Our Musicians
Stefan Sanders
Music Director
Acclaimed conductor, audience builder, communicator and arts advocate, Stefan Sanders is thrilled to begin his fourth season as the Music Director for the Central Texas Philharmonic. He also embarks on his 6th season as the Music Director for the Fayetteville
Symphony Orchestra in North Carolina. 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, Filharmonia Warminsko-Mazurska (Poland), and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba (Havana, Cuba).
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 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 Juilliard School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the Interlochen Arts Academy.
Musicians
2023/2024 Season
VIOLIN 1
Daniela Lancara deEspinoza
Concertmaster
Tiffany Schwalm
Michael Badillo
Jeff Elliot
Michael Hilton
Xiaohui Yang
Greg Zychowski
Claudia Ferguson
Eunice Cho
Justin Scheibel
VIOLIN 11
Steve Merson, Principal
Milena Georgieva
Allison Sargent
Barbara Hughston
Glenda Cisler
Connor Bell
Jamie See
Sherri Marcus
Beverly Minz
Svetlana Clifft
VIOLA
Tiana Moritz, Principal
Rohan Joshi
Jason Elinoff
Isaac Fuentes
Nate Smith
Emma Martin
Sera Jung
CELLO
Tsz To Wong, Principal
Eunhie Lim
Katsuaki Arakawa
Kristin Behlmann
Chi-Hui Kao
Ilia Dela Rosa
Lena Timmons
DOUBLE BASS
CJ Johnson, Principal
Krystal Warnock
Christopher Arcy
Tony Sanfilippo
FLUTE
Adrienne Inglis, Principal
Heather Havens
FLUTE/PICCOLO
Luellyn Dollard, Principal
OBOE
Amy Burgus Principal
Rebecca Haskins
ENGLISH HORN
Clara Blood, Principal
CLARINET
Shih-Wen Fan, Principal
Tyler Webster
EB CLARINET
Nicholas Councilor, Principal
BASS CLARINET
Ivan Javier Paez, Principal
BASSOON
Alex Oniel, Principal
Katia Osorio
CONTRABASSOON
Shawn Karson, Principal
ALTO SAXOPHONE
Benjamin Kessler, Principal
FRENCH HORN
Paul Blackstone, Principal
Esteban Garcia
Wing Lam Au
Michael Woodard
TRUMPET
Michael Arnold, Principal
Michael Piccione
Casey Martin
TROMBONE
Will Dorsey, Principal
Mike Dorato
BASS TROMBONE
Billy Gayman, Principal
TUBA
David Hummel, Principal
TIMPANI
Cy Miessler, Principal
PERCUSSION
Tim Mabrey, Principal
Cindy Willis
Ian Fry
Tim Shuster
Connor Ainsworth
Meaghan Trevino
Caroline Richards
HARP
Rachel Browne, Principal
PIANO
Martin Kesuma, Principal