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 TWO NEW CONDUCTOR APPOINTMENTS
Dragon named music director of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra; also appointed resident conductor of Colorado Symphony
May 24, 2019 – Denver, CO – Colorado Symphony Associate Conductor Christopher Dragon has accepted two new appointments beginning in the 2019/20 Season. In an announcement today, Dragon was named music director of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra located in Casper, WY. In addition, Dragon has been named resident conductor for the Colorado Symphony, a role he will serve for the next two seasons.
“It’s an absolute honor to have been named music director for the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra and I’m so incredibly grateful for the opportunity,” said Dragon. “These last four seasons with the Colorado Symphony have been instrumental in my development and I look forward to working with the tremendous musicians and staff of the organization moving forward in my new role as resident conductor.”
Dragon is currently in his fourth season as the Associate Conductor of the Colorado Symphony. For three years he previously held the position of Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, 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 incredible asset and audience favorite since coming on board as associate conductor four seasons ago and we’re thrilled for his appointment as music director for the Wyoming Symphony,” said Chief Artistic Officer Tony Pierce. “It’s been a pleasure to watch him blossom and mature within the role and we look forward to watching his continued growth as he takes on additional leadership within our organization in his role as resident conductor.”
Dragon’s international guest conducting includes the 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.
“The Wyoming Symphony Orchestra is overjoyed to welcome the vibrant, young conductor Christopher Dragon to Casper and eager to introduce his bright energy, distinct talent and creativity to the Wyoming community,” said Rachel Bailey, Executive Director for the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra. “We feel he is the perfect candidate for our burgeoning arts scene and will take the WSO to the next level.”
For more information on Christopher Dragon’s upcoming 2019/20 Season podium appearances with the Colorado Symphony, visit coloradosymphony.org.
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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
The 2018/19 Colorado Symphony Season is presented by Arrow Electronics and Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. Support also provided by: The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), 9News, United Airlines, 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. – 6 p.m.; Saturday, noon – 6 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 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. In addition, over 265,000 people listen to the Colorado Symphony through Colorado Public Radio’s live broadcasts of classical content featuring concert recordings, in-studio performances of individual musicians and small ensembles, and live streaming of interviews and performances with artists. 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.