Christopher Wilkins was appointed Music Director of the Orlando Philharmonic in the fall of 2005. Since then the Philharmonic’s programming has reflected his strong interest in community-oriented projects. He has initiated partnerships with numerous organizations throughout the Central Florida area, including Mad Cow Theatre, the Orlando Museum of Art, the Orange County Regional History center, the Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, and the “Negro Spiritual” Scholarship Foundation, of which he is an honorary lifetime member.

In addition to the Orlando Philharmonic, Mr. Wilkins serves as Music Director of the Akron Symphony and the Boston Landmarks Orchestra. As a guest conductor, Mr. Wilkins has appeared with many of the leading orchestras of the United States, including those of Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco. He has also appeared regularly with orchestras in Latin America, New Zealand, and Spain.

He has served as Music Director of the San Antonio Symphony and the Colorado Springs Symphony, and is currently Artistic Advisor to the Opera Theatre of the Rockies in Colorado Springs. During his tenure with San Antonio, the orchestra received six programming awards from ASCAP, including the first-ever Morton Gould Award for creative programming. Mr. Wilkins also served as Resident Conductor of the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, assisting in its formation and subsequently leading the orchestra on tours throughout the Americas.

Born in Boston in 1957, Mr. Wilkins earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College. He received his master of music degree from Yale University, where he studied with Otto-Werner Mueller. As an oboist, he performed with many ensembles in the Boston area, including the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, and the Boston Philharmonic under Benjamin Zander.