BIOGRAPHY
Orlando native Stephan Fillare continues to make a career in New York City and Cincinnati. In March 2020, Mr. Fillare became the inaugural Harmony Conducting Fellow of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra. While a part of the organization, he debuted at a Young People’s Concert conducting the music of Gabriela Lena Frank; he also conducted a part of a concert featuring the music of John Williams. Stephan returned to New Haven in March to direct a performance of Arturo Marquez's Danzón No.2. In April, he traveled to his hometown to conduct the All-County Honors High School Orchestra.
Recently Mr. Fillare moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he is a first-year DMA Orchestral Conducting candidate at the College-Conservatory of Music. He studies with noted conductor and pedagogue Mark Gibson. Recent work has included performances with the CCM Philharmonia of works by Mendelssohn, Mozart, and Smetana. He is a Yates Fellow, which provides additional scholarship to fully fund his educational pursuits while at the College-Conservatory of Music. Seeking continual progress in his abilities as a conductor, he will participate in a conducting masterclass led by renowned Cleveland Pops Orchestra Music Director Carl Topilow. Mr. Fillare will be Assistant Conductor at the International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia in Mexico, assisting Maestro Jorge Parodi with productions of Puccini’s La Boheme and Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.
Mr. Fillare was Assistant Conductor at the New York Repertory Orchestra for six years, where he was also Concertmaster. With Manhattan Opera Studio he guest conducted two productions of Mozart operas, Le nozze di Figaro and Die Zauberflöte. He worked with New Camerata Opera on a double bill production of John Blow’s Venus & Adonis and Gustav Holst’s Sävitri. He has been a Guest Conductor of the long-running New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Off the podium, Mr. Fillare performed in principal roles including but not limited to Concertmaster with New Amsterdam Opera, Manhattan Opera Studio, New York Concert Opera, Litha Symphony, and many more; Principal Second Violin with Garden State Philharmonic, Bronx Opera, and Regina Opera.
Mr. Fillare remains committed to working with local communities and educators. With the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, he was part of an online listening club during the pandemic to keep in touch with members of the New Haven Community while discussing music with New Haven Music Director Alasdair Neale and New Haven Pops Conductor Chelsea Tipton II. With the NHSO, he has participated in talks with students on the role of a conductor in an orchestra and the process of becoming a professional musician. He takes great pride in being a part of the Young People’s Concerts, introducing young audiences to a Symphony Orchestra, and taking them on a musical journey discussing a variety of topics.
Returning to Florida in April of 2023 to work with the All-County High School Honors group Mr. Fillare continues his work with the young students of Orange County, Florida. He previously worked with the students of Stetson University, Colonial Middle School, and Southwest Middle School in Florida. In Connecticut, he worked as a mentor with the Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra. He lead concerts for students from Hamden High School, Sheldon High School, and the greater New Haven School area. In New York, he worked with students at the Talent Unlimited High School in Manhattan and Harrison High School in Harrison, NY.
Stephan received his Master of Arts in Instrumental Conducting from the Aaron Copland School of Music in 2014, where he studied with Maurice Peress. Stephan has also studied conducting with Anthony Hose. He received his Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Stetson University in 2012, studying violin with Routa Kroumovitch-Gomez.
