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Home Podcast Photos Upcoming Events Videos Articles and Reviews Radio Broadcast Schedule History of the EPO Mission and Values Board of Directors 2024-2025 Sponsors 2024-2025 Philharmonic Gives Back Donors 1/17/2023 - 1/17/2024 Thoughtful Tributes 1/17/2023 - 1/17/2024
Roger Kalia

With a dynamic podium presence and noted passionate interpretations, Indian American conductor Roger Kalia has been celebrated by audiences and industry professionals alike. Praised for bringing a “fresh view to classical music” (The Republic, IN), Kalia serves as Music Director of the Evansville Philharmonic, Symphony New Hampshire, and Orchestra Santa Monica. He is also Co-Founder and Music Director of the celebrated Lake George Music Festival in upstate New York. 

The recipient of several awards from the Solti Foundation U.S., including an Elizabeth Buccheri Opera Residency with Lyric Opera of Chicago and five Career Assistance Awards, Kalia has been praised for his “extraordinary leadership” (Courier & Press). Kalia’s visionary programming has also been featured on PBS’ On the Road with Brick Briscoe and Regional Voices, and Symphony Magazine recognized him nationally as one of five first-year music directors with innovative programming during the pandemic.

A versatile communicator and frequent guest conductor, Kalia is described as “leading with passionate intensity and a clear beat” as well as being “one to watch” (Long Beach Gazette) after his debut with the Long Beach Symphony. In recent seasons, Kalia has appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, Chicago Sinfonietta, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Szczecin Philharmonic (Poland), Boise Philharmonic Orchestra, Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Terre Haute Symphony, Boston’s Longy Conservatory Orchestra Flex, and the symphony orchestras of Redlands, Lima, Adrian, Bakersfield, Great Falls, Owensboro, Spokane, and Wheeling. Kalia will make his debut with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra and return to the Long Beach Symphony during the 2023-24 season. 

In his various music director positions, Kalia has focused on innovative artistic partnerships highlighting a variety of community partners. Kalia’s early seasons as music director of the Evansville Philharmonic have seen fruitful artistic collaborations with community organizations such as Historic Bosse Field, the Tri-State Hindu Temple, Evansville Civic Theatre, and the Evansville Wartime Museum.

A native of New York State, Kalia holds degrees from Indiana University, the University of Houston, and SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music. His primary mentors include David Effron, Arthur Fagen, and Franz Anton Krager with additional mentoring from David Zinman, Marin Alsop, Robert Spano, and the late Kurt Masur. Previous posts include Associate Conductor of California’s Pacific Symphony, Assistant Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Conducting Fellow with the Chicago Sinfonietta, and Music Director of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Young Musicians Foundation (YMF) Debut Orchestra, and the Columbus Symphony. Kalia is married to musicologist/violinist Christine Wisch.

Roger Kalia

With a dynamic podium presence and noted passionate interpretations, Indian American conductor Roger Kalia has been celebrated by audiences and industry professionals alike. Praised for bringing a “fresh view to classical music” (The Republic, IN), Kalia serves as Music Director of the Evansville Philharmonic, Symphony New Hampshire, and Orchestra Santa Monica. He is also Co-Founder and Music Director of the celebrated Lake George Music Festival in upstate New York. 

The recipient of several awards from the Solti Foundation U.S., including an Elizabeth Buccheri Opera Residency with Lyric Opera of Chicago and five Career Assistance Awards, Kalia has been praised for his “extraordinary leadership” (Courier & Press). Kalia’s visionary programming has also been featured on PBS’ On the Road with Brick Briscoe and Regional Voices, and Symphony Magazine recognized him nationally as one of five first-year music directors with innovative programming during the pandemic.

A versatile communicator and frequent guest conductor, Kalia is described as “leading with passionate intensity and a clear beat” as well as being “one to watch” (Long Beach Gazette) after his debut with the Long Beach Symphony. In recent seasons, Kalia has appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, Chicago Sinfonietta, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Szczecin Philharmonic (Poland), Boise Philharmonic Orchestra, Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, Terre Haute Symphony, Boston’s Longy Conservatory Orchestra Flex, and the symphony orchestras of Redlands, Lima, Adrian, Bakersfield, Great Falls, Owensboro, Spokane, and Wheeling. Kalia will make his debut with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra and return to the Long Beach Symphony during the 2023-24 season. 

In his various music director positions, Kalia has focused on innovative artistic partnerships highlighting a variety of community partners. Kalia’s early seasons as music director of the Evansville Philharmonic have seen fruitful artistic collaborations with community organizations such as Historic Bosse Field, the Tri-State Hindu Temple, Evansville Civic Theatre, and the Evansville Wartime Museum.

A native of New York State, Kalia holds degrees from Indiana University, the University of Houston, and SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music. His primary mentors include David Effron, Arthur Fagen, and Franz Anton Krager with additional mentoring from David Zinman, Marin Alsop, Robert Spano, and the late Kurt Masur. Previous posts include Associate Conductor of California’s Pacific Symphony, Assistant Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Conducting Fellow with the Chicago Sinfonietta, and Music Director of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, Young Musicians Foundation (YMF) Debut Orchestra, and the Columbus Symphony. Kalia is married to musicologist/violinist Christine Wisch.