DAN SAUNDERS is becoming increasingly well known to audiences around the world as an accomplished conductor and pianist. An assistant conductor to James Levine and Seiji Ozawa and a recitalist with many of the world's finest soloists, Saunders served as the Associate Conductor of the Virginia Opera from 2000 until 2006 and is now based in New York.

In 2007 he returned to the Metropolitan Opera as an Assistant Conductor for the Met's new production of Hansel and Gretel and served in the same capacity for last season's Salome, Rigoletto and ll Trovatore. He has been invited to return for this coming season’s new production of Armida, in addition to Tosca and Hansel.

Internationally this season, he made his debut at the Dresden Opera, conducting Gershwin's Porgy and Bess produced by Harlem Productions.

In addition to the Met, Saunders will join in preparing and performing a Lincoln Center Theater workshop production of Nico Muhly’s new opera Two Boys.

This summer Mr Saunders served as Music Director for the Harrower Opera Workshop at Georgia State University in Atlanta. The previous summer, as Associate Conductor of Glimmerglass Opera, he conducted Young Artist performances of Wagner's Liebesverbot and Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate, making his debut there conducting the Glimmerglass Opera Orchestra.  He led the Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater Scenes Program in the school's 90th anniversary year and for two seasons has conducted the MSM Graduate Orchestra, featuring Lauren Flanigan, Soprano.

At the invitation of Placido Domingo, Saunders made his debut with the Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center in 2006, serving as Cover Conductor for the Francesca Zambello Production of Gershwin's Porgy & Bess and returned in May 2007 for Verdi’s Macbeth.

In the summer of 2006, he conducted West Side Story at the Ash Lawn Opera Festival followed by appearances with the New York All-State Orchestra at the famed Eastman Theater and with the Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater. Saunders then joined the distinguished faculty of the International Vocal Arts Institute in Israel.

As Associate Conductor of Virginia Opera Association (VOA) from 2000-2006, Saunders conducted many performances with the Virginia and Richmond Symphonies to critical acclaim. He served as Music Director and Principal Conductor for Le Nozze di Figaro, The Merry Widow, The Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus, La Bohème, The Mikado, The Barber of Seville, West Side Story and Don Pasquale. He also led performances of Turandot, Rodalinda, Faust and Porgy & Bess.

In 2004 he joined the conducting staff of New York City Opera, Lincoln Center, serving as Cover Conductor to Musical Director George Manahan and returned the following season. He subsequently conducted a French double-bill at the New Jersey Opera Theater.

Saunders made his debut with the New York City Opera National Company in 1999 leading 35 performances of Madame Butterfly throughout the United States. He has also directed the Sinfonica Nacional of Costa Rica, and the Boston University Opera Institute.

In addition to the Metropolitan Opera, Saunders assisted Levine at the Salzburg and Ravinia Festivals, Ozawa at the Saito Kinen, Tanglewood, and Salzburg Festivals and Kurt Masur at the New York Philharmonic. He has also served on the Music Staffs of Santa Fe, Cologne and Des Moines Operas.

Saunders has served as Musical Assistant for the Deutsche Grammophon and Philips Labels, as well as for CAMI Video.