Before there was tradition, before there were concert halls, seasons, or symphonic legacies—there was an idea. And that idea had a name: Edwin Dietrich.
In 1927, Dietrich took a bold step. He gathered a group of local musicians and kindled something new in Colorado Springs—a symphony orchestra. His time as conductor was brief, just one year, but his vision set in motion nearly a century of music-making. Without fanfare, without guarantees, Dietrich planted the seed that would grow into a cultural pillar of the region.
He was the right leader for that first moment—not because he stayed, but because he started. He offered structure where there had been none, purpose where there had only been potential. In those early days, it wasn’t about fame or prestige; it was about creating space for music to take root in a growing city. And he did.
From that modest beginning, something enduring took shape. Each concert, each rehearsal, each shared breath between musician and audience has grown from that original gesture of belief. Dietrich lit the fuse, and while others carried the torch forward, it was his courage and creativity that sparked the flame.
Founders rarely see the full fruits of their work—but we do. Today, we honor Edwin Dietrich not just as our first conductor, but as the first dreamer in a long line of dreamers. His brief tenure reminds us that even the shortest chapters can change the entire story.
