The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera (SP&O) have announced that Ari Pelto has been named Music Director and Chief Conductor beginning with the 2026-27 season.

Pelto joined the SP&O as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor in the 2023-2024 season.

The newly established role of “chief conductor” reflects the deep relationship between Pelto and the SP&O musicians.

Pelto has been assistant conductor at the Spoleto Festival and associate conductor of Florida West Coast Symphony. He has conducted The Florida Orchestra and with Toledo Symphony and has held the positions of artistic advisor at Boston Lyric Opera and principal guest conductor at Opera Memphis. In 2015 he was appointed music director at Opera Colorado in 2015.