Meet The Colorado Man Who Went From Teaching High School Orchestra To Composing Symphonic Works

October 7, 2019
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAStefan Steinbauer
Chris Pilsner of Fort Collins directing an orchestra performing one of his works in Vienna. Pilsner recently stepped down from teaching orchestra at Windsor High School to compose symphonic works full-time.

An orchestra director at Windsor High School announced earlier this year that he would leave to pursue a full-time career as a composer. During his five years at the school, Chris Pilsner, a Fort Collins native, tripled the size of the music program. His students traveled across the U.S. and Europe with him performing his original music. Before he left, he gave his students a memorable parting gift. An orchestral piece written as a tribute to them.