Praised for bringing a “fresh view to classical music” (The Republic, IN), Indian American conductor Roger Kalia is a versatile communicator who brings unique and unmistakable energy to the podium. Recently profiled by Symphony Magazine in recognition of his innovative programming, Kalia has been hailed as “leading with passionate intensity and a clear beat” as well as being “one to watch” (Long Beach Gazette).
Kalia is now in his fifth season as Music Director of the Evansville Philharmonic, his sixth season as Music Director of Symphony New Hampshire, and in his seventh season with Orchestra Santa Monica. He was most recently appointed Artistic Director-Designate of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra for the 2024-25 season, and he will assume the role of Artistic Director during the 2025-26 season. 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, 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).
In recent seasons, Kalia has appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, Chicago Sinfonietta, Louisiana Philharmonic, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Szczecin Philharmonic (Poland), Hollywood Chamber Orchestra, Boise Philharmonic, Spartanburg Philharmonic, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and the symphony orchestras of Redlands, Lima, Adrian, Bakersfield, Great Falls, Owensboro, Spokane, and Wheeling. The 2024-25 season features his debut with the Amarillo Symphony and a return to the Redlands Bowl to conduct the Grand Finals of the prestigious Young Artists Concerto Competition as part of the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival.
In his various music director positions, Kalia has focused on innovative artistic partnerships highlighting a variety of community partners. In 2023, Kalia collaborated with acclaimed Bollywood singer Anuradha “Juju” Palakurthi and Symphony New Hampshire in a celebration of Indian culture via a history-spanning performance of Bollywood songs in their first-ever arrangement for Western instruments, Symphony Masala. He commissioned and premiered Orchestra Santa Monica’s inaugural art film in collaboration with composer Derrick Skye titled “We Gather: Black Life in Santa Monica,” and his early seasons leading the Evansville Philharmonic centered on collaborations with community organizations such as Historic Bosse Field, the Tri-State Hindu Temple, and the Evansville Wartime Museum. Kalia’s groundbreaking programming has been featured on PBS’s On the Road with Brick Briscoe and Regional Voices.
Kalia has collaborated with a wide range of artists including singers Angela Brown, Shayna Steele, Dan Domenech, and Jubilant Sykes; Grammy-winning trio Time for Three; Indian tabla virtuoso Sandeep Das; singer/songwriters Randy Newman and Randy Jackson; rock musicians Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls and Nancy Wilson of Heart; the B-52s; sitar player Anoushka Shankar; and actor Jack Black.
A native of New York State, Kalia holds degrees from Indiana University, the University of Houston, and SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music. He currently resides in Indiana with his wife, musicologist and violinist Christine Wisch.