Music Director
Christopher Dragon
Chris Dragon is an exciting, energetic, and charismatic conductor who will lead the Philly Pops into this new era.
Discover Christopher Dragon’s versatile portfolio
Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is the Music Director of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra,
newly Music Director of the Philly Pops, former Music Director of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra
and is the Resident Conductor of the Colorado Symphony which he joined in the 2015/16 Season as
Associate Conductor. Before moving to the United States, Dragon held the inaugural position of Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra where he was mentored by Asher Fisch.
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 sold-out symphony tour with Gregory Alan Isakov including two
performances at New York’s iconic Radio City, with another symphony tour planned in 2026
culminating at the Hollywood Bowl. Other upcoming highlights include collaborations with
Jon Batiste, Idina Menzel and his debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
“His down-for-anything attitude is really going to bring this new age of pops music.”
—Matthew Koveal, Executive Director
Recent highlights include his sold-out symphony tour with Gregory Alan Isakov, which included debuts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Nashville Symphony, a new orchestral collaboration with Nathaniel Rateliff and his successful German debut with the WDR Funkhausorchester.
Christopher is highly sought after as a guest conductor and has worked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Utah Symphony, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. In Australia, he has guest conducted the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and West Australian Symphony Orchestras. His 2015 debut performance at the Sydney Opera House with John Pyke and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was released on album by ABC Music and won an ARIA the following year
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 Art Festival alongside Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Christopher 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 Jarvi at the Jarvi Summer Festival, Fabio Luisi at the Pacific Music Festival and conducting pedagogue Jorma Panula.
Christopher Dragon in the News
