christopher kelts, music director
Christopher Kelts is the new Director of Orchestral Studies and Assistant Professor of Music Missouri State University. He is also the Music Director and co-founder of the Kinnor Philharmonic Orchestra and serves as Music Conductor for the Kansas City Civic Orchestra.
A native of St. Louis, Dr. Kelts has had many opportunities to perform in his home city. He has been the recipient of the “Arts for Life” Award for his musical direction in local theatre, served as guest conductor for the St. Louis Suburban Honors Orchestra and clinician to many St. Louis School Districts. Kelts was also a guest clinician for the Hickman Mills Honors Orchestra (Kansas City), in addition to giving many clinics to local and state-wide middle and high schools. He has also served as an adjudicator for the American String Teacher’s Association (ASTA).
Other conducting engagements have included: assistant conductor of the Kansas City Ballet, Chamber Orchestra of the Ozarks, Topeka Symphony Orchestra and the Urban Cultural Project (Kansas City).
Dr. Kelts completed his advanced conducting training at Illinois State University and University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. His teachers have included Glenn Block, Robert Olson and Paul Vermel. While in his studies at UMKC Conservatory, Chris served as the assistant conductor for the Conservatory Symphony and Chamber Orchestra. He maintained the position as Opera conductor of many of the Conservatory’s opera productions. Dr. Kelts has conducted stage productions as: Le nozze di Figaro, Il Ritorno di Ulisses in Patria, Susannah, Pirates of Penzance, Hansel und Gretel, Guilio Cesare, Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi and recently premiered Tonatzin. Chris has worked with stage directors, Linda Ade Brand, Marciem Bazell and Richard Gammon.
Not limited to his studies in orchestral conducting, Dr. Kelts formally trained as a violist where he studied at Missouri State University and Illinois State University. Dr. Kelts has ample symphonic experience as a violist. Recent positions have included; Springfield (MO) Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony, Opera of Illinois Orchestra and the Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra. His teachers have included Amy Muchnick, Kate Hamilton and Karen Tuttle. Chris Kelts continues to perform in various chamber and orchestral ensembles.
For over ten years, Chris had served on the summer faculty for Missouri State University’s String Institute (String Fling) and is faculty/conductor for The Heartland Summer Chamber Music Festival. Christopher Kelts is a member of the Conductor’s Guild and College Orchestra Director’s Association.
A native of St. Louis, Dr. Kelts has had many opportunities to perform in his home city. He has been the recipient of the “Arts for Life” Award for his musical direction in local theatre, served as guest conductor for the St. Louis Suburban Honors Orchestra and clinician to many St. Louis School Districts. Kelts was also a guest clinician for the Hickman Mills Honors Orchestra (Kansas City), in addition to giving many clinics to local and state-wide middle and high schools. He has also served as an adjudicator for the American String Teacher’s Association (ASTA).
Other conducting engagements have included: assistant conductor of the Kansas City Ballet, Chamber Orchestra of the Ozarks, Topeka Symphony Orchestra and the Urban Cultural Project (Kansas City).
Dr. Kelts completed his advanced conducting training at Illinois State University and University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. His teachers have included Glenn Block, Robert Olson and Paul Vermel. While in his studies at UMKC Conservatory, Chris served as the assistant conductor for the Conservatory Symphony and Chamber Orchestra. He maintained the position as Opera conductor of many of the Conservatory’s opera productions. Dr. Kelts has conducted stage productions as: Le nozze di Figaro, Il Ritorno di Ulisses in Patria, Susannah, Pirates of Penzance, Hansel und Gretel, Guilio Cesare, Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi and recently premiered Tonatzin. Chris has worked with stage directors, Linda Ade Brand, Marciem Bazell and Richard Gammon.
Not limited to his studies in orchestral conducting, Dr. Kelts formally trained as a violist where he studied at Missouri State University and Illinois State University. Dr. Kelts has ample symphonic experience as a violist. Recent positions have included; Springfield (MO) Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony, Opera of Illinois Orchestra and the Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra. His teachers have included Amy Muchnick, Kate Hamilton and Karen Tuttle. Chris Kelts continues to perform in various chamber and orchestral ensembles.
For over ten years, Chris had served on the summer faculty for Missouri State University’s String Institute (String Fling) and is faculty/conductor for The Heartland Summer Chamber Music Festival. Christopher Kelts is a member of the Conductor’s Guild and College Orchestra Director’s Association.
musicians
Kinnor Philharmonic Orchestra
Christopher Kelts, music director
Louis & Francis Swinken Foundation Chair
Christopher Kelts, music director
Louis & Francis Swinken Foundation Chair
January 2019 orchestra personnel
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FIRST VIOLIN
Keith Stanfield, concertmaster Donna Gould Cohen Chair Herin Cho, associate RL Onikul Foundation Chair Shupei Wong Anonymous Donation Chair Sarah Kelly Teresa Edgar Avery Parkhurst Monty Carter Marilyn K. Humiston SECOND VIOLIN Susan Goldenberg, principal Richard & Charlotte Brockman Chair Dennis Bogart Don Goldenbaum Jane Gitter Sara Jenab Lani Sader VIOLA René Burrow, principal Ann Elyachar Chair EnTing Hsu Sandford Hipsch Memorial Chair Ashley Stanfield Jenifer Houck Vicki Farron CELLO Amy Weigand Harris, principal Lisa & Jerry Bernard Chair Mark Stauffer Richard Stern Foundation for the Arts Commerce Bank, Trustee Sascha Groschang Michael A. Murray Benjamin Gitter Sean Keefe BASS Gay Lee Ludwig-Bonney, principal Shalon Foundation Chair Ben Cross Sarah Camey HARP Wesley Snell, principal PIANOFORTE Tim Smale, principal |
FLUTE
Mary Holzhausen, principal Fran Emmer Chair Virginia Backman Lory Lacy PICCOLO Lory Lacy, principal OBOE Kristen Weber, principal Judaic Arts Fund Chair Robin Onikul CLARINET Michael J.Tolbert, principal Barton P. & Mary Choen Charitable Trust Chair Kristin Bennett-Incle BASSOON Kimberly Farnsworth, principal Earl J. & Leona K. Tranin Fund Chair Keel Williams HORN Devin Cobleigh-Morrison, principal Kali Dodd, assistant Adam Paxson Benjamin Bacni Christian Buller TRUMPET Matthew Vangjel, principal Jennifer Fox Patrick Oliverio TROMBONE Mitch Kaufman, principal Anthony Rodgers BASS TROMBONE Andrew Schwartz, principal TIMPANI Bryan Busby, principal PERCUSSION Sam Wisman, principal Andrew Yates Laura Lee Crandall Eric Sheffler Equipment Manager Andrew Schwarz |
