Kristof Van Gryspeer, a native of Belgium, has won critical acclaim for his performances in Europe, Russia and the USA as a piano soloist, chamber musician, collaborator with leading instrumentalists and singers (such as violinist Maria Newman and sopranos Juliana Gondek and Ollie Watts Davis), and as a conductor. He participated in two CD recordings and also recorded for K-Mozart and the Flemish and Swiss Radio and Television. Van Gryspeer’s repertoire includes many contemporary pieces. The Orange County Register recently hailed him as “gifted and stylistically impeccable.” In 2003, Van Gryspeer was named acting Music Director of the USC Opera, where he prepared and conducted The Magic Flute, The Impresario,Gianni Schicchi and Cosi fan Tutte. Last season, the Baltimore Opera appointed him as Music Director for their Young Artist program, which culminated in conducting L'Elisir d'Amore. Van Gryspeer is the Music Director of the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Pasadena. He serves as vocal coach for the Bakersfield Symphony and as Music Director and conductor for SongFest’s Young Artist opera program. As Music Director of the Angel’s Vocal Arts Center, he was the accompanist for a workshop led by Italian tenor legend Carlo Bergonzi. Van Gryspeer recently worked as pianist and assistant conductor for the Long Beach Opera(The Ring), and as Music Director for the Intimate Opera Company(Hansel and Gretel), for which in the fall he will also be conducting Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio and Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. Current projects include engagements with Opera Pacific. 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. He 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). Van Gryspeer was a pianist and 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. 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.