Music Director – Stefan Sanders

Stefan Sanders Headshot

Acclaimed conductor, audience builder, communicator and arts advocate, Stefan Sanders is thrilled to begin his fifth season as the Music Director of the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra. Stefan is also equally excited to embark on his third season as the Music Director for the Central Texas Philharmonic. Having collaborated with an array of distinguished orchestras and guest artists, Stefan’s recent guest conducting appearances include the Sarasota Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, San Antonio Symphony, 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 a cover/assistant conductor for the New York Philharmonic.

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 May of 2018 and January of 2020, Stefan lead the National Orchestra of Cuba in a sold performances of the legendary film music of John Williams. Stefan also served as Principal Conductor for Arkansas’ Hot Springs Music Festival in the summer of 2018.

In 2016, Stefan was one of 5 featured conductors at the League of American Orchestras “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 Julliard School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Interlochen Arts Academy.

Featured Musician

Bill Tyler – Third Horn

Bill Tyler, a native of western New York, joined the Fayetteville Symphony as third horn in 2011. He attended the University of Memphis for undergraduate work and the University of Wyoming for graduate school, and was a concerto contest winner at both schools. His primary horn instructors were Richard Dolph (Memphis) and William Stacy (Wyoming), both excellent instructors who did their best, knowing that the odds were stacked against them in trying to teach Bill the basics of horn playing. They were relieved (and somewhat surprised) when he actually graduated from both schools.

Past performing experience includes the Cheyenne Symphony, Abilene (TX) Philharmonic, the Charlotte Civic Orchestra and the occasional opera at Central Piedmont Community College. He has participated in workshops with Michael Thompson, Richard Watkins, David Ohanian, Skip Snead, Barry Tuckwell and Bruce Moore, and each one would very much appreciate not being reminded of it.

Bill retired from the FAA in 2010, after working for over 25 years as an air traffic controller. His spare time is now spent on catching up on yard work (after years of neglect), trying to appear to be useful around the house, putting off cleaning out the garage (after many years of neglect), playing the horn all over North and South Carolina, working out at the gym (after even more years of neglect) and finding creative ways of goofing off. He is also a member of the Greenville (SC) Symphony and the Carolina Philharmonic. He can also be found occasionally bothering performing with the Winston Salem Symphony, Hendersonville Symphony, Western Piedmont Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, South Carolina Philharmonic, Salisbury Symphony – and basically any other group that will put up with him.

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

Music Director – Stefan Sanders

Featured Musician

Bill Tyler – Third Horn

To Educate. To Entertain. To Inspire.

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