FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Nick Dobreff, Communications and Creative Director
616.485.3913 (m) – 303.308.2477 (o)
COLORADO SYMPHONY’S CHRISTOPHER DRAGON ACCEPTS NEW APPOINTMENT WITH THE PHILLY POPS
Dragon will continue in his role as resident conductor for the Colorado Symphony
Mar. 5, 2025 – Denver, CO – Colorado Symphony Resident Conductor Christopher Dragon has accepted a new appointment beginning in the 2025/26 Season. In an announcement today, Dragon was named music director of The No Name Pops (NNP), soon to be called The Philly Pops. Dragon will continue to serve in his role as resident conductor for the Colorado Symphony.
“I am truly honored to be named Music Director of The Philly Pops,” said Dragon. “These last 10 seasons with the Colorado Symphony have been instrumental in my development and I look forward to working with the tremendous musicians and staff in Denver for years to come.”
Dragon recently concluded his 10th season with the Colorado Symphony, including the last six as resident conductor. He joined the Colorado Symphony in the 2015/16 Season and spent four seasons as Associate Conductor. He has also served as music director for the Greensboro Symphony since 2024, and the Wyoming Symphony, a role he was appointed to prior to the 2019/20 Season. Prior to joining the Colorado Symphony, 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.
“Christopher Dragon has been an incredible asset and audience favorite since joining us a decade ago and we’re thrilled for his appointment as music director for The Philly Pops,” said Tony Pierce, Colorado Symphony Chief Artistic Officer. “It’s been a pleasure to watch him blossom and mature over the years as he’s grown to become an internationally recognized conductor, and we look forward to watching his continued growth in the seasons to come.”
Dragon has a versatile portfolio ranging from live-to-picture performances including Nightmare Before Christmas, Toy Story and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, a wide variety of collaborations with artists such as the Wu-Tang Clan, Cynthia Erivo and Joshua Bell, to standard and contemporary orchestral repertoire such as Danny Elfman’s Percussion Concerto; all areas of which he has become highly sought after. Christopher has become known for his charisma, high energy and affinity for a good costume, consistently delivering unforgettable performances that has made him an audience favourite.
Recent highlights include his debut with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, his German debut with the WDR Funkhausorchester, performances of Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton with Danny Elfman reprising the role of Jack Skellington and historic performances with Nathaniel Rateliff at Walt Disney Concert Hall and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center.
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CONTACTS:
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 2024/25 Colorado Symphony Season is provided by: The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), Genesee Mountain Foundation, Denver Arts & Venues, Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Chamber Initiatives, 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-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization performing more than 150 concerts annually at Boettcher Concert Hall in downtown Denver and across Colorado. Led by Principal Conductor Peter Oundjian, 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. The orchestra celebrated their Centennial during the 2023/24 concert season. In the last year, the Colorado Symphony served over 340,000 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 in-person and virtual education programs, 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.