Sands, Stephen
stephen sands
Stephen Sands is a GRAMMY-nominated conductor and “crystalline tenor” (Backstage), hailed by The New York Times for his “focused, powerful tone” and for “beautifully balancing the sound and maintaining order” in his conducting. With an artistic career spanning performance, leadership, and education, Sands brings exceptional clarity, passion, and vision to every ensemble he leads.
He is the conductor of Downtown Voices, a dynamic semi-professional choir and an integral part of the Trinity Church, NYC music program, now in its tenth season. Under his direction, the ensemble has earned acclaim for its adventurous programming and polished sound. Downtown Voices has performed classic masterworks as well as world premieres and has been featured at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden as well as Trinity Church and St. Paul’s Chapel. Recent performances have included the world premiere of Stephen Main’s The Image, the Verdi Requiem, and Gounod’s St. Cecilia Mass.
Sands also serves as Managing Director of Ensemble Veritas, the professional choral ensemble at Harvard University, where he partners with the Harvard Choruses and the Harvard Choruses New Music Initiative. Ensemble Veritas has performed at Sanders Theatre, Carnegie Hall, and Alice Tully Hall, premiering works by emerging student and established composers. As Artistic Director of Music in the Somerset Hills (MISH), Sands has transformed the musical life of his home region in New Jersey through bold artistic vision and a deep commitment to music education. He leads the Somerset Hills Chorus, curating performances that unite professional artistry with broad community engagement. The newest program, MISH in the Schools, offers free, high-quality musical enrichment to public high school students across Somerset County. Designed to supplement existing choral programs, the initiative aims to nurture creativity, elevate student performance, and provide opportunities for collaboration with collegiate and professional musicians.
Sands is a founding member and Executive Director of the Antioch Chamber Ensemble, internationally praised for its precision and expressive depth. Under his leadership, Antioch has produced acclaimed recordings and undertaken residencies at Harvard University, Vassar College, and Washington & Lee University. Their latest album, In Praise of Music, features works by celebrated composer Robert Kyr and earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Choral Performance. A passionate educator, Sands has taught thousands of students in the Somerset Hills School District, instilling a love of choral singing across generations. He holds Bachelors and Masters degrees from Westminster Choir College and is a recipient of the NJ Award for Excellence in the Arts. Sands has recently adjudicated choral music festivals for the New Jersey American Choral Directors Association, Infinity Tours, and WorldStrides Heritage Performance, providing expert evaluations, workshops and educational feedback to high school ensembles from across the United States.
As a tenor soloist and ensemble artist, Sands has appeared with the Choir of Trinity Wall Street, the Carmel Bach Festival Chorale, Voices of Ascension, Bethlehem Bach Choir, TENET, Clarion, and Pomerium. His repertoire spans from the Evangelist roles in Bach’s Passions to contemporary masterworks, always delivered with stylistic integrity and emotional honesty. With a career grounded in excellence and innovation, Stephen Sands continues to shape the future of American choral music. StephenSands.net