After more than two years of patient, purposeful work—filled with careful listening, thoughtful conversation, and a shared hope for the future—the Colorado Springs Philharmonic stands on the edge of something new. A new Music Director is coming. But not just yet.
In every era of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, there have been leaders who dared to imagine something more—who saw not only what the orchestra was, but what it could become. Christopher Wilkins, who held the baton in the early 1990s, was one of those leaders. His tenure was marked by ambition, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in the power of big, imaginative ideas.
Over the years, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic has been fortunate to have had conductors who arrived at the right moment, each bringing what was necessary to guide the orchestra through times of challenge and change
One of those leaders was Lawrence Leighton Smith, who served as Music Director from 2000 to 2011. His tenure is defined by his fierce commitment to artistic excellence and a bold vision for the future of the orchestra.
A symphony is more than the sum of its notes. It is a living reflection of its time—a delicate balance of vision, leadership, and connection. And just as the music flows through each conductor’s hands, so too has the Colorado Springs Philharmonic been shaped by the hands of those who have led it, each at a moment when their vision was exactly what we needed.