There’s nothing quite like summer in Colorado—the crisp mountain air, golden sunsets, and, of course, the joy of live music echoing across our breathtaking landscapes. This season, your Colorado Symphony is thrilled to bring you an unforgettable lineup of performances that celebrate the power of music to inspire, connect, and elevate.
Our summer begins with a dazzling collaboration at Red Rocks Amphitheatre as we join forces with the electrifying Lindsey Stirling on June 16. The following evening, June 17, we accompany the legendary Andrea Bocelli at Ball Arena for a one-night-only performance. On June 29, join me as we pay tribute to cinematic genius with The Music of John Williams at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, featuring selections from Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and more.
July brings a host of exciting events, including the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration at Red Rocks on July 6. We visit the Arvada Center Outdoor Amphitheater on July 12 for A Tribute to Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops, and on July 19 and 20, we present Jurassic Park in Concert at Boettcher Concert Hall. I’m thrilled to be on the podium for three events at the end of the month, starting with two performances with superstar artist Beck, the first at the Ford Amphitheater in Colorado Springs on July 26 and the second at Red Rocks on July 27. I’ll also lead our return to McGregor Square on July 30 for an evening of Mozart.
In August, I’ll take the podium as we continue our tradition of Mozart Under Moonlight at the Arvada Center on August 1. On August 3, we share the stage with The Beach Boys at Red Rocks. Then, on August 8, we collaborate with King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard at the Ford Amphitheater.
As summer winds down, we’ll honor a Colorado legend with John Denver: A Rocky Mountain High Concert Celebration at Boettcher Concert Hall on September 4. Our summer season concludes with Beethoven and Brews at the ‘Plex on September 6, featuring a pre-concert beer festival in Sculpture Park followed by an evening of Beethoven at Boettcher Concert Hall that you won’t want to miss.
Whether you’re joining us under the stars at Red Rocks, in the heart of downtown Denver, or in the intimate setting of Boettcher Concert Hall, we are grateful for your continued support and enthusiasm. Together, let’s make this summer a symphony of unforgettable moments.
Warm regards,
Christopher Dragon Resident Conductor
COLORADO
VIOLIN
Yumi Hwang-Williams Concertmaster
Mary Rossick Kern and Jerome H. Kern
Concertmaster Chair
Claude Sim
Associate Concertmaster
Dmitri Pogorelov
Acting Assistant Concertmaster
Merle Chambers Chair
Samuel Nebyu*
Fixed 4th Chair/First
Kate Arndt
Principal Second
Allegra Wermuth
Assistant Principal Second
Alessandra Jennings
Flanagan
Fixed 3rd Chair/Second
Sohyun Ahn
Larisa Fesmire
Thomas Hanulik
John Hilton
Anne-Marie Hoffman
Myroslava IvanchenkoBartels
Dorian Kincaid
Karen Kinzie
Yu-Chen Lin
Susan Paik
Miroslaw Pastusiak
Paul Primus
Megan Prokes
Delcho Tenev
Annamaria Vasmatzidis
Bradley Watson
Tena White
Wenting Yuan
VIOLA
Basil Vendryes
Principal
Catherine Beeson
Assistant Principal
Mary Cowell
Fixed 3rd Chair
Sumin Cheong
Marsha Holmes
Leah Kovach
Helen McDermott
Kelly Shanafelt
Phillip Stevens
CELLO
Seoyoen Min Principal
Fred & Margaret Hoeppner Chair
Chloe Hong
Assistant Principal
Judith McIntyre Galecki
Fixed 3rd Chair
Dakota Cotugno
Danielle Guideri
Thomas Heinrich
Eugene Kim
Matthew Switzer
Paul van der Sloot
BASS
Steve Metcalf
Principal
Nicholas Recuber
Assistant Principal
Jesse Fischer
Jeremy Kincaid
Owen Levine
August Ramos
Mary Reed
FLUTE
Brook Ferguson
Principal Flute
Catherine Peterson 2nd / Assistant
Principal
Tom & Noëy Congdon
Chair
Julie Duncan Thornton
PICCOLO
Julie Duncan Thornton
OBOE
Peter Cooper
Principal
Irene & David Abosch Chair
Nicholas Tisherman 2nd / Assistant
Principal
Jason Lichtenwalter
ENGLISH HORN
Jason Lichtenwalter
CLARINET
Jason Shafer
Principal
Abby Raymond 2nd / Assistant
Principal
Nicholas Davies
E-FLAT CLARINET
Abby Raymond
BASS CLARINET
Nicholas Davies
BASSOON
Tristan Rennie
Acting Principal
Morgan Davison*
Roger Soren
CONTRABASSOON
Roger Soren
HORN
Michael Thornton
Principal
Carolyn Kunicki
Kolio Plachkov 3rd / Associate
Principal
Matthew Eckenhoff
Patrick Hodge
Assistant
TRUMPET
Justin Bartels
Principal
Philip Hembree 2nd / Associate
Patrick Tillery Assistant
TROMBONE
John Sipher
Principal
Paul Naslund 2nd / Associate Principal
Gregory Harper
BASS TROMBONE
Gregory Harper
TUBA
Stephen Dombrowski
Principal
HARP
Courtney Hershey Bress
Principal
TIMPANI
Steve Hearn
Acting Principal
PERCUSSION
John Kinzie
Principal Friend of the Colorado Symphony Chair
Steve Hearn
Daniel Morris*
Michael Van Wirt
ORCHESTRA
LIBRARIAN
Lyle Wong
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OFFICERS
John Street Chair | CEO, Pax8
Marta O’Grady, OD, FAAO Co-Vice Chair & Secretary | University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Surgery
Susan Bowles CSA cellist, retired | Community Leader
James D. Butler Community Leader
Mark Champoux Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP
Young Cho Community Leader
Christopher Cole Taft
Mary Cowell* Colorado Symphony, Viola, Fixed 3rd Chair
Nick Davies* Colorado Symphony, Bass/Utility Clarinet
Maria Del Rio Chief Marketing Officer, Chromatic Technologies, Inc.
Scott Doniger DaVita
Adam Donner Community Leader
Kayla Dreyer
Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Brook Ferguson* Colorado Symphony, Flute, Assistant Principal
Mike Ferrufino President/CEO, Colorado Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Chris Festog Community Leader
Bob Friedlander Colorado Symphony Chorus, Bass 2
Scott Hasday Community Leader
Margaret Hoeppner Colorado Symphony Cellist, retired, community leader
Chloe Hong* Colorado Symphony, Cello, Assistant Principal
Dr. Vesna Jevtovic-Todorovic MD, PhD, MBA CU Medicine
Endowed Professor of Anesthesiology and Pharmacology, Chair, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine
Bill Johnson President, DCP Midstream
John Karns PNC Bank
John Kinzie* Colorado Symphony, Percussion, Principal
Karen Kinzie* Colorado Symphony, Violin
Richard D. Krugman, MD Distinguished Professor, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect
David MacLeod Vice President, Alignment Healthcare
Lynn McDonald Community Leader
Mike McPhee Author/Journalist
Seoyoen Min* Colorado Symphony, Cello, Principal
Bill Myers Managing Director, Communications, Liberty Global, Inc.
Ben Nelson Martin/Martin Consulting Engineers
Susan Oakes Partner, Holland & Hart
Deana M. Perlmutter Partner, Forbes Tate Partners
Paul Primus* Colorado Symphony, Violin
Malik Robinson President and CEO,, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance
TRUSTEES
(cont.)
Julie Rubsam Community Leader
L.T. Sandvik Business Development Manager, Academy Bank
Alan Stein Community Leader
Ben Strawn Partner, Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP
Nick Tisherman* Colorado Symphony, Oboe 2nd/Assistant Principal
Lorenzo A. Trujillo Attorney and Artistic Director of Mariachi Music, MSU Denverr
David Murphy Associate Director of Finance & Benefits
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Stephanie Derybowski Director of Web Experience
Nick Dobreff Communications & Creative Director
Kayla Hayes Director of Digital Marketing & Promotions
Anna Ristvey Creative Marketing Manager
Tori Seaver Digital Marketing Manager
SALES & PATRON SERVICES
MacKenzie McGuire Director of Sales & Patron Services
Johanna Jeter Manager of Sales & Patron Services
Jenna Abbott Lead Sales & Patron Services Associate
Jordan Catmull Lead Sales & Patron Services Associate
Quinn Rubin Assistant Lead Sales & Patron Services Associate
Jeff Borrett Patron Services Associate
Rosa Gasdia Patron Services Associate
CeCe Graves Patron Services Associate
Pamela Rowell Patron Services Associate
Marcella Stone-Fox Patron Services Associate
Molly Epstein Group Sales Associate
COLORADO SYMPHONY FUND
Stephen M. Brett President
Norman L. Wilson Treasurer
James D. Butler Director
Malik Robinson Director
William Wallace Director
Kip Wallen Secretary
GUILD OFFICERS
Cheryl Fricke President
Lucia Machado Recording Secretary
Kathy Dolan Treasurer
Lorenz Rychner Assistant Treasurer
Deanna Leino Corresponding Secretary
Nancy Crego Vice-President Of Fundraising
Luann Good-deCurnou Vice-President Of Membership
Terry Gallant Vice-President Of Music Education
Julie Chickillo VP of Technology
Kathy Swanson Shop Manager
Monica Owen Shop Buyer
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SUMMER 2025
A TRIBUTE TO ARTHUR FIELDER AND THE BOSTON POPS AT THE ARVADA CENTER
WILBUR LIN, conductor
NICK DAVIES, clarinet
JULIE THORNTON, piccolo
Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 7:30pm
Arvada Center Outdoor Amphitheatre
VERDI La forza del destino Overture
BIZET Carmen Suite No. 1
I. Prélude & Aragonaise
II. Intermezzo
III. Seguedille
IV. Les Dragons d’Alcala
V. Les Toréadors
— INTERMISSION —
GOULD
Derivations for Clarinet and Band
I. Warm Up
II. Contrapuntal Blues
III. Rag
IV. Ride-Out
GARY SCHOCKER Piccolo Italiano
I. Fellini was here
II. Ricordarsi
III. Polpettina — INTERMISSION —
LEROY ANDERSON The Syncopated Clock
LEROY ANDERSON Plink, Plank, Plunk!
LEROY ANDERSON Saraband
LEROY ANDERSON Fiddle-Faddle
JOHN WILLIAMS Adventures on Earth from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial SOUSA The Stars and Stripes Forever
CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 45 MINUTES INCLUDING TWO 15 MINUTE INTERMISSIONS.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
SUMMER 2025
WILBUR LIN, conductor
Known for his creative programming and inviting stage presence, Taiwanese-American conductor Wilbur Lin’s career has taken him to symphony halls and opera theaters across the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Taiwan. Lin is currently the music director of the Missouri Symphony and associate conductor of the Colorado Symphony.
Lin’s recent highlights include his debuts with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the symphonies of Elgin, Acadiana, and Juneau, an upcoming debut with Symphony Nova Scotia, in addition to his frequent returns to the Taipei Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, among others.
A equally strong advocate for new music and neglected composers of the past, especially American and British women composers, Lin is closely associated with the research and performance of works by Alice Mary Smith and Amy Beach. In his role as the associate conductor of the Colorado Symphony, Lin also serves as the music director of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, with whom he released the premiere digital single of Alice Mary Smith’s The Masque of Pandora Overture. Further recent activities include the release of a new studio recording with pianist Eric Zuber and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the creation of an interactive multimedia education concert series for the Taipei Symphony, and conducting and covering the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops where he finished his tenure as assistant conductor in 2022.
A graduate of Riccardo Muti’s Italian Opera Academy, Lin’s operatic endeavors include conducting Verdi’s Macbeth at Teatro Alighieri, Le nozze di Figaro and L’elisir d’amore with the Missouri Symphony, Die Zauberflöte and Barber of Seville with the Winter Harbor Music Festival (Winter Harbor, Maine), Menotti’s The Medium and Amelia Goes to the Ball as the conductor of Northern Illinois University, and has coached and performed as a pianist with the Indianapolis Opera, Indiana University Opera Theater, Reimagining Opera for Kids, and the Cincinnati Ballet. In 2022, Lin led a new workshop of Robeson by Scott Davenport Richards at the Cincinnati Opera.
Educated in Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, Lin has studied with Arthur Fagen and David Effron at Indiana University, Clark Rundell and Mark Heron at the Royal Northern College of Music, and Apo Hsu at the National Taiwan Normal University. He has also received conducting coaching with, notably, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Riccardo Muti, Sir Mark Elder, Helmuth Rilling, and has assisted Peter Oundjian, Jun Märkl, Louis Langrée, Carlos Miguel Prieto, Ken-David Masur, James Gaffigan, and John Morris Russell, among many others. Lin resides with his wife in Denver, Colorado, is an avid runner, and flies just enough to justify maintaining his private pilot certificate.
SUMMER 2025
NICK DAVIES, clarinet
Nick Davies is the Bass/Utility Clarinet of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and 2nd/Bass Clarinet of Central City Opera. Previously, Nick was Principal Clarinet of the Great Falls Symphony and the Chinook Winds, in addition to holding positions as Bass/Utility Clarinet with the Santa Fe Opera, Sarasota Opera and Des Moines Metro Opera. He has performed with orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Louisville Orchestra and frequently performs as guest principal with the Bozeman Symphony.
As a soloist, Nick has performed Frank Ticheli’s Clarinet Concerto alongside the composer, and has performed as a soloist with ensembles such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Civic Symphony, the Antelope Valley Symphony, the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, and the USC Wind Ensemble. Other honors include taking First Place in the Pasadena Showcase Competition, and Third Place in Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Mr. Davies has a strong interest in contemporary music and has held past fellowships with Ensemble Modern’s Klangspuren Schwaz, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, and Spoleto Festival USA. As a composer, his commissions include those from the Houston Grand Opera, Midic Winds, Webster Trio, and the Chicago Harp Quartet. Nick is the artistic director and founder of the Rossini Club, a chamber music organization based in Nantucket, Massachusetts, which is hosting its twelfth season this year. He holds degrees from Rice University and the University of Southern California.
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SUMMER 2025
JULIE THORNTON, piccolo
Julie (she/her) has been a member of the Colorado Symphony since 1997. During her tenure she has performed many times as soloist on both Piccolo and Flute. She has also performed extensively with the New York Philharmonic, the Saint Louis Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Houston Grand Opera, the Minnesota Orchestra and the Oregon Symphony. Other engagements include being Principal Flute of the Washington Island Music Festival and performing with The Grand Tetons Orchestra and Strings in the Mountains.
Julie has been a featured teacher and performer in Europe, South America and Australia. Two of her most special experiences are working with underprivileged students in Medellín, Colombia and teaching and performing at Festival Internacional de Inverno de Campos do Jordão (Brazil). Julie also loves performing with The Arcadia Trio and being the Instructor of Flute at the University of Denver, Lamont School of Music.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors from Northwestern University and a Master’s Degree from the Eastman School of Music. In addition, Julie completed her coursework towards a Doctoral Degree at Rice University. Her primary teachers include Walfrid Kujala, Bonita Boyd, Leone Buyse, Carol Wincenc, Anne Diener-Giles and Richard Breitstein. As a student, Julie performed with the Solti Orchestral Project at Carnegie Hall, the National Repertory Orchestra, the National Orchestral Institute, the Music Academy of the West, and she held the Piccolo Fellowship with the Aspen Music Festival for three summers. In High School, Julie was a finalist in the Seventeen Magazine General Motors National Concerto Competition and the National Flute Association High School Solo Competition. Julie is married to Michael Thornton, Principal Horn of the Colorado Symphony. They are the proud parents of two daughters.
SUMMER 2025
JURASSIC PARK- IN CONCERT WITH YOUR COLORADO SYMPHONY
SCOTT TERRELL, conductor
Saturday, July 19, 2025 at 7:30pm
Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 2:30pm
Boettcher Concert Hall PROUDLY
A STEVEN SPIELBERG Film
SAM NEILL
LAURA DERN
JEFF GOLDBLUM and
RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH
BOB PECK
MARTIN FERRERO
B.D. WONG
SAMUEL L. JACKSON
WAYNE KNIGHT
JOSEPH MAZZELLO
ARIANA RICHARDS
SUMMER 2025
Live Action Dinosaurs STAN WINSTON
Full Motion Dinosaurs by DENNIS MUREN, A.S.C.
Dinosaur Supervisor PHIL TIPPETT
Special Dinosaur Effects MICHAEL LANTIERI
Music by JOHN WILLIAMS
Film Edited by MICHAEL KAHN, A.C.E.
Production Designer RICK CARTER
Director of Photography DEAN CUNDEY, A.S.C.
Based on the Novel by MICHAEL CRICHTON
Screenplay by MICHAEL CRICHTON and DAVID KOEPP
Produced by KATHLEEN KENNEDY and GERALD R. MOLEN
Directed by STEVEN SPIELBERG
A UNIVERSAL PICTURE
SUMMER 2025
Tonight’s program is a presentation of the complete film Jurassic Park with a live performance of the film’s entire score, including music played by the orchestra during the end credits. Out of respect for the musicians and your fellow audience members, please remain seated until the conclusion of the credits.
Producers: Steven A. Linder and Jamie Richardson Director of Operations: Rob Stogsdill
Production Manager: Sophie Greaves
Production Assistant: Katherine Miron
Worldwide Representation: IMG Artists, LLC
Technical Director: Mike Runice
Music Composed by John Williams
Music Preparation: Jo Ann Kane Music Service Film Preparation for Concert Performance: Ramiro Belgardt
Technical Consultant: Laura Gibson
Sound Remixing for Concert Performance: Chace Audio by Deluxe The score for Jurassic Park has been adapted for live concert performance.
With special thanks to: Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, John Williams, Michael Silver, Patrick Koors, Tammy Olsen, Lawrence Liu, Chuck Nilsen, Mike Pastrano, Thomas Schroder, Tanya Perra, Chris Herzberger, Noah Bergman, Jason Jackowski, Shayne Mifsud, Darice Murphy, Mike Matessino, Mark Graham and the musicians and staff of the Colorado Symphony www.filmconcertslive.com
CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AND 22 MINUTES INCLUDING A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION.
SUMMER 2025
SCOTT TERRELL, conductor
Scott Terrell has built a major conducting career through imaginative programs, an engaging presence, and a determined passion for artistic excellence, teaching, and viability. An ardent champion of new music and diversity of repertoire, he was a visionary conductor whose artistry and intellect has engaged musicians, students, and audiences. Maestro Terrell is Associate Professor of Orchestral Studies, holding the Virginia Martin Howard Chair, at the Louisiana State University School of Music.
In great demand as a guest conductor, Mr. Terrell will make debuts in 2024-25 with the San Francisco Symphony and Kansas City Symphony. He also has return engagements with the Baltimore Symphony, Colorado Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, and the Rochester Philharmonic.
Passionate about working with aspiring musicians and educators, Terrell is an active guest clinician, teacher, and adjudicator. He has been a regular guest conductor and instructor at the Aspen Music Festival, leading various concert programs as well as guiding and mentoring conducting students. He has taught internationally at the Sofia Symphonic Summit (Sofia, Bulgaria) and the International Masterclass for Conductors in Schladming, Austria.
In demand as an educator and teacher of young musicians, he has conducted and presented at educational and honor orchestra events in Colorado, New York, Minnesota, Texas, Louisiana, Michigan, and Massachusetts.
Maestro Terrell has conducted many prestigious international organizations including Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra Opera Colorado, Opera Hong Kong, Arizona Opera, Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Milwaukee Symphony, Spoleto Festival, Naples Philharmonic, Eugene Symphony, Richmond Symphony, and the Mostly Modern Festival.
Having a strong affinity for vocal and operatic repertoire, Maestro Terrell has led a wealth of projects abroad. Collaborations with Kentucky Opera have included Stephen Paulus’ oratorio, To Be Certain of the Dawn, Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel and Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar. Operatic engagements have included Opera Hong Kong gala concerts of Bernstein, and Arizona Opera’s production of The Magic Flute. He conducted Piazzolla’s Maria de Buenos Aires at Fort Worth Opera, Aspen Music Festival and Arizona Opera as well as Aspen’s concert productions of Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti and Missy Mazzoli’s groundbreaking work, Proving Up
Mr. Terrell was Music Director of the Lexington Philharmonic for a transformative decade (2009-2019) in the organization’s history. He re-invigorated and raised the artistic level of the ensemble, diversified programming, expanded collaborations, and increased community support.
SUMMER 2025
Previously, Maestro Terrell served as Resident Conductor and Director of Education for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and prior to that was Assistant Conductor of Minnesota Orchestra. A native of Michigan, Maestro Terrell is a graduate of Western Michigan University, and the University of Minnesota in orchestral conducting. Terrell was chosen as a fellowship conductor for the inaugural season of the American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival under Music Director, David Zinman. He has participated in master classes with such distinguished conductors as Leonard Slatkin, Robert Spano, Jorma Panula, and David Robertson. At Aspen, he was awarded the prestigious Conducting Prize from David Zinman.
JOHN WILLIAMS, composer
In a career spanning more than six decades, John Williams has become one of America’s most accomplished and successful composers for film and for the concert stage. He has served as music director and laureate conductor of one of the country’s treasured musical institutions, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and he maintains thriving artistic relationships with many of the world’s great orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mr. Williams has received a variety of prestigious awards, including the National Medal of Arts, the Kennedy Center Honors, an honorary KBE from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Olympic Order, and numerous Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, Emmy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. He remains one of our nation’s most distinguished and contributive musical voices.
Mr. Williams has composed the music and served as music director for more than one hundred films. His 50-year artistic partnership with director Steven Spielberg has resulted in many of Hollywood’s most acclaimed and successful films, including Schindler’s List, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, Jurassic Park, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the Indiana Jones films, Saving Private Ryan, Amistad, Munich, Hook, Catch Me If You Can, Minority Report, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Empire of the Sun, The Adventures of TinTin, War Horse, The BFG and Lincoln. Their latest collaboration, The Fabelmans, was scored in early 2022. Mr. Williams composed the scores for all nine Star Wars films, the first three Harry Potter films, Superman, JFK, Born on the Fourth of July, Memoirs of a Geisha, Far and Away, The Accidental Tourist, Home Alone, Nixon, The Patriot, Angela’s Ashes, Seven Years in Tibet, The Witches of Eastwick, Rosewood, Sleepers, Sabrina, Presumed Innocent, The Cowboys, The Reivers and Goodbye, Mr. Chips among many others. His most recent film project is Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, directed by James Mangold and the fifth installment of the iconic franchise. He has worked with many legendary directors, including Alfred Hitchcock, William Wyler and Robert Altman. In 1971, he adapted the score for the film version of Fiddler on the Roof, for which he composed original violin cadenzas for renowned virtuoso Isaac Stern. He has appeared on recordings as pianist and conductor with Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Jessye Norman, and others. Mr. Williams has received five Academy Awards and fifty-four Oscar nominations, making him the Academy’s most-nominated living person and the second-most nominated person in the history of the Oscars. His most recent nomination was for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. He also has received seven British Academy Awards (BAFTA), twenty-six Grammys, four Golden Globes, five Emmys, and numerous gold and platinum records.
SUMMER 2025
Born and raised in New York, Mr. Williams moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1948, where he studied composition with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. After service in the Air Force, he returned to New York to attend the Juilliard School, where he studied piano with Madame Rosina Lhevinne. While in New York, he also worked as a jazz pianist in nightclubs. He returned to Los Angeles and began his career in the film industry, working with a number of accomplished composers including Bernard Herrmann, Alfred Newman, and Franz Waxman. He went on to write music for more than 200 television films for the groundbreaking, early anthology series Alcoa Theatre, Kraft Television Theatre, Chrysler Theatre and Playhouse 90. His more recent contributions to television music include the well-known theme for NBC Nightly News (“The Mission”), the theme for what has become network television’s longest-running series, NBC’s Meet the Press, and a new theme for the prestigious PBS arts showcase Great Performances.
In addition to his activity in film and television, Mr. Williams has composed numerous works for the concert stage, among them two symphonies, and concertos for flute, violin, clarinet, viola, oboe and tuba. His cello concerto was commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and premiered by Yo-Yo Ma at Tanglewood in 1994. Mr. Williams also has filled commissions by several of the world’s leading orchestras, including a bassoon concerto for the New York Philharmonic entitled “The Five Sacred Trees,” a trumpet concerto for the Cleveland Orchestra, and a horn concerto for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. “Seven for Luck”, a seven-piece song cycle for soprano and orchestra based on the texts of former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove, was premiered by the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood in 1998. At the opening concert of their 2009/2010 season, James Levine led the Boston Symphony in the premiere Mr. Williams’ “On Willows and Birches,” a new concerto for harp and orchestra. In 2021, Williams premiered his second violin concerto with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood along with soloist Anne-Sophie Mutter, for whom he composed the work. Most recently he composed a new piano concerto for pianist Emanuel Ax, who will premiere the work with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood in July 2025.
In January 1980, Mr. Williams was named nineteenth music director of the Boston Pops Orchestra, succeeding the legendary Arthur Fiedler. He currently holds the title of Boston Pops Laureate Conductor which he assumed following his retirement in December 1993, after fourteen highly successful seasons. He also holds the title of Artist-in-Residence at Tanglewood.
One of America’s best known and most distinctive artistic voices, Mr. Williams has composed music for many important cultural and commemorative events. “Liberty Fanfare” was composed for the rededication of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. “American Journey,” written to celebrate the new millennium and to accompany the retrospective film The Unfinished Journey by director Steven Spielberg, was premiered at the “America’s Millennium” concert in Washington, D.C. on New Year’s Eve, 1999. His orchestral work “Soundings” was performed at the celebratory opening of Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. In the world of sport, he has contributed musical themes for the 1984, 1988, and 1996 Summer Olympic Games, the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and the 1987 International Summer Games of the Special Olympics. In 2006, Mr. Williams composed the theme for NBC’s presentation of Sunday Night Football
SUMMER 2025
Mr. Williams holds honorary degrees from twenty-two American universities, including Harvard University, The Juilliard School, Boston College, Northeastern University, Tufts University, Boston University, the New England Conservatory of Music, the University of Massachusetts at Boston, The Eastman School of Music, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and the University of Southern California. He is a recipient of the 2009 National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists by the United States Government. In 2020, Mr. Williams received Spain’s prestigious Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts as well as the Gold Medal from the Royal Philharmonic Society in the UK. In 2016, he received the 44th Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute – the first composer in history to receive this honor. In 2003, he received the Olympic Order, the IOC’s highest honor, for his contributions to the Olympic movement. He served as the Grand Marshal of the 2004 Rose Parade in Pasadena and was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in December of that year. In 2018, he received the Trustees Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Mr. Williams was inducted into the American Academy of Arts & Sciences in 2009, and in January of that same year he composed and arranged “Air and Simple Gifts” especially for the first inaugural ceremony of President Barack Obama. He was awarded an honorary knighthood of the British Empire as one of the final awards approved by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
A NOTE FROM THE COMPOSER
In his highly successful book, Jurassic Park, author Michael Crichton enabled us to imagine what the return of the great vertebrates of 150 million years ago might be like. In his thrilling 1993 film adaptation, Steven Spielberg brought these fascinating and terrifying creatures to life, and in so doing captivated movie audiences around the world.
I must say that I greatly enjoyed the challenge of trying to tell the film’s story musically. And while we can luxuriate this evening in the magnificent sound produced by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra as they perform the entire score live to the picture, it’s nevertheless tempting to imagine what the trumpeting of these great beasts of the distant past might have been like…
I know I speak for everyone connected with the making of Jurassic Park in saying that we’re greatly honored by this event… and I hope that tonight’s audience will have some measure of the joy we experienced while making the film more than twenty years ago.
SUMMER 2025
MOZART UNDER MOONLIGHT WITH THE COLORADO SYMPHONY
CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor
ELENA PERRONI, soprano
Friday, August 1, 2025 at 7:30pm
Arvada Center Outdoor Amphitheatre
MOZART The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492: Overture
MOZART The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492: Act 3, No. 19- Dove sono
MOZART Così fan tutte, K. 588: Act. , No. 14- Come scoglio
— INTERMISSION —
MOZART Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551 ‘Jupiter’
I. Allegro vivace
II. Andante cantabile
III. Allegretto
IV. Molto allegro
CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 25 MINUTES INCLUDING A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSIONS.
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW FOR THE 2024/25 SEASON
SUMMER 2025
CHRISTOPHER DRAGON, conductor
Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is the Music Director of Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, newly appointed Music Director of the Philly Pops, former Music Director of the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra and is the Resident Conductor of the Colorado Symphony. He joined the Colorado Symphony in the 2015/2016 Season as Associate Conductor – a position he held for four years. For three years prior, Dragon held the inaugural position of Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, which gave him the opportunity to work closely with Principal Conductor 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, 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.
SUMMER 2025
ELENA PERRONI, soprano
“She displayed versatility and stamina in the role, manipulating her seductive velvet soprano with impressive technique as her character evolved.”
La Traviata – West Australian Opera -- Opera Magazine
Praised for her “velvet voice” (Philadelphia Inquirer) Ms. Perroni made her professional debut with Opera Philadelphia, singing the role of Doris Parker in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird, at the legendary Apollo Theatre in New York City, and reprised the role in her English National Opera debut.
As a graduate of the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music, last season she joined other fellow alumni for a European chamber music tour to Greece, Italy, Germany, and Spain, and she was also heard in concert with the Cleveland Chamber Music Society. This past fall she returned to her native country for Mimi in La Boheme with the West Australian Opera and performed Gilda in Rigoletto with New Zealand Opera. Future engagements include Mimi in La boheme with Opera Queensland and New Zealand Opera, and Britten’s War Requiem with the Dusseldorf Symphony.
Recent engagements include the title role of Iolanta with West Australian Opera, and Britten’s War Requiem with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra alongside maestro Asher Fisch, both which received great acclaim. She also recently debuted Carnegie Hall performing Schubert’s Mass in G, Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem with West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and made her role debut as Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata for West Australian Opera.
In addition to her recent successes on the operatic stage, Ms. Perroni is quickly making a name for herself in the concert hall. In 2017, she made her Philadelphia Orchestra debut singing selections from Dvorak’s Rusalka. She returned to the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2018 in a concert featuring selection from Eugene Onegine as Tatyana, and for Nuits d’ete. Other concert engagements include Mimi in La Boheme with Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra, Juliet in Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Sister Constance in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmelites with West Australian Opera, and Maria in Leonard Berstein’s West Side Story, with the Reno Philharmonic.
At the Curtis Institute of Music, Ms. Perroni performed many leading roles including Adina in L’elisir d’Amore, the title role in Massenet’s Manon, Anne Truelove in The Rake’s Progress, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, and Magda in La Rondine She has performed Mimi in La Boheme and Gilda in Rigoletto at the Chautauqua Music Festival. Elena was a NY regional winner in the Loren L. Zachery competition, and a semi-finalist in the Belvedere Competition.
