Lauren Varley

Contact Information

Professional/Academic Experience

Originally from Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, Lauren Varley received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Boyer College of Music at Temple University and the Master of Music degree from San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Additionally, Lauren spent summers studying at the Bar Harbor Brass Festival, Sewanee Summer Music Festival and Aspen Music Festival and School. Her primary teachers include Adam Unsworth and Bob Ward.

Lauren’s energetic passion as an educator and performer has led to performances throughout the country at venues from the Hollywood Bowl to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Northern Colorado, Lauren served on the faculty at Luther College in Iowa and The University of Alabama.

In addition to her orchestral experience, Lauren enjoys playing music for opera and ballet. She plays frequently with the Colorado Ballet and is a member of Opera Colorado. Lauren is currently also a member of the Greeley Philharmonic, Denver Brass and Fresno Philharmonic in California. In Colorado, she has also performed with the Ft. Collins Symphony, Steamboat Symphony, Boulder Philharmonic and Colorado Springs Symphony. She is a former associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

An ardent advocate for new music, Lauren has performed and toured extensively with the chamber ensemble Gemini Duo, which has commissioned several new works for horn, violin, and electronics. Lauren has also performed and recorded in the award-winning Opera Parallele, a San Francisco based opera focusing on contemporary works. In California, she also performed with the Marin Symphony, Monterey Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, Symphony Napa Valley and San Francisco Symphony. In 2008, Lauren was the grand prize winner of the Berkley Piano Club Concerto competition.

In addition to teaching and performing, Lauren loves skiing and hiking throughout Colorado and is training for her second triathlon. She is also a “retired” championship level Irish dancer. Lauren lives in Greeley with her husband and four children.