With 75 seasons under our belt, we may be one of Denver’s oldest orchestras, but we certainly don’t act our age.
Dr. Antonia Brico, the first woman to conduct the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (in 1938), founded our organization in 1948 as the Denver Businessmen’s Orchestra. Antonia settled in Denver after conducting professional orchestras across Europe and the U.S. She debuted our orchestra to a packed auditorium explaining the need for a classical music venue to showcase the talents of local, classically trained musicians “with no place to play.” Twenty years later, we’d be known as the Brico Symphony, and Antonia would remain at the helm of the orchestra until her retirement in the mid-1980s.
After nearly 40 years under Antonia’s baton, the orchestra chose Russian-American conductor, Julius Glaihengauz, as its second music director. A graduate of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, Julius led the newly renamed Centennial Philharmonic for 11 seasons.
In 1999, Professor of Music at the University of Denver Dr. Horst Buchholz, took the baton. Our most recent name change came in 2004, and we became the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. Horst served as music director and conductor through 2009, after which he was appointed the orchestra’s first Conductor Laureate.
Adam Flatt came on board as music director in June 2010. Adam’s dynamic and inspiring leadership over the next three years continued Horst’s legacy and further increased the artistic quality of the orchestra.
We selected award-winning conductor Lawrence Golan as our conductor and music director in 2013. Lawrence, a professor and music director at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music, led DPO on international tours to China and Germany and established the International Conducting Workshop, featuring distinguished guest conductors from across the country.
This era marked a period of significant institutional revitalization. Working in close partnership with Board President Jon Olafson (2012–2021), volunteer Executive Director Valerie Clausen (2012–2023), and Board leader and marketing strategist Matt Meier (2014–2021), DPO strengthened its governance structure, professionalized operations, and clarified its brand identity. Their leadership helped guide the orchestra from modest performances at KPOF Hall to consistently sold-out concerts at Central Presbyterian Church, expanding audience engagement and stabilizing the organization for long-term sustainability. Their contributions continue to shape the infrastructure and community presence of DPO today.
Fresh off that search, we ushered in a bold new chapter on January 24, 2025, when acclaimed conductor Scott O’Neil was named the sixth Music Director of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. A nine-year Resident Conductor of the Colorado Symphony, Scott captivated Denver audiences with his innovative Inside the Score series and his engaging storytelling work on CPR Classical’s Behind the Baton.
As we prepare for our future under Maestro O’Neil’s leadership, his visionary programming—combining deep storytelling, bold emotion, and cross-genre innovation—promises to redefine how our community experiences classical music. Our legacy continues to evolve, powered by innovation, excellence, and the promise of the future.