Our Conductor
Dr. Chris Kelts
Dr. Christopher Kelts is Director of Orchestras and Assistant Professor of Music in the UMKC Conservatory. Concurrently, he is the music director and conductor for the Kansas City Civic Orchestra, Kinnor Philharmonic Orchestra, and Saint Joseph Symphony.
A native of St. Louis, Dr. Kelts has been the recipient of the “Arts for Life” Award for his musical direction in local theater, served as guest conductor for the St. Louis Suburban Honors Orchestra, and as clinician to many St. Louis School Districts. He continues to be an active guest conductor and clinician for many districts and honor orchestra programs throughout the United States.
Dr. Kelts completed his advanced conducting degrees at Illinois State University and University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, Dance and Theater.
While at UMKC and in Kansas City, Chris maintained an active opera conducting schedule that included productions of Le nozze di Figaro, Il Ritorno di Ulisses in Patria, Susannah, Pirates of Penzance, Hansel und Gretel, Guilio Cesare, Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, as well as the world premiere of Tonatzin. Not limited to his studies in orchestral conducting, Dr. Kelts formally trained as a violist, for which he studied at Missouri State University and Illinois State University. He has ample symphonic experience as a violist.
Dr. Kelts is a member of the Conductors Guild, College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA). He serves as Missouri State University faculty advisor for the Mu Phi Epsilon-Alpha Mu Chapter.