Featured Artists
Chris Dragon
Mandy Gonzalez
Australian conductor Christopher Dragon is the newly appointed Music Director of the Philly Pops orchestra, beginning this post on July 1, 2025. He is the Music Director of the Wyoming Symphony and the Greensboro Symphony, and is the Resident Conductor of the Colorado Symphony. He joined the Colorado Symphony in the 2015/2016 Season as Associate Conductor – a position he held for four years. For three years prior, Dragon held the inaugural position of Assistant Conductor with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, which gave him the opportunity to work closely with Principal Conductor Asher Fisch.
Dragon has a versatile portfolio ranging from live-to-picture performances including Nightmare Before Christmas, Toy Story and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, a wide variety of collaborations with artists such as the Wu-Tang Clan, Cynthia Erivo and Joshua Bell, to standard and contemporary orchestral repertoire such as Danny Elfman’s Percussion Concerto; all areas of which he has become highly sought after. Christopher has become known for his charisma, high energy, and affinity for a good costume, consistently delivering unforgettable performances that has made him an audience favourite.
Recent highlights include his debut with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, his German debut with the WDR Funkhausorchester, performances of Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton with Danny Elfman reprising the role of Jack Skellington and historic performances with Nathaniel Rateliff at Walt Disney Concert Hall and David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center.
Christopher is highly sought after as a guest conductor and has worked with the San Francisco Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Chicago Philharmonic, Modesto Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, WDR Funkhausorchester, Orquestra Sinfônica de Porto Alegre and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. In Australia, he has guest conducted the Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and West Australian Symphony Orchestras. His 2015 debut performance at the Sydney Opera House with John Pyke and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was released on an album by ABC Music and won an ARIA the following year
He has also conducted at numerous festivals including the Breckenridge and Bangalow Music Festivals, with both resulting in immediate re-invitations. At the beginning of 2016 Dragon conducted Wynton Marsalis’ Swing Symphony as part of the Perth International Art Festival alongside Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Christopher began his conducting studies in 2011 and was a member of the prestigious Symphony Services International Conductor Development Program in Australia under the guidance of course director Christopher Seaman. He has also studied with numerous distinguished conductors, including Leonid Grin, Paavo and Neeme Jarvi at the Jarvi Summer Festival, Fabio Luisi at the Pacific Music Festival, and conducting pedagogue Jorma Panula.
Mandy Gonzalez is an accomplished film, TV, and stage actor and author. She possesses one of the most powerful and versatile contemporary voices of our time.
Mandy is a survivor, a thriver, and exudes positivity. Mandy’s passion for theatre began at the age of 15 when she attended a musical theatre camp with teachers like Ann Reinking, Treat Williams, and Gregory Hines. At 19, she left college to go on tour with Bette Midler as a backup singer before moving to NYC to pursue her Broadway dreams.
Her first Broadway role was in Aida. Mandy then brought her talent to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights, where she originated the role of Nina Rosario in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, for which she received a Drama Desk Award. As a proud Latina-American, the story of Nina resonated deeply.
Mandy then soared as Elphaba in Wicked and left an indelible mark in the megahit Hamilton, where she starred as Angelica Schuyler for 6 years. Mandy also received an OBIE Award and overwhelming critical praise for her performance in the Off-Broadway production of Eli’s Comin’.
At the beginning of 2020, Mandy was diagnosed with breast cancer and battled the disease while undergoing chemotherapy, while still performing 8 shows a week in Hamilton. Her fight persisted through the pandemic, which included remote schooling for her daughter as well as continuing chemotherapy alone due to visitor restrictions. In July 2020, she got to ring the “cancer-free” bell.
Television viewers have had the pleasure of seeing Mandy in her recurring roles in the hit series Madam Secretary, BULL, Quantico, and alongside Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez in Only Murders in the Building. Equally at home on the big screen, Mandy has appeared in Across the Universe, Man on a Ledge, and she can be heard as the voice of Mei in Disney’s Mulan 2 and Mother Rose on the Disney series Alice’s Wonderland Bakery.
A frequent concert soloist, Mandy has performed with symphony orchestras around the world. Highlights include: Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, Boston Pops, The National Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra to name a few.
Mandy released her debut album FEARLESS, with Warner Music East/West, which debuted in the top 20 of iTunes pop charts. In her quest to create positive change, Mandy is the proud founder of #FearlessSquad—a social media movement for inclusiveness and positivity. Mandy is also an accomplished author who recently published her Young Adult series, FEARLESS -- a 4-book middle-grade series that follows young thespians whose brushes with the supernatural teach them about theater, friendship, and themselves.
Mandy serves on the boards of BCRF (Breast Cancer Research Foundation) and BCEFA (Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS), where she actively promotes awareness and fundraising efforts.
Starting October 22, 2024, Mandy will be guest-starring in the role of Norma Desmond at select performances of Broadway‘s upcoming Sunset Blvd.
When she’s not on stage, on set, or traveling, Mandy resides in New Jersey with her husband, daughter, and two dogs!
Press Contact: Jessica Reda | SHP | 212-597-9200 | Jessica@shpny.com
From the city streets of Washington Heights to the pages of your favorite fairytale, get ready to experience the genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda like never before, as the Philly Pops present Everything I Know — a symphonic celebration of storytelling, soul, and one unforgettable voice.
Broadway powerhouse Mandy Gonzalez, one of Miranda’s earliest and closest collaborators, takes center stage to bring his iconic hits to life — from the revolutionary rhythms of Hamilton to the heartfelt songs of Moana, Gonzalez’s soaring vocals and magnetic stage presence turn each number into a moment you’ll never forget.
This is more than just a concert — it’s a journey. With humor, heart, and her signature flair, Gonzalez shares personal stories from her time working with Miranda and breaking barriers as a Latina on Broadway.
So settle in for an afternoon of passion, power, and pure Broadway magic — this is Miranda’s music, reimagined with YOUR Philly Pops.
