After an intensive search, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic has announced the appointment of Chloé Dufresne as its next music director, effective with the 2025–26 season. Dufresne becomes the 10th conductor in the orchestra’s history and the first woman to hold the post.
The Visionary Behind the Baton
A music director’s job is to know every part of the orchestral score: the melody, harmony, rhythm, orchestration, dynamics, articulations, and phrasing. She studies the full score to understand every part, shape the interpretation of the music, to communicate tempo, dynamics, and expression through gestures and cues. She must also understand the composer, historical period and style, using that knowledge to bring the music to life with authenticity and expressive clarity.
Born in Montpellier, South France, Dufresne trained as a singer, violist and choral conductor before earning her Master’s in conducting from the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. She also holds notable fellowships including with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and has guest‑conducted orchestras in Germany, Finland, Norway and across Asia. She brings both international pedigree and a collaborative spirit, offering a dynamic mix of operatic fluency and symphonic authority to the podium. Dufresne emphasizes a rehearsal style built on listening, connection and shared musical energy, rather than purely top-down direction.
Why Colorado Springs, Why Now?
During a two-year search, more than 250 applications were received for the post. After an invitation to conduct, she spent a week with the Orchestra and was invited to apply for the position. Dufresne had emerged as the person best suited to lead the orchestra into its next chapter.
“I wanted the orchestra to choose me,” she explains, noting the deeply collaborative nature of the musicians with their conductor. “I felt welcomed; it was a good fit.”
What’s Next: Programming & Promise
As music director, it is Dufresne’s job to choose the Philharmonic’s season programming. On the theme for the 2025-26 season, she wanted something that reflected not only the orchestra, but the city that it serves. Between the flame of the orchestra’s logo and the flame that represents the Olympics and Olympic City USA, she chose a fiery lineup.
The season explores music that burns with energy, emotion and renewal, bringing forward female composers and fresh repertoire alongside the classics. The score boasts the mythic blaze of Stravinsky’s Firebird to the warm glow of Brahms, the sunlit passion of Rodrigo, and the electric vitality of Bernstein and Marsalis. Each program reveals a different facet of flame, its power to illuminate, transform, and connect a community through sound.
“I want Colorado Springs to be curious. I believe deeply in every concert, in every piece of music,” she notes of the lineup and her vision. “I would like to bring some freshness and adventure…to be alive! Not just a museum experience.”
Community & Connection
Beyond the stage, Dufresne is keenly focused on the Philharmonic’s role in nurturing young musicians and cultivating a broader audience. She says her appointment aligns with the Philharmonic’s goal to deepen community engagement, diversify its programming, and reach new audiences across the Pikes Peak region.
In her first weeks, she joined a rehearsal with the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony Association (CSYSA) as part of the “Conductor in the Classroom” initiative. Her hands-on approach signals a deep commitment to mentorship.
Why It Matters
The Colorado Springs Philharmonic was not just hiring a conductor; it’s embracing a leader who can amplify its relevance, access, and artistry in a changing cultural landscape. With Dufresne at the helm, the orchestra is positioning itself to be more than a concert series; it’s shaping up to be a catalyst for community, creativity and connection.
“The concert hall is a place where there are not mobile phones. It’s dark, and everyone is concentrating on the same thing,” she says. “This is a place where we can share the same moment – that doesn’t happen much anymore.”
For the Springs, a new era begins—one where tradition meets transformation under the baton of Chloé Dufresne.
Website: https://csphilharmonic.org/
Facebook: @CSPhilharmonic