Few composers move as effortlessly between musical worlds as David Sanford. His work draws as much from jazz and big band traditions as it does from contemporary classical and experimental music, creating a sound that is bold, high-energy, and unapologetically genre-fluid. Whether writing for large ensembles, orchestras, or his powerhouse David Sanford Big Band (formerly the Pittsburgh Collective), Sanford thrives in spaces where stylistic boundaries blur.
Much of Sanford’s music pulses with rhythmic drive and a deep-rooted sense of groove, who embrace complexity with fire. Works like Black Noise and Seven Kings showcase his ability to fuse intricate orchestration with visceral, improvisation-inflected energy. His collaborations with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, JACK Quartet, and the Meridian Arts Ensemble reflect a composer equally at home in the concert hall and the jazz club.
V-Reel, with the Pittsburgh Collective
Sanford has received commissions from the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Speculum Musicae, the Meridian Arts Ensemble, the Fromm and Koussevitzky Foundations, and the Barlow Endowment; his works have been performed by the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra under Kent Nagano, the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra under Marin Alsop, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and the Chicago Symphony Chamber Players among others.
His honors include the Rome Prize, fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Radcliffe Institute, and he was the arranger for cellist Matt Haimovitz’s Grammy Award-nominated album Meeting of the Spirits. The title track of the Boston Modern Orchestra Project’s recording of the composer’s works, Black Noise, was named one of “The 25 Best Classical Music Tracks of 2019” by the New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/12/arts/music/best-classical-music.html).
He received degrees in theory and composition from the University of Northern Colorado, New England Conservatory, and Princeton University, and is currently Elizabeth T. Kennan Professor of Music at Mount Holyoke College and the director of the David Sanford Big Band.
At June in Buffalo 2025, Sanford brings his singular voice as both a composer and mentor. His presence at the festival is an invitation to engage with a musical language that is electrifying, deeply considered, and always evolving. We look forward to his input at this year’s festival!
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