Michael Klein Music Tent (Aspen Music Festival and School) Description

The Michael Klein Music Tent is the main performance venue of the Aspen Music Festival and School, offering the acoustics of a concert hall combined with the romance and freshness of an open-air tent. The 2,050-seat venue was designed by Harry Teague and opened in 2000, located on the Meadows Campus. In December 2023, the tent was renamed the Michael Klein Music Tent in honor of current board chair Michael Klein’s significant donation, the second largest gift in the institution’s history. The naming recognizes Klein’s financial and leadership contributions over more than thirty years and will remain in place for the next 25 years, reflecting a gift structure designed to thank the institution’s most committed supporters while creating opportunities for future investment.

The venue has been known by several names throughout its history, originally called the Aspen Amphitheater and later the Bayer-Benedict Tent in 1993, honoring architects Herbert Bayer and Fritz Benedict. When the current structure opened in 2000, it became the Benedict Music Tent in recognition of Fritz Benedict’s longtime board membership and leadership. The Aspen Music Festival and School continues to honor Benedict at the main entrance of the Music Tent, which has been renamed the Benedict Entrance for the duration of the current structure’s use, with a plaque describing his role with the organization.

The gift from Michael Klein comes as the festival and school invest significant funds to renovate the nearly 24-year-old structure, create plans for increased operating and housing costs, and expand community-based music education programs. This contribution provides key support to the institution and helps ensure its ability to offer world-class classical music performance and education in Aspen. The Michael Klein Music Tent hosts a variety of events throughout the Aspen Music Festival season including classical concerts, jazz performances, family-friendly concerts, educational programs, and special performances, all in an environment that combines excellent sound quality with fresh mountain air and stunning natural surroundings.

Services: Classical Music Concerts, Jazz Performances, Family-Friendly Concerts, Educational Programs, Live Music Events, Special Performances
Category: Entertainment
Features: Family, Events, Dancing, Live Music
Address: 960 North 3rd Street Aspen, CO 81611
Directions: View on Google Maps