KRISTOFER SANZ has matured as a vibrant and talented conductor whose energy and fervor for music have allowed him to achieve a passionate, mature and musical sound with any ensemble he has conducted. Mr. Sanz recently has been praised for his modern and adventurous interpretations, as well as his contemporary and interactive concert presentations. He is the Artistic Director and Philharmonic conductor for the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras program that rehearses and performs at The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland. Under Mr. Sanz’s baton the Philharmonic is quickly becoming known for their highly musical, moving, and nuanced interpretations of a wide range of works from all genres—including orchestral works, dance, and opera. Mr. Sanz continues to push the boundaries of classical orchestral performances while keeping process, passion and musicality at the heart of his work.

Mr. Sanz strongly believes in exposing orchestras and audiences to new works by living composers while programming works from the time honored classical canon. Most recently Mr. Sanz has collaborated with composer Jordan Jinosko in premiering her "Three Sketches of Unblemished Earth," as well as premiering and commissioning her new symphonic suite "Tales from the Aviary." Mr. Sanz has also collaborated with composer Polina Nazaykinskaya and Site Specific Dance to present the concert premier of "Fenix" for orchestra and video. In 2022, in honor of MCYO's 75th Anniversary, Mr. Sanz arranged and premiered a new one of a kind multimedia suite "In Aqua Sanitas," for orchestra, water percussion, choir, spoken poetry, audience participation, and mezzo soprano featuring the works of Christopher Tin, Michael W. Smith, Karl Jenkins, Lucy Chen, and Stefano Sacchi. In 2019, Mr. Sanz presented the US Premier of Pablo Manavello's orchestral suite "El Camino de Santiago llega a ti," a passionate and expressive work describing the pilgrimage of "The Way of Saint James." In 2019, Mr. Sanz also worked with Black Violin on their concert tour combining a 90 piece classical orchestra with Hip Hop violin/viola, vocals, and DJ. In March 2017, Kristofer presented the DC premier of Tolga Kashif's lush and decadent Queen Symphony, an orchestral homage to Freddie Mercury and QUEEN for large orchestra and choir. In March 2016 he conducted the Philharmonic in his own arrangement of The Ring of the Nibelung by Wagner. Teaming up with narrator, Greg Jukes, the Philharmonic presented a 45-minute orchestral journey—with narration—that encompassed themes from Wagner’s Ring Cycle. This special arrangement was conceived to honor MCYO’s seventieth birthday celebration. In May 2014 he performed the US premiere of Ilan Eshkeri’s Stardust Suite.

Mr. Sanz is a founding member and Music Director / Conductor for Young Artists of America (YAA) at Strathmore, a non-profit organization founded to provide aspiring and talented young artists with exceptional opportunities to perform with—and be mentored by—professional artists and educators in fully orchestrated performances. With YAA, Mr. Sanz has recorded, conducted, and premiered two award winning concert productions for Maryland Public Television honoring Hal Prince and Tim Rice. In March 2017, Kristofer worked with Academy Award winning lyricist Tim Rice and Broadway star Adam Pascale to present a world premier concert "The Circle of Life:" The Songs of Tim Rice. In March 2016 he worked with Broadway composer, Stephen Schwartz, and YAA to present his orchestrated version of Children of Eden at Strathmore. In March 2014 Mr. Sanz worked side by side with three-time Tony Award-winning composer, Jason Robert Brown, to present his fully orchestrated song cycle Songs for a New World. YAA is an Affiliate of Strathmore, and resides at The Music Center at Strathmore.