In 2015, Perth-born Christopher Dragon took up a position as Associate Conductor with the Colorado Symphony. The appointment followed three years as Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, where he worked closely with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch. Now 27, the “baby conductor” is also Principal Guest Conductor with the Denver Young Artists Orchestra.

A music graduate from the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), Dragon played the clarinet in the WA Young Orchestra and began his conducting career in 2011 after winning the WA Youth Orchestra’s Woodside Concerto Competition. He was a member of the prestigious Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program under the guidance of course director Christopher Seaman, and has studied with numerous other 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.

Christopher Dragon. Photograph © Nik Babic

Dragon works regularly in Australia and has conducted the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and West Australian Symphony Orchestras. In February, he conducted WASO’s 2018 season opener, WASO’s Favourites – a program of classical hits by Handel, Bizet, Gershwin...