysia, and Argentina; several study at Juilliard, Eastman, and other top conservatories. For three weeks, the students absorbed instruction from top visiting artists including Marina Piccinini, David and Phillip Ying, Jon Manasse, Steven Copes, and Scott Yoo. Concertgoers got in on the magic, enjoying electrifying performances by the festival faculty and their talented pupils.

The Extraordinary Dance! Festival featured outstanding dancers, including CC alumni, modern and improvisation performers Hijack, as well as acrobalance artists Richard Durnford and Nikki Andrews, ballet experts Maria Mosina and Meelis Pakri, and belly-dance star Rachel Brice teaching American-Asian tribal fusion. The popular Dance Gala was July 9 and 10.

Contemporary composers and their works were featured during the New Music Symposium, which offered concerts July 12-16, including one on the newly restored Shove Memorial Chapel pipe organ. Composers Ofer Ben-Amots, Carlton Gamer, Jan Jirasek, Pierre Jalbert, Russell Steinberg, and others presented their music.

Acclaimed opera singer Martile Rowland once again directed the Vocal Arts Symposium in musical theater pieces ranging from opera to jazz to Broadway. A series of concerts ran July 22 through Aug. 7.