FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Nick Dobreff, Communications and Creative Director
616.485.3913 (m) – 303.308.2477 (o)
ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org
COLORADO SYMPHONY AND CHRISTOPHER DRAGON ANNOUNCE NEW FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT
In-demand conductor continues artistic leadership role alongside Music Director Peter Oundjian through 2030/31 Season.
Feb. 17, 2026 – Denver, CO – The Colorado Symphony, under the artistic leadership of Music Director Peter Oundjian, is pleased to announce that Christopher Dragon has signed a new five-year contract, beginning with the 2026/27 Season. The agreement extends a partnership that has become a defining force in the orchestra’s artistic identity.
The new contract is a recognition of Dragon’s local impact and growing international profile. Since joining the Colorado Symphony in 2015 as Associate Conductor, and later as Resident Conductor beginning in the 2019/20 season, Dragon has become one of the most sought-after conductors in the field. He has been personally requested as conductor by renowned artists including Cynthia Erivo, Gregory Alan Isakov, Nathaniel Rateliff, RZA, and Danny Elfman, among others. His ability to bridge traditional symphonic repertoire with popular music, film, and cross-genre projects has made him an indispensable artistic voice for the Colorado Symphony and a rising star in the orchestral world.
Daniel Wachter, President & CEO of the Colorado Symphony, said: “Chris has been integral to our artistic evolution over the past decade. His rare ability to connect with musicians, audiences, and guest artists alike has elevated our work on stage and in the community. This five-year contract ensures that Chris’ leadership will remain a cornerstone of our success well into the future.”
In January, Dragon conducted the Colorado Symphony’s two sold-out performances alongside Gregory Alan Isakov at Radio City Music Hall. His upcoming podium appearances at Boettcher Concert Hall include leading a pair of Classics weekends, the first featuring Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 alongside Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Olga Kern this weekend, February 20-22, and Pictures at an Exhibition alongside the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 with soloist Albert Cano Smit from May 15-17.
Tony Pierce, Chief Artistic Officer, added: “From the beginning, Chris has been fearless about pushing boundaries, whether it’s conducting Brahms, leading a world premiere, navigating a complex film score, or collaborating with a world-renowned guest artist. His energy and creativity inspire both our orchestra and our audiences. His continued presence ensures artistic continuity and momentum as we look ahead to the next chapter of the Colorado Symphony.”
Reflecting on his appointment, Dragon said: “From my earliest days in Denver, the Colorado Symphony has felt like home, full of ambition, passion, and an energized community of supporters. I’m deeply grateful for the trust placed in me by Peter, Daniel, Tony, and our incredible musicians. I’m excited to keep building on what we’ve created together in the years to come.”
Music Director Peter Oundjian remarked, “Chris has been an indispensable artistic force for our ensemble. This new contract both acknowledges his leadership on stage and provides a foundation for even greater creative collaboration in years to come.”
For more information on Christopher Dragon and the Colorado Symphony, please visit coloradosymphony.org.
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CONTACT:
For more information or to request interviews, please contact:
Nick Dobreff, Communications and Creative Director
ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org – 303.308.2477 (o)
For high-resolution, downloadable images of the Colorado Symphony, contact: ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org
Support for the 2025/26 Colorado Symphony Season is provided by: The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), Genesee Mountain Foundation, Denver Arts & Venues, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Schoen Foundation, and the Colorado Symphony Guild.
TICKETS:
Tickets to Colorado Symphony events are available online at coloradosymphony.org/tickets, by phone at 303.623.7876, and in person at the Boettcher Concert Hall Box Office, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1000 14th Street. The Box Office is open Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday, noon – 5 p.m., and two hours prior to each performance.
ABOUT THE COLORADO SYMPHONY
One of the leading orchestras in the United States, the Colorado Symphony Association is a not-forprofit 501(c)(3) organization performing more than 150 concerts annually at Boettcher Concert Hall in downtown Denver and across Colorado. Led by Peter Oundjian as its Music Director as of the 2025/26 season, the Colorado Symphony is home to eighty full-time musicians representing more than a dozen nations and regularly welcomes the world’s most celebrated artists from across musical genres. The orchestra celebrated its Centennial during the 2023/24 concert season and now serves more than 340,000 people each year through live performances at Boettcher Concert Hall, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, and other venues throughout Colorado’s Front Range. Boettcher Concert Hall, which opened in 1978, was the first in-the-round symphonic venue built in the United States. In November 2025, voters passed the Vibrant Denver Bond, which allocates $20 million to a future renovation of the concert hall. Guided by a vision to inspire and unite humanity through live symphonic music, the Colorado Symphony is a living heartbeat of the state — expressing its beauty, creativity, vitality, and inclusive spirit. Through unmatched artistry and bold innovation, the Symphony inspires Colorado and audiences everywhere while expanding access, fostering education, and creating lasting memories through meaningful personal connections. Recognized as an incubator of innovation, creativity, and excellence, the Colorado Symphony listens to and learns from its diverse communities, musicians, and staff; composes and creates with curiosity and versatility; and leads with empathy, collaboration, and responsible stewardship. The Symphony continually expands its reach through in-person and virtual education programs, community partnerships, and programming that celebrates achievement, honors diverse voices, and infuses joy on and off the stage. The Colorado Symphony partners with leading musical artists, cultural organizations, corporations, foundations, educators, sports teams, and individuals to connect people, uplift communities, and inspire everyone to feel part of something greater.