FC Artistic Director

Dr. Krishan Oberoi

Composer, lyricist, conductor and entrepreneur Krishan Oberoi has received widespread critical acclaim for his innovative leadership. Ensembles under his direction have been praised for their “impressive warmth and verve” (Boston Globe), “startling depth” (Variety magazine) and “clear diction, perfect pitch and clear purpose” (San Diego Union-Tribune). Oberoi is the Founder & Principal Guest Conductor of SACRA/PROFANA, a critically acclaimed, San Diego-based chorus described as “a divine vocal canopy” by The Los Angeles Times.

Hailed for his “visionary direction” (San Diego Story), Oberoi has championed the music of living composers, as well as seldom-performed works from earlier centuries. He has conducted world premiere recordings of music by such composers as Shawn Kirchner, Sarah Kirkland Snider, and Pulitzer-Prize winner David Lang. SACRA/PROFANA's 2017 collaboration with composer Stephen Feigenbaum received national attention, and was described by Time magazine as "a sharply orchestrated piece of futuristic pop." 

A passionate recruiter and advocate for choral singing, Oberoi has engaged underserved populations through innovative education and outreach programs. These efforts include a month-long after-school program at San Diego’s Monarch School, an institution devoted to students impacted by homelessness.  

Since 2020, Oberoi has served as Director of Choral Activities at Providence College, where he also teaches Music in World Cultures. At PC, he has written for the Heritage Journal, the newsletter for PC's Black Studies Program. He has also worked closely with the Institute for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to bring programs to campus that explore the intersectionality between choral music and current social issues. 

Krishan attended Yale University on a full-tuition scholarship, and received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University in 2018. He is the recent recipient of an Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. He currently lives in Medway, Massachusetts with his partner Kirsten and their two Golden Retrievers, Chester & Charlie.