Biography

Stefan Sanders, conductor and arts advocate, cultivates cultures of artistic excellence, sustained growth and development, and meaningful engagement within the communities he is fortunate to serve. This year, Stefan embarks on his fourth season as Music Director for the Central Texas Philharmonic and his sixth season as Music Director for the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra in North Carolina.

Stefan has collaborated with many distinguished orchestras. Recent guest conducting appearances include the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba, Orquesta Sinfónica de Guayaquil (Ecuador), Filharmonia Warminsko-Mazurska (Poland), Filharmonia Padkarpacka (Poland),Naples Philharmonic, Sarasota Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, Stockton Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, San Antonio Philharmonic, Tuscaloosa Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Austin Opera, Symphoria (Syracuse, NY), and the Round Top International Festival Institute. Since 2017, Stefan has also served as an assistant conductor for the New York Philharmonic.

Stefan has collaborated with an array of guest artists, such as renowned violinist Gil Shaham, electric bass virtuoso Victor Wooten, pianist and pedagogue Anton Nel, Broadway performer and Seinfeld co-star Jason Alexander, The B-52s, Pink Martini, Vanessa Williams, and many more. 

From 2014-2018 Stefan was the Associate and Resident Conductor with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. While with the BPO, Stefan lead over 200 performances on all of the orchestra’s series. Of note, Stefan began his professional career as a member of the BPO’s trombone section where he played from 1999-2007 before pursuing conducting full time. He also served as Principal Conductor for the Hot Springs Music Festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas in 2018. Stefan was also a featured conductor for the League of American Orchestras “Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview” in 2016. The prestigious conductor showcase is designed to feature talented young conductors poised for music directorships with American Orchestras and was hosted by Giancarlo Guerrero and the Nashville Symphony in May of 2016. 

Prior to a career as a conductor, Stefan was an internationally renowned trombonist, having performed as a soloist in North America, Asia, and Europe. His performance of Eric Ewazen’s Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra, with the Czech Philharmonic, can be heard on the 

Albany Records label. As a trombonist, Stefan performed with several orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, and the Seattle Opera’s 2001 production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. 

Stefan was a fellow at the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen under the tutelage of maestros, Robert Spano, Larry Rachleff and Hugh Wolff. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Interlochen Arts Academy.