Music Director – Stefan Sanders

Stefan Sanders Headshot

 

Acclaimed conductor, audience builder, communicator and arts advocate, Stefan Sanders is thrilled to begin his 7th season as the Music Director for your Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Stefan is also equally excited to embark on his 5th season as the Music Director for the Central Texas Philharmonic in Austin, TX.

Having collaborated with an array of distinguished orchestras and guest artists, Stefan’s recent guest conducting appearances include the San Antonio Symphony, Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán (Mérida, MX), Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba (Havana, Cuba), Sarasota Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Stockton Symphony, Tuscaloosa Symphony, Orquesta Sinfónica de Guayaquil (Ecuador), Filharmonia Warminsko-Mazurska (Poland), Filharomonia Podcarpacka (Poland), Symphoria (Syracuse, NY), Austin Symphony Orchestra, Austin Opera, and the Round Top International Festival Institute. Since 2017 Stefan has also served as an assistant conductor for the New York Philharmonic. This season, Stefan’s guest conducting engagements include return visits to the San Antonio Philharmonic, and debuts with the Canton Symphony Orchestra in Ohio.

From 2014-2018 Stefan served as the Associate and Resident Conductor for the Buffalo Philharmonic, where he lead the orchestra in over 200 performances on all of the orchestra’s series. In 2016, Stefan was one of 5 featured conductors at the League of American Orchestra’s “Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview.” This prestigious conductor showcase is designed to feature talented young conductors poised for music directorships with American Orchestras and was hosted by Maestro Giancarlo Guerrero and the Nashville Symphony.

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. Mr. Sanders was a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic’s trombone section for seven seasons and has 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, Larry Rachleff, Robert Spano, and Hugh Wolff. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Interlochen Arts Academy.

Featured Musician

Patrick Herring – Principal Bassoon

pjh-bsn

A native of North Augusta, South Carolina, Patrick Herring’s primary teachers were Nancy Goeres, Peter Kolkay, and Carol Lowe.  Mr. Herring has also performed in master classes for Phil Pandolfi, Frank Morelli, Sue Heineman, and Judith LeClair.

Along with the FSO, Mr. Herring holds the position of principal bassoonist with Long Bay Symphony in Myrtle Beach, SC and South Carolina Philharmonic in Columbia, SC; the latter awarded in May of 2016.  Patrick has performed with Symphony Orchestra Augusta, Charleston Symphony, and Hilton Head Symphony orchestras.  While pursuing his master’s degree in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Patrick performed with the Akron Symphony Orchestra in Akron, OH and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra in Wheeling, WV. 

Mr. Herring received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Performance Certificate from the University of South Carolina, and earned his Master of Music degree in bassoon performance from Carnegie Mellon University. During his time at CMU, Patrick performed with the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic in 2009 and 2010 at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and was a finalist in the Silbermann Chamber Music Competition.

As well as performing regularly in orchestras in NC and SC, Patrick is a licensed massage therapist in South Carolina where he has been practicing body work since 2013.

To Educate. To Entertain. To Inspire.

The Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1956 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and is a professional, regional orchestra whose mission is to educate, entertain, and inspire the citizens of the Fayetteville, North Carolina region as the leading musical resource.  Praised for its artistic excellence, the Symphony leads in the cultural and educational landscape for Fayetteville and the southeastern North Carolina region.

The Fayetteville Symphony typically performs 8 concerts during any given season performing both at Methodist University and Fayetteville State University. Partnerships with other agencies include collaborative performances with Cape Fear Regional Theatre, chamber concerts at St. John’s Episcopal Church, as well as the city’s annual Independence concert with fireworks. The Symphony brings music to the schools and the community by performing educational concerts, as well as having its own Fayetteville Symphony Youth Orchestra, after school strings and summer music camps.

This organization is supported in part by a space grant from the BB&T Term Endowment of Cumberland Community Foundation, Inc.


sign up for our e-mail

Follow Us:


Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 302
Fayetteville, NC 28302

Office Location:
310 Green St., Suite 101
Fayetteville, NC 28301
P: (910) 433-4690
F: (910)433-4699
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday
9:00am-5:00pm

info@fayettevillesymphony.org

Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra

310 GREEN ST., SUITE 101
Fayetteville, NC 28301

Website design by Minuteman Press Web Design