Dr. Stanley has conducted both nationally and internationally, appearing as a guest conductor with orchestras ranging from the West Valley Symphony in Surprise, AZ to the Beach Cities Symphony in Southern California.  He also directed the orchestra at the finals of the most recent Christopher Parkening International Guitar Competition. Dr. Stanley’s versatility has led him to conduct numerous pit orchestras for shows ranging from Sweeney Todd to Jesus Christ Superstar. Upcoming engagements include the Nevada All-State Honor Orchestra in January, 2026.

An advocate for new music, he has commissioned, conducted and premiered many compositions by well-known composers, including Americans Peter Boyer, Richard Marriott and Eric Ewazen.  As a concerto conductor, he has collaborated with such notables as David Singer, Principal Clarinet Emeritus of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and world-famous saxophonist Harvey Pittel, as well as numerous talented young soloists through his work with the Burbank Philharmonic’s Hennings-Fischer Young Artist Competition.

Dr. Stanley is a devoted music educator who provides musical opportunities to young people from diverse communities. In his role as a conductor with the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) program, an El Sistema-based music education program, he provides music instruction to underserved youth in the Los Angeles area.  He is also proud to be the director of the Burbank Philharmonic’s “Discovery Conductor Project,” a unique program for high school conductors which provides mentoring and performance experience with a professional orchestra.
 
During his more than 20 years of music teaching experience, he has served on the faculties of College of the Canyons and Los Angeles Valley College and been honored as “Teacher of the Year” for his outstanding teaching and dedication to his students. He is also a sought-after festival adjudicator and clinician throughout Southern California.
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Dr. Stanley holds a DMA in Conducting from Claremont Graduate University, where he studied with Dr. David Rentz.  He received his MM in Orchestral Conducting from California State University, Long Beach, under the tutelage of the late Dr. Richard Rintoul.  Among his many additional conducting teachers and mentors are Kenneth Kiesler, Jeffrey Schindler, Neil Thomson, Scott Weiss and Gary Pratt.  Dr. Stanley earned his BA in Music summa cum laude from UCLA, majoring in French horn with Richard Todd.  He continues to play horn regularly in regional orchestras throughout Southern California.