The Peak to Peak Music Education Association was formed after the death of “Michigan Mike” Torpie, the founder of NedFest (below), to continue the festival and support music education programs in the peak to peak region.

Michigan Mike (center) with light shirt) celebrates a successful 2011 NedFest with friends at the late-night Black Forest show. Pictured (left to right) PPMEA President Rob Savoy, Jarod (NedFest parking director), Happy Jack (long-time NedFest volunteer), Michigan Mike Torpie (NedFest Founder), Kristen McFarland (PPMEA Event Coordinator), Lyn Hanna (founding PPMEA Board Member), Ben Griffin (founding PPMEA Board Member), Mark Latiolais (PPMEA Board Member).

**Young local musicians perform at NedFest**

Grants

Since its inception, the Peak to Peak Music Education Association has awarded over $8000 in grants for music programs and musical instruments to the Nederland Elementary School, the Nederland Middle and Senior High School, the Gilpin County School, and the Nederland TEEN Center, as well as providing private music lessons for select young musicians in need.

Our first grant: April 12, 2013:
The Peak to Peak Music Education Association Board of Directors presents a check to Stephen LeFaiver, TEEN Center director, to support an after school music tutor in conjunction with the Mark Vann Foundation.

PPMEA and NedFest in the News

Daily Camera “NedFest Calls it Quits”

“16th Annual NedFest Music and Arts Festival on Tap”
Rocky Mountain Jams, August 2014
http://www.rockymountainjams.com/2014/08/16th-annual-nedfest-music-and-arts-festival-on-tap-photos/

“NedFest 2013” by Kali Basman
Grateful Web, August 29, 2013
http://www.gratefulweb.com/articles/nedfest-2013-review-and-photos

“NedFest 2013: Standing Strong” By Dave Kirby
Boulder Weekly, Thursday, August 22, 2013
http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-11531-nedfest-2013-standing-strong.html
PDF Version

“NedFest Celebrates Community: Fifteen Years of Showcasing Music in Nederland” By Ashley Dean
Daily Camera, August 21, 2013
http://www.dailycamera.com/entertainment/ci_23912090/nedfest-celebrates-community
PDF Version

“NedFest Celebrates its Miraculous 15th Year” by Kirsten Cohen
The Marquee, May 1, 2013
http://marqueemag.com/2013/05/nedfest-celebrates-its-miraculous-15th-year/

“Performance Painter a NedFest Highlight” by C. Alan Crandall
Daily Camera, August 24, 2012
http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_21377188/performance-painter-nedfest
PDF Version

“The Little Festival that Could” by Dave Kirby
Boulder Magazine, Summer 2012 Guide
http://www.getboulder.com/features-summer-2012/the-little-festival-that-could
PDF Version

“NedFest on for 2012 Despite Death of Founder “Michigan Mike” by Mitchell Byars
Daily Camera, February 10, 2012
http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_19941243
PDF Version

“NedFest Soldiers on Under New Non-profit Group” by Brian Johnson
The Marquee, May 1, 2012
http://marqueemag.com/2012/05/01/nedfest-2/
PDF Version

“NedFest Reboots: One time volunteers split up Mike Torpie’s job among six people and move on.” by Dave Kirby
Boulder Weekly, August 23, 2012
http://npaper-wehaa.com/boulder-weekly/2012/08/23/#?article=1661242
PDF Version

“NedFest Continues”
The Mountain-Ear, February 13, 2012
http://themtnear.com/?p=738
PDF Version