Stephan Fillare believes the most memorable orchestral performances are born from trust. His work as a conductor is shaped by the conviction that when every musician feels invested in a shared artistic goal, an ensemble becomes more than the sum of its parts—listening more deeply, communicating more freely, and discovering new possibilities together.

As Director of Orchestral Activities at Furman University, Fillare conducts the Furman Symphony Orchestra and Furman Chamber Orchestra while collaborating regularly with the Furman Oratorio Chorus and Sarah Reese Lyric Theatre. During his tenure, he restored the Furman Chamber Orchestra following a four-year hiatus and has championed programming that pairs cherished repertoire with music deserving of wider recognition, including the South Carolina premiere of Jennifer Erickson's To Serve With Honor, a work written in honor of Marine Lance Cpl. Antoine D. Smith.

Equally at home in the symphonic and operatic repertoire, Fillare has appeared with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States and internationally. He was the inaugural Harmony Conducting Fellow with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, where he led Young People's Concerts featuring the music of Gabriela Lena Frank and John Williams before returning to conduct Arturo Márquez's Danzón No. 2. His operatic work includes assistant conducting appointments with the International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia and the Berlin Opera Academy, as well as productions with Sarah Reese Lyric Theatre including Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors and Kurt Weill's Street Scene.

An active guest conductor, educator, lecturer, and adjudicator, Fillare has collaborated with honor orchestras, universities, and festivals throughout the United States. His recent scholarly work includes a lecture-recital exploring William Grant Still's Symphony No. 3, "The Sunday Symphony": A Conductor's Guide in Score, Style, and Interpretation. He continues to expand opportunities for young musicians through educational projects, including new student string orchestra arrangements of works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. He has also served as an adjudicator for Stetson University's Huhta Instrumental Competition and the International Conductor's Lab Competition.

Originally from Orlando, Florida, Fillare holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Stetson University and a Master of Music in Conducting, where he studied with Maurice Peress. He pursued doctoral work in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under the mentorship of Mark Gibson. Whether working with professional musicians, university ensembles, or the next generation of performers, Fillare believes the conductor's greatest responsibility is to create the conditions where musicians can listen, grow, and bring their very best to the music.

We are pleased to welcome Stephan Fillare as a Guest Conductor for the Symphony Ensemble for the Fall Concert cycle of the 2026-2027 season.