"To hold together a performance like this and make it fun for performers and listeners is a rare gift." -Paul Horsley, Kansas City Star “The music was wonderful and included a welcome number of marvelous orchestral interludes, played with passion by the Civic Orchestra...” -Timothy McDonald, Johnson County Sun “I heard a blend between soloist and orchestra that was as fine as you get in any theater in Kansas City.” -Paul Horsley, Kansas City Star “The concerto’s central slow movement was particularly sensitive and lyrical, and the orchestra, responded well to the soloists songlike approach.” -Timothy McDonald, Johnson County Sun
A native of St. Louis, Christopher Kelts is the newly appointed music director/conductor of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra.  He is currently the conductor of the Eastern Jackson County Youth Orchestra, and has guest conducted with the Chamber Orchestra of the Ozarks and the Atchison Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Kelts is also the former assistant conductor of the Kansas City Ballet. Mr. Kelts is currently finishing a doctoral conducting degree from UMKC-Conservatory of Music & Dance.   He holds degrees in orchestral conducting; studying with such teachers as Robert Olson, Glenn Block, and Paul Vermel.  Alongside his conducting training, Mr. Kelts is also a trained violist.  His teachers include Karen Tuttle, Kate Hamilton, and Amy Muchnick.  While at UMKC, Mr. Kelts served as assistant conductor of the Conservatory Orchestras and Opera.  He has performed such operas as Le nozze di Figaro, Il Ritorno di Ulisses in Patria, Sussanah, Pirates of Penzanc e, Hansel and Gretel, Guilo Cesare, and Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi. For the past seven years, Christopher Kelts has served as faculty and conductor for Missouri State University’s Summer String Institute.  Mr. Kelts is currently faculty for the Stringedo String Insitute through the Conservatory’s Academy of Music & Dance.