Is Boulder a good place for a classical musician? (rent, job market)

[FrenchHorn7]

I'm looking into where to apply for grad school, and location is almost more important to me than the program (assuming the program is decent and offers good funding). I'm originally from Connecticut, and go to college here. (Please don't assume I'm a trust-fund baby from Fairfield, I'm actually from working-class Irish roots and am the first to go to college in my family. My parents don't pay for my school, rent or anything else, so affordability and public transportation are very important to me.) I've heard it's very expensive to live there, which is what I want to avoid! Thoughts?

[POhdNcrzy]

I say not a match on 2 counts.

1. If you are really intent on becoming a professional classical performer, the best area to be by far is somewhere within a triangle stretching between Chicago, Wash, D.C., and Boston.

2. You could pick some worse places than Boulder, that's for sure. Overall, though, Boulder is not a good place for people with money problems. You are likely to struggle there financially (mostly because of outrageously high rents and an extremely competitive job market). From the perspective of a college student with a good scholarship, I think Boulder is financially do-able though.


On the plus side, you would be living, learning and having adventures far away from the place you grew up (CT). That is always a good thing for a young person. Also, Boulder is a really neat place. It's not a great place for the arts (music, visual or other), but it is a pretty decent place for the arts.

[FrenchHorn7]

Thanks for the reply! A grand adventure is what I'm looking for, so maybe Boulder is a good place. My roommate from last year is attending UC in the fall, so being a CT native too she'll be able to let me know how it compares.

[POhdNcrzy]

Okay great, now play the solo in After The Gold Rush please.