Kristofer Sanchack, Keyboard Artist
Kristofer Sanchack joined the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir in 2010 as a singer and fill-in accompanist and was named keyboard artist beginning with the 2011-2012 season.
His wide-ranging musical career began with his study of piano with Evelyn Shaw. He was privileged to continue his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music with Freda Pastor Berkowitz, who had been the teacher of Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein. At the Pennsylvania State University, Mr. Sanchack studied with Dr. Timothy Shafer, a winner of the Liszt International Competition. While at Penn State, Mr. Sanchack accompanied and/or performed with six different choruses, including women's, men's and mixed choruses, as well as the State College Choral Society, which performed Mendelssohn's Elijah with world-renowned baritone Sherrill Milnes. Other works he has accompanied include the Beethoven Choral Fantasy and Symphony No. 9 and the Verdi and Brahms Requiems. As a conductor, he has taken choirs on national and international tours, including leading a performance of the Vivaldi Gloria in the Ospedale della Pieta, Vivaldi's home church and workplace.
Mr. Sanchack has performed solo all-Liszt recitals both in the United States and Europe. His acclaimed recording of the Liszt B Minor Sonata can be accessed on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/ksanchac). Mr. Sanchack is also acclaimed as a chamber music performer, and has appeared as a concerto soloist with orchestras around the United States.
Mr. Sanchack received a B.M. in Composition with Honors and High Distinction from Penn State University. He holds an M.M. in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina, where he received an assistantship in Accompanying, affording him the opportunity to play for a wide variety of both instrumentalists and singers. He is currently pursuing the D.M. in Choral Conducting at Indiana University, studying piano with Dr. Robert Hatten and writing a dissertation on the Berlioz Requiem. Mr. Sanchack is also Choir/Handbell Director at Irvington Presbyterian Church.
