Judges
Pam Davis
Hye-Jung Hong
Christopher Kelts
Michael A. Murray
Grant S. Peters
Dr. Hye-Jung Hong
Since giving her debut at the Palace of Arts in Seoul, Korea, Hye-Jung Hong has performed in recitals in Germany, Holland, Italy, China, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Canada and Colombia. In the U.S., she has appeared as concerto soloist with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and has given numerous solo and collaborative concerts. She has performed at the Missouri Music Teachers Association State Conference and has appeared on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial concert series in Chicago. Recent performances include guest concerts at Tainan National University of the Arts and National Sun Yat-Sen University in Taiwan, National University of Bogota in Colombia, Liaoning Normal University and Qingdao University in China, Spelman College, University of Arkansas and Louisiana State University.
Hong has received critical praise for the artistry of her performances. Her playing has been described as “full of energy and electricity that stimulates the Korean musical world.” (Piano Eum-Ak) The German newspaper Die Rheinpfalz praised the “musicality, crystal clearness and elegance” of her performances. She has recorded on the Navona Records label.
Hong’s principal teachers include Julian Martin, Dominique Weber and Daewook Lee. A dedicated teacher, her students have won top prizes in many competitions including the Kuleshov International Piano Competition, American Protégé International Piano Competition, Jefferson City Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Charles R. Hall Young Artist Competition, Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition, Lee Piano Competition, and Starr Young Artist Competition. She received her Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. Currently she is Associate Professor of Piano at Missouri State University and is President-Elect for the Missouri Music Teachers Association.
Dr. Christopher Kelts
Christopher Kelts is Director of Orchestral Studies and Associate Professor of Music at Missouri State University. Concurrently, Kelts is the music director of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra and co-founder and conductor of the ensemble Project Musica.
A native of St. Louis, Kelts 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 as clinician to many St. Louis School Districts. He continues to be an active guest conductor and clinician for many districts and honor orchestra program throughout the United States. Conducting engagements have taken Kelts throughout the region and the world. Most recently, Project Musica gave a performance at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea in May of 2016. 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).
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 at UMKC and in Kansas City, Kelts 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, and Gianni Schicchi as well as the world premiere of Tonatzin. Kelts has worked with stage directors Linda Ade Brand, the late Marciem Bazell, Sylvia Stoner-Hawkins and Richard Gammon.
Not limited to his studies in orchestral conducting, Kelts formally trained as a violist where he studied at Missouri State University and Illinois State University. 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 the late Karen Tuttle. He continues to perform in various chamber and orchestral ensembles.
Kelts teaches at Missouri State University Department of Music’s summer string festival, String Fling, coaching participating high and middle school students in the art of chamber music and orchestral performance. He continues a long association as faculty/conductor for The Heartland Summer Chamber Music Festival. Kelts is a member of the Conductor’s Guild, College Orchestra Director’s Association, NAfME and is faculty advisor for Mu Phi Epsilon.
Dr. Michael A. Murray
Cellist Michael Murray leads a varied professional life as performer, artist teacher and scholar. He appears in the recent 217 Film “Civilisation and America,” a documentary highlighting Lord Kenneth Clark’s epic thirteen-part television series “Civilisation” and the impact it had on the national conscience of the United States during the Vietnam War. Murray contributes to the London Cello Society with a recently published essay on Gabriel Faure. He is the recipient of the Missouri Governor’s Recognition for Excellence in Education for his versatility at Missouri State University. Murray’s service to the Springfield (MO) Symphony includes 32-years as Principal Cellist, during which time he appeared as soloist in works by Bloch, Beethoven, Schumann, Vivaldi, Mark Mellits, Andre Previn, and Ellen Taaffe Zwillich. He records for Albany and MSR Classics chamber works of Stephan Dankner and Richard Faith. As recitalist and chamber musician, Murray performs in London, Warsaw, Prague, Rome, and many parts of the U.S.
Dr. Grant Peters
Grant S. Peters is Professor of Music at Missouri State University, where he teaches applied studio trumpet and serves as the Brass Area Coordinator. He is currently Past-President of the International Trumpet Guild, and organization he served as President from 2019-2021. Prior to his appointment at Missouri State, he served as co-principal trumpet of the Orquesta del Principado de Asturias in the northern Spanish province of Asturias (1992). During the 1989 season, he was a member of the Columbia Artists Management ensemble Dallas Brass, touring throughout 26 states and Canada. While with the Dallas Brass, he recorded the album A Merry Christmas with Brass for the Word Label. He has performed in solo and chamber settings in Canada, Spain, Poland, England, Sweden, Thailand, Russia, Australia, and the Czech Republic.
His primary research focus is promoting and performing new works for the trumpet by American composers. Peters has performed the World Premieres of Richard Faith’s Evocations (2005) for trumpet and piano; Michael Murray’s What is it For? (2003) for trumpet and organ; Kenton Bales’ From the Hills (1999) for trumpet and wind ensemble; Robert Frank’s Liturgical Impressions (1986) for trumpet and organ; and the European Premiere of John Prescott’s Toccata and Fugues (1999) for two trumpet and organ in 2002.
A solo album entitled Friendly Amendments, consisting of previously unrecorded works for trumpet and organ by American composers, was released in Spring 2004. A second recording in 2006, From the Hills, features new American works for solo trumpet with piano and chamber ensembles. In December of 2009 he produced and performed with the Missouri Chamber Players on Rhapsody, a recording of chamber music by American composer Richard Faith for the MSR Classics label.
Peters holds the Bachelor of Music in Education degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, and the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Trumpet Performance from the University of North Texas. His principal teachers include Dennis Schneider and Leonard Candelaria. Peters is an Artist/Clinician for Schilke trumpets.
Pam Davis
Pam Davis is Assistant Concertmaster of the Springfield Symphony and Concertmaster of Ozarks Lyric Opera Orchestra. Davis has also performed with the Tulsa Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of the Ozarks, Fort Smith Symphony, Taneycomo Festival Orchestra, Kinnor Philharmonic, Traverse Symphony, Midland Symphony, Las Vegas Symphony, Nevada Chamber Orchestra, Florida Symphony, Sinfonica del Estado de Mexico, as well as in solo appearances with the Springfield Symphony, the Missouri State Symphony, and numerous chamber music collaborations. Commercial music has been a large part of her career, having spent 15 years performing and touring with various entertainers including Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin and scores of others. Davis earned the Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Indiana University, studying with James Buswell. Later she earned the Master of Educational Administration from Southwest Missouri State University, followed by the specialist degree in the Superintendency at Missouri State University. After many years as an educator, Davis retired from Hollister Schools where she was Assistant Superintendent. She also served as an adjunct instructor at Lindenwood University and the College of the Ozarks and taught at the Missouri Fine Arts Academy and MSU’s String Fling.