The Colorado Symphony Announces Appointment of Two New Conductors

Denver, United States – September 22, 2015 /MarketersMedia/ —

Following a comprehensive international search and audition process with more than 200 candidates, the Colorado Symphony is proud to announce that Christopher Dragon will join the Colorado Symphony as Associate Conductor and Andres Lopera will join as Assistant Conductor.

Mr. Dragon will make his official debut conducting the opening Pink Martini portion of the Colorado Symphony with Diana Krall concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Aug. 12. Mr. Lopera will join the Colorado Symphony during the upcoming 2015/16 season, which begins Sept. 18.

Christopher Dragon – Associate Conductor

Christopher Dragon comes to the Colorado Symphony following nearly three years as the assistant conductor of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO).

Christopher has been an important figure in expanding orchestral music in Australia in recent years, serving as the conductor or director of various organizations, such as the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, the South Side Symphony Orchestra, the Western Australia Youth Orchestra’s Philharmonic Orchestra, and others.

“It’s a huge privilege to be joining the Colorado Symphony as associate conductor,” Christopher said. “I had such a fantastic time with the orchestra during the auditions and instantly felt a connection with the musicians. I’m so happy to be joining the orchestra so soon for concerts in August, and look forward to exploring more of Colorado and immersing myself into American music and culture.”

Christopher’s experience includes:

– conducting the Sydney Symphony Orchestra with Australian singer/songwriter Josh Pyke; a recorded album of the live concert is scheduled to be released in 2015;

– being selected in 2014 to conduct the Princess Galyani Vadhana Youth Orchestra in Thailand;

– participating in the Jarvi Winter Academy in Estonia, where he was awarded the Orchestra’s Favorite Conductor Prize in 2014; and

– studying under numerous notable conductors, including Paavo and Neeme Jarvi at the Jarvi Summer Festival, Fabio Luisi, Jorma Panula, and Asher Fisch

Andres Lopera – Assistant Conductor

Andres Lopera is a leading Latin American orchestral artist in the United States, with nearly a decade of work in both North and South America.

In 2012, Andres was appointed music director of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony in Portland, OR, where he oversaw more than 460 students. In recognition of his contributions to Portland, Andres received the Portland Monthly Award, Rising Star Award, and the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber Bravo Award.

“I am thrilled and sincerely honored to join the Colorado Symphony Orchestra,” Andres said. “I look forward to connecting with the Colorado community and to contributing to this wonderful organization.”

Andres’ experience includes:

– conducting the Oregon Symphony, Toledo Symphony, New World Symphony, National Repertory Orchestra, and Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra;

– working with professional and youth orchestras throughout Central and South America, including orchestral groups in Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay and Honduras, and leading the Youth Orchestra of the Americas musical camp;

– studying under notable conductors, including Hugh Wolff, David Loebel, Carlos Kalmar, Ludovic Morlot and Carlos Miguel Prieto; and

– receiving a master’s of music degree in orchestral conducting from New England Conservatory, and a master’s degree in trombone performance from the University of Texas at Austin.

“The acquisition of these two very talented young conductors is a testament to the resurgence of our orchestra as it continues to develop artistically,” Colorado Symphony CEO Jerry Kern said. “We are sure that all of our audiences will enjoy them on the podium.”

Conductor and program information for each concert is updated on the Colorado Symphony website as it is confirmed. For the most current concert information, please visit: www.coloradosymphony.org/Tickets/Concert-Series

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

Christopher Dragon, Associate Conductor
Andres Lopera, Assistant Conductor
Robert Neu, Senior Vice President of Artistic Planning
Anthony Pierce, Senior Vice President of Program Innovation

TICKETS:

Single concert tickets are now on sale and available online at tickets.coloradosymphony.org, 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 am – 6 pm; Saturday, noon – 6 pm; and two hours prior to each performance.

CONTACTS:

For more information or to request interviews, please contact:

Seth McNew, Director of Public and Community Relations

smcnew@coloradosymphony.org – 303.308.2477

For high-resolution, downloadable images, visit http://www.coloradosymphony.org/media.

The Colorado Symphony thanks its gracious season sponsors: The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), Arrow Electronics, Target, 9News, and United Airlines.

ABOUT THE COLORADO SYMPHONY

One of the leading orchestras in the United States, the Colorado Symphony performs more than 150 concerts annually at Boettcher Concert Hall in downtown Denver and across Colorado. Led by internationally renowned Music Director Andrew Litton, 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. Every season, the Colorado Symphony serves more than 250,000 people from all walks of life, performing a range of musical styles, from traditional to contemporary. 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.

For more information about us, please visit http://www.coloradosymphony.org

Contact Info:
Name: Seth McNew, Director of Public and Community Relations
Email: smcnew@coloradosymphony.org
Organization: Colorado Symphony
Address: 1000 14th Street, suite 15, Denver, Colorado, USA, 80202
Phone: 303.308.2477

Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeQNHbgRDWo

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/the-colorado-symphony-announces-appointment-of-two-new-conductors/82307

Release ID: 82307

Go Top