The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera (SP&O) announced that Ari Pelto has been named Music Director and Chief Conductor beginning with the 2026-27 season. Pelto joined the SP&O as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor in the 2023-2024 season. The newly established role of “chief conductor” reflects the deep relationship between Pelto and the SP&O musicians. After earning his Bachelor of Music in violin performance at Oberlin Conservatory, Pelto studied conducting at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem, and at Indiana University. He was appointed assistant conductor at the Spoleto Festival and associate conductor of Florida West Coast Symphony, now known as Sarasota Symphony. In addition to conducting over 30 concerts in Sarasota, Pelto was a frequent guest conductor with The Florida Orchestra and with Toledo Symphony. He has held the positions of artistic advisor at Boston Lyric Opera and principal guest conductor at Opera Memphis. Pelto was appointed music director at Opera Colorado in 2015. He has conducted several of America’s leading orchestras, including Detroit Symphony, San Diego Symphony, St Louis Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, and Virginia Symphony.
