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Colorado Symphony appoints new President and CEO

By Sage Kelley March 11, 2025 | updated 5 months ago

Daniel Wachter

Daniel Wachter will take over as the new president and CEO of the Colorado Symphony in May, following the two-year tenure of Mark Cantrell, who took the position in May of 2023.

Courtesy of the Colorado Symphony

The Colorado Symphony has appointed a new president and CEO.

The century old symphony named Daniel Wachter to the position on Tuesday. Wachter will officially take over the position on April 1, according to a news release from the symphony. 

Mark Cantrell, the group’s previous chief, stepped down after roughly two years.

Wachter joined the Colorado Symphony Board of Trustees in 2023 and has served as co-vice chair since 2024, according to the release. Before his work with the symphony, Wachter spent five years at Chromatic Technologies, Inc. (CTI), eventually rising up to CEO at the company.

“Under Daniel’s leadership, the Colorado Symphony will continue to build on the orchestra’s legacy, leading initiatives that further elevate the cultural impact of the orchestra and enhance the experience for all patrons,” the symphony said in its press release.

The transition comes nearly two years after Cantrell took over the position in May 2023. 

Cantrell — a longtime musician in Boston and former CEO of The Florida Orchestra and the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra — saw success during his short tenure at the symphony, according to the release.

A spokesperson said that Cantrell chose to step down and the departure is not due to any financial issues with the orchestra.

“In fact, the orchestra enjoyed two of its most financially successful and well attended seasons this century under his watch, and he leaves the orchestra in the best financial health in its history,” the spokesperson told The Denver Gazette.

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The orchestra has had several CEOs since it officially formed in 1989, riding on the heels of the former Denver Symphony, which was formed in 1934. The Denver Symphony’s previous incarnation, the Denver Civic Symphony, debuted Nov. 6, 1922 under the direction of Horace Tureman.

Before Wachter and Cantrell, Jerome “Jerry” Kern led the orchestra. 

Throughout the 2000s, Kern helped launch the Symphony on the Rocks concert series at Red Rocks Amphitheater and the organization’s most popular fundraiser, the Colorado Symphony Ball.

Kern passed away earlier this year.

“Music has always been a powerful joy and force in my life — an art form that connects, inspires, and unites us in ways that transcend words,” Wachter said in the release. “The Colorado Symphony is not just an orchestra; it is a vibrant cultural institution that brings people together through the universal language of music. It is a place where artistry meets innovation, and where tradition blends with bold pioneering ideas.”

Wachter’s resume includes serving on the board of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra from 2018–2023, as president for Storopack, a family-owned German-based global protective packaging provider and as vice president of global sales and marketing for Healthcare Packaging Division of Bemis.

He eventually moved to Colorado Springs in 2020, becoming the CEO of Chromatic Technologies, Inc. in January 2024.

“Daniel’s extensive experience in both corporate and nonprofit sectors, combined with his passion for the arts, makes him uniquely qualified to guide the Symphony into its next chapter. His strategic mindset, leadership expertise, and deep appreciation for music will be invaluable as we continue to grow and innovate,” John Street, chair of the Colorado Symphony Board of Trustees, said in the release.

Reflecting on his tenure and the symphony’s future, Cantrell said, “Leading the Colorado Symphony has been a privilege. I am confident that under Daniel’s leadership, the Symphony will continue to thrive and enrich our community.”

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Sage Kelley

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