Performances
February 16th 2024
David Lockington: Violet viola concerto
Libor Ondras - viola
Bedrich Smetana - My Country
High Castle, Moldau, From Bohemia's Woods and Forests
Paul Hindemith
Der Schwanendreher
May 3rd 2024
N.R. Korsakov - Capriccio Espagnole
Rachmaninov - Symphonic Dances
All performances@7:30 PM
Saint Cecilia Music Center (Royce Auditorium)
Grand Rapids, MI
Interested in joining KPO?
Joining the Orchestra-
Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Grand Rapids Community College Music Center.
Membership in KPO requires an audition with our music director and also requires enrollment to GRCC with a $20 enrollment fee each semester for all members.
For information about joining KPO contact kentphilorch@gmail.com.
Current Openings
All Strings
Kent Philharmonic Orchestra Mission Statement
Enrich, inspire, challenge, through the power of music
About KPO
The Kent Philharmonic Orchestra, has been in existence since 1975 and started under the name Kent Philharmonia Orchestra. KPO is a college/community symphony orchestra devoted to the performance of symphonic literature. KPO consists of adult community musicians and GRCC students seeking credit. The orchestra performs four major programs per year and membership is by audition or permission of the music director.
Musical Director - Libor Ondras, PhD.
Viola recitalist, Music Director of the Kent Philharmonic Orchestra, and Orchestra Director at the Grand Rapids Community College, Dr. Libor Ondras has received his DMA and MM degree from the University of Houston. Recipient of the Slovak Minister of Culture Scholarship, he studied at the Academy of Music in Prague and Moscow State Conservatory with F. Druzhinin and Yuri Bashmet. Ondras performed in master classes and workshops of Pinchas Zuckerman, Yizhak Schotten, Robert Vernon, Roberto Diaz, to name a few. He was a full fellowship recipient at the Aspen Music Festival and the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, and the First Prize Winner of the Concerto Competition, Houston. He performed with orchestras throughout Europe and U.S.: Houston Symphony, New World Symphony, Houston Grand Opera, Vienna Philharmonics, Utah Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Florida Chamber Orchestra, Opera Tampa, Slovak State Opera, etc., and worked with world renown conductors and artists such as Sir Georg Solti (Carnegie Hall Project), Christoph Eschenbach, Michael Tilson Thomas, Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, Renee Fleming, and Led Zeppelin.
Elizabeth VanZytveld Concert Master
Elizabeth holds a master’s degree in violin performance from the University of Southern California, where she studied violin with Eudice Shapiro and chamber music with Ron Leonard; her bachelor’s degree in music education is from Calvin University. Betsy directed string and vocal music programs in Michigan and California schools, founding the string program for the Valley Christian Schools. She also taught string methods and chamber music at California State Polytechnic University and served on faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp for ten summers. Betsy is currently active in West Michigan as a clinician, private lesson instructor, and performer
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