Music Director, Teacher, Guest Conductor & Clinician

Dr. Christopher Kelts is the Director of Orchestras at the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory, where he leads the next generation of conductors and orchestral musicians. In addition to his academic post, Dr. Kelts serves as Music Director and Conductor of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra, the Kinnor Philharmonic, and the Saint Joseph Symphony, where his dynamic leadership and artistic vision continue to elevate each ensemble’s profile and musical excellence.

A native of St. Louis, Dr. Kelts received the Arts for Life Award for his musical direction in local theater and has served as guest conductor for the St. Louis Suburban Honors Orchestra and as a clinician for numerous school districts throughout the region. His guest conducting and educational engagements have since expanded nationwide, leading regional professional orchestras, All-State Orchestras, and national clinics and festivals, where he continues to inspire young musicians and professionals alike. Internationally, he has appeared with ensembles abroad, including a 2016 performance at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea with Project Musica. Additional conducting appointments have included posts as Assistant Conductor of the Kansas City Ballet, and engagements with the Chamber Orchestra of the Ozarks, Topeka Symphony Orchestra, and the Urban Cultural Project in Kansas City.

Dr. Kelts earned his advanced conducting degrees from Illinois State University and the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory, studying under Glenn Block, Robert Olson, and Paul Vermel. While at UMKC, he developed an active career in opera, leading productions of Le nozze di Figaro, Il ritorno di Ulisse in patria, Susannah, The Pirates of Penzance, Hansel und Gretel, Giulio Cesare, Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, and the world premiere of Tonatzin. He has collaborated with stage directors including Linda Ade Brand, the late Marciem Bazell, Sylvia Stoner-Hawkins, and Richard Gammon.

In addition to his work on the podium, Dr. Kelts is also an accomplished violist. He studied at Missouri State University and Illinois State University, with further mentorship from Amy Muchnick, Kate Hamilton, and the late Karen Tuttle. He has held orchestral positions with the Springfield (MO) Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony, Opera of Illinois Orchestra, and the Fort Smith Symphony Orchestra, and remains active as a chamber and orchestral performer.

He is a proud member of the Conductor’s Guild, College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA).