Kristof Van Gryspeer, a native of Belgium, is emerging as a thrilling talent
in the conducting world. The Orange County Register recently hailed him as “gifted and stylistically impeccable.”
With a strong background and knowledge of the vocal repertoire Van Gryspeer is Music Director and conductor of several operatic
organizations, such as the Intimate Opera Company, SongFest’s Young Artist opera program
and Angels Vocal Arts Center, which organizes workshops with Italian tenor legend Carlo Bergonzi. As a vocal
coach, he established a flourishing studio in Pasadena, CA.
Van Gryspeer most recently conducted the
critically-acclaimed Intimate Opera Company productions of La Tragédie de
Carmen, La Traviata, The Mikado, Die Fledermaus and The Abduction
from the Seraglio. He also directed Hansel and Gretel and Amahl and the Night Visitors. Upcoming productions
this year include Rigoletto.
As assistant conductor at Opera Pacific
Van Gryspeer assisted John DeMain and Edoardo Muller in the productions of L’Elisir d’Amore, La Bohème,
Die Zauberflöte, Susannah and Il Barbiere di Siviglia.
In 2005, the
Baltimore Opera appointed Van Gryspeer as Music Director for their Young Artist program, where he conducted
L'Elisir d'Amore. The Bakersfield Symphony engaged him as Music Director for their operatic
concerts, such as Fidelio, highlights of Le Nozze di Figaro and Carmen, and concerts centered around
Puccini and Wagner. In 2003, named acting Music Director of the USC Opera, he prepared and conducted The
Magic Flute, The Impresario, Gianni Schicchi and Così fan Tutte.
Van Gryspeer served as chorus master and associate conductor for Volo di Notte, Il Tabarro, Jenufa,
La Périchole and Trois Opéras Minutes at the Long Beach Opera. In 2003 he
returned as guest conductor and premiered Nicholas Chase’s Twenty-two (Taker of the Total Chance). In 2006
he was assistant conductor for The Ring of the Nibelung.
As Music Director of the Belgian
Royal Choir De Mandelgalm and founder of his own orchestra Arte Nobile, Van Gryspeer conducted
Haydn’s The Creation among others. Van Gryspeer served as chorus master at the Aspen Opera Center
and also participated in the Tanglewood Music Center Vocal Program, where he coached Ligeti’s Grand
Macabre. He was on staff at the California Conducting Workshop where he taught vocal coaching.
As a pianist and chamber musician, Van Gryspeer collaborated
with leading instrumentalists and singers, such as violinist Maria Newman, tenor Philip Webb and soprano Juliana Gondek. Van
Gryspeer can be heard on several CD albums and he also recorded for K-Mozart and the Flemish
and Swiss Radio and Television.
Van Gryspeer
has been honored with numerous awards and fellowships, including the prestigious Fulbright Grant. At the USC Thornton
School of Music, he completed a Doctorate and two Master of Music degrees, all with highest honors, with major fields
in keyboard collaborative arts and orchestral conducting. He also studied at the Conservatories of Liège
and Ghent (Belgium) where he obtained Concert Diplomas for both piano and chamber music.
