christopher kelts, music director

Dr. Christopher Kelts is the newly appointed Director of Orchestras and Assistant Professor of Music in the UMKC Conservatory.  Concurrently, Dr. Kelts is the music director and conductor of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra, Kinnor Philharmonic Orchestra, and Music Director/Conductor of the Saint Joseph Symphony.  An active guest conducting and clinician schedule has taken Dr. Kelts to South Korea, Paraguay, Brazil and Chile; as well as national artistic opportunities.  Christopher Kelts has made regional debuts with the Topeka Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of the Ozarks, The Urban Cultural Project (Kansas City) and assistant conductor of the Kansas City Ballet.

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musicians

Kinnor Philharmonic Orchestra
Christopher Kelts, music director
    Harvey Bodker Memorial Chair

June 1, 2025 orchestra personnel

Sean Chen, guest artist / pianist
    Lori Klarfeld Guest Artist Sponsor: in Memory of
    Daniel Kass
                                                                               
FIRST VIOLIN
Pamela Davis, concertmaster
    Arne & Elaine Zislin Chair
Emma Andersen, associate
Qiufan Chen
Aaron Tseng
Keith Stanfield
Marilyn K. Humiston
 
 SECOND VIOLIN
Rob Patterson, principal
   Mr. & Mrs. Richard Brockman Chair
J. Dennis Bogart
Dima Estanbuli
Jessica Jarosz
Hannah Dixon
Bryn Dekosky Carol
 
VIOLA
Rene’ Burrow, principal
    Sanford Hipsch Memorial Chair
Quin O’Laughlin
Matt Lee
Nathaniel Quiroz
 
CELLO
Eman Chalshotori, principal
    Ms. Donna Gould Cohen Chair
Dana Woolard
Dawn Jung
Oscar Ohly
   
BASS
Gay Lee Ludwig-Bonney, principal
Sarah Camey
Kristoffer Nagy
 
HARP
Wesley Snell, principal
 
SAXOPHONES
Kendal Blumenthal, principal
Jonathan Nickell
Blake Adams
 
 
 
 
 

 

FLUTE
Mary Holzhausen, principal
Bekah Walker
 
PICCOLO
Bekah Walker, principal
 
OBOE
Jo Darman, principal
Robin Onikul
 
ENGLISH HORN
Robin Onikul, principal
 
CLARINET
Michael J. Tolbert, principal
Kristen Bennett – Incle
 
BASS CLARINET
Adam Stallings, principal
 
BASSOON
James Keel Williams, principal
Kim Farnsworth
 
HORN
Brianna Volkmann, principal
Adam Paxson
William Foss
Jesus Garcia Palacios
 
TRUMPET
Austin Barry, principal
Victoria Sewell
Emmitt Reiffer
 
TROMBONE
Mitch Kaufman, principal
Dwight Davis
 
BASS TROMBONE
Andrew Schwartz, principal
 
TUBA
David Earll, principal
 
TIMPANI
Bryan Busby, principal
 
PERCUSSION
Theodore Musick, principal
Mason McBride
Anthony Ragusa
Roger Caliman
 
Equipment Manager
Andrew Schwartz
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