Youth Choral Director, Stephen Sands

In addition to being the Youth Choral Director at St. Luke's, Stephen Sands is praised by the New York Times as “a tenor with a focused, powerful tone“, and is highly sought after as both a soloist and ensemble member by some of the most prestigious institutions and conductors in the United States. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Westminster Choir College, where for four years he was a member of the world-renowned Westminster Choir under the direction of Joseph Flummerfelt. He is a founding member and Executive Director of the internationally award-winning Antioch Chamber Ensemble, widely regarded as one of the finest professional vocal ensembles in the country. Stephen has been heard as the Evangelist in numerous performances of Bach’s St. John and St. Matthew Passions, most recently with Fuma Sacra and the Westminster Kantorei under the direction of Andrew Megill. He is a member of the Carmel Bach Festival Chorale, Vox Vocal Ensemble, Aoede Consort, TENET, Clarion Music Society, and the Choir of Trinity Wall Street under the direction of Julian Wachner. His extensive discography includes the recent releases The Passing of the Year for MSR classics with Antioch Chamber Ensemble, and the Complete Haydn Masses for Naxos with the Choir of Trinity Wall Street.

In addition to a successful career as a musician, Stephen is also a highly respected choral director and music educator. He is currently the Vocal Music Director at Bernards High School in Bernardsville, New Jersey, where he leads the Bernards High School Madrigal Ensemble, Concert Choir and Women’s ensembles. He is also the founder and Artistic Director of Music in the Somerset Hills and the Somerset Hills Community Chorus, which celebrate their inaugural season in 2011.