The conductor, who has served as the company’s Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor since 2023, will assume the newly created role from the 2026–27 season.
The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera (SP&O) has appointed Ari Pelto as its Music Director and Chief Conductor, beginning with the 2026–27 season. Pelto has served as the company’s Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor since the 2023–24 season.
According to the organisation, the newly created position of Chief Conductor reflects Pelto’s artistic collaboration with the orchestra as the company continues to develop its musical leadership.
Pelto has been Music Director of Opera Colorado since 2015. Before joining the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, he held positions including Artistic Advisor at Boston Lyric Opera and Principal Guest Conductor at Opera Memphis.
After studying violin at Oberlin Conservatory, Pelto pursued conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem and Indiana University. Early in his career he served as Assistant Conductor at the Spoleto Festival and Associate Conductor of the Florida West Coast Symphony, now the Sarasota Symphony Orchestra.
As a guest conductor, Pelto has appeared with orchestras including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony and Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and has worked extensively in opera and ballet.
In a statement announcing the appointment, SP&O Chief Executive Officer Giuliano Kornberg described Pelto as an important artistic leader for the organisation, while Pelto said he looked forward to continuing his work with the orchestra and its community.
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