FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Nick Dobreff, Manager of Publicity and Community Relations
616.485.3913 (m) – 303.308.2477 (o)
ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org
COLORADO SYMPHONY’S CHRISTOPHER DRAGON ACCEPTS CONTRACT EXTENSION THROUGH 2023-24 CONCERT SEASON
Dragon, who previously served as Associate Conductor from 2015 – 2019, was named Resident Conductor prior to the 2019-20 Season.
Jan. 26, 2021 – Denver, CO – The Colorado Symphony announces a contract extension for Resident Conductor Christopher Dragon through the 2023-24 concert season, ending June 30, 2024. Dragon, who previously served as Associate Conductor for four seasons starting in 2015-16, was named Resident Conductor and given a two-year contract prior to the 2019-20 season. This renewal and extension of contract begins July 1, 2021.
“It’s an absolute honor to have this opportunity to remain part of a world-class orchestra like the Colorado Symphony,” said Dragon. “I look forward to working with the tremendous musicians and staff of the organization moving forward as we look to come back stronger than ever once we are able to resume pre-COVID-19-restricted concert operations in Boettcher Concert Hall.”
Dragon is currently in his sixth season with the Colorado Symphony and his second as the Resident Conductor. During the summer of 2020, Dragon conducted 18 live, socially distanced performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre as part of the Colorado Symphony’s Acoustic on the Rocks series. These concerts were the first live events at Red Rocks with patrons since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In so doing, Dragon became the conductor with the most podium appearances in the illustrious history of Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
Dragon is also in his second season as Music Director for the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra located in Casper, WY. He previously held the position of Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra for three years, which gave him the opportunity to work closely with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch. Dragon works regularly in Australia and has guest conducted the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and West Australian Symphony Orchestras. His 2015 debut performance at the Sydney Opera House with Josh Pyke and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was released on album by ABC Music and won an ARIA the following year.
“Christopher Dragon has been an indispensable asset and audience favorite since coming on board as associate conductor six seasons ago and we’re thrilled that he’ll be a mainstay on our podium for the next four seasons as he continues his role as Resident Conductor,” said Anthony Pierce, Chief Artistic Officer. “Since being named Resident Conductor two seasons ago, it’s been a pleasure to watch him blossom and mature while taking on additional leadership within our organization. We look forward to seeing growth between him and the ensemble for years to come.”
Dragon’s international guest conducting includes the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He has also conducted at numerous festivals including the Breckenridge and Bangalow Music Festivals, with both resulting in immediate re-invitations. At the beginning of 2016 Dragon conducted Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony as part of the Perth International Arts Festival alongside Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra. Dragon began his conducting studies in 2011 and was a member of the prestigious Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program in Australia under the guidance of course director Christopher Seaman. He has also studied with numerous distinguished conductors including Leonid Grin, Paavo and Neeme Järvi at the Järvi Summer Festival, Fabio Luisi at the Pacific Music Festival, and conducting pedagogue Jorma Panula.
###
CONTACTS:
For more information or to request interviews, please contact:
Nick Dobreff, Manager of Publicity and Community Relations
ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org - 303.308.2477 (o)
For high-resolution, downloadable images of the Colorado Symphony, contact: ndobreff@coloradosymphony.org
TICKETS:
Tickets to Colorado Symphony events are available online at coloradosymphony.org/tickets or by phone at 303.623.7876. The Box Office is open for phone inquiries only, Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
ABOUT THE COLORADO SYMPHONY
One of the leading orchestras in the United States, the Colorado Symphony Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization performing more than 150 concerts annually at Boettcher Concert Hall in downtown Denver and across Colorado. Led by Music Director Brett Mitchell, the Colorado Symphony is home to eighty full-time musicians, representing more than a dozen nations, and regularly welcomes the most celebrated artists from the world of symphonic music and beyond. In the last year, the Colorado Symphony served nearly 233,000 people attending live performances at concert and non-traditional venues throughout Colorado’s Front Range. Recognized as an incubator of innovation, creativity, and excellence, the Colorado Symphony continually expands its reach through education, outreach, and programming. The Colorado Symphony partners with the state’s leading musical artists, cultural organizations, corporations, foundations, sports teams, and individuals to expose diverse audiences to the transformative power of music. To learn more, visit coloradosymphony.org.