Richard McKay


Richard McKay (born 1982) is an American conductor, currently serving as music director of the Dallas Chamber Symphony.[1][2]

Education

McKay holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in orchestral conducting from the Peabody Institute, where he studied with Gustav Meier and Markand Thakar and served as assistant conductor of the Peabody orchestras and opera.[3][4] He earned a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting, and a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance, from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was music director of the University Orchestra and led productions at the Butler Opera Center.[5][6][7]

McKay attended the Aspen Music Festival as a fellowship conductor and the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music as an apprentice conductor under Marin Alsop, where he led the world premiere of Clint Needham's Radiant Nation.[8][9] He received additional training through festivals and masterclasses with notable conductors Kurt Masur, Larry Rachleff, Mark Gibson, Robert Spano, Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Leonard Slatkin, Kenneth Kiesler and Leon Fleisher.[10][11]

Career

McKay began his career at the Baltimore Symphony while at Peabody, and the Dallas Symphony during the tenure of Jaap van Zweden.[8][12] In 2011, he became the music director of the Dallas Chamber Symphony, where he is credited with spurring the orchestra's artistic growth.[13][14][15] During his directorship he has led notable collaborations with artists Anton Nel, Chee-Yun Kim, Kenny Broberg, Kazuhiro Takagi, and Joe Kraemer.[16][17][18][19][20] He founded the Dallas Chamber Symphony's TechNotes and Taking It to the Streets education and outreach programs, which have been funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.[21][22][23][24] He also established the orchestra's Dallas International Piano[25] and Violin[26] competitions.[27][28]

Among the orchestras that McKay has conducted are the Fort Worth Symphony, Dallas Opera Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Omaha Symphony, and Baltimore Chamber Orchestra.[1][29][12] He is active as a conductor of training orchestras as well, having worked with the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, and ensembles at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.[8][11] In 2024 he was given the Dallas History Makers award by the Dallas Historical Society for Excellence in Arts Leadership.[30]

Recordings

References

  1. ^ a b "Richard McKay - Dallas Chamber Symphony". 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  2. ^ "Classical music: New chamber orchestra to debut in City Performance Hall | Dallas Morning News". web.archive.org. 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  3. ^ "Rachmaninoff, Fourth piano concerto in G minor, op. 40 : historical perspective and an analysis of the various editions / Richard McKay". Johns Hopkins Libraries - Catalyst. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  4. ^ Stories, Local (2020-01-07). "Meet Richard McKay". voyagedallas.com. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  5. ^ Harriman, Randy (February 16, 2008). "Butler Opera Center to stage works by Bernstein, Mozart". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved February 16, 2008.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ Faires, Robert (2008-04-30). "The Austin Chronicle: Arts: Butler School of Music: For this John Adams, a King". The Austin Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  7. ^ "School of Music | Welcome to the UT School of Music". web.archive.org. 2006-12-09. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  8. ^ a b c Richard, Kimberly (2022-03-12). "The Making of the Conductor who Created the Dallas Chamber Symphony". NBC 5 News Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  9. ^ "Clint Needham". Theodore Presser. 2015-01-31. Archived from the original on 2015-01-31. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  10. ^ "11-12-10. MSM Symphony / Kurt Masur Conducting Seminar | Manly Romero". Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  11. ^ a b "Schedule | sxsw.com". South by Southwest Music Festival. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  12. ^ a b "Chasing Home". Albany Records. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  13. ^ Cantrell, Scott (2024). "Dallas Chamber Symphony - Sounds of America". Gramophone (May).
  14. ^ Cantrell, Scott (2023-05-24). "Review: The Dallas Chamber Symphony performs a gripping Beethoven 'Eroica' Symphony". Dallas News. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  15. ^ Cantrell, Scott (2022-04-27). "Stirring performances from Dallas Chamber Symphony, but the concert was one piece too long". Dallas News. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  16. ^ Cantrell, Scott (2024-05-01). "Review: A refreshing Brahms Third Symphony from the Dallas Chamber Symphony". Dallas News. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  17. ^ Montes, Bianca (2019-02-20). "Out and About: Dallas Chamber Symphony Wows With Strings | People Newspapers". Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  18. ^ Cantrell, Scott (April 20, 2017). "Orchestra responds to inspired leader". The Dallas Morning News. pp. E1-2.
  19. ^ Cantrell, Scott (2013-09-18). "Classical music review: A fine opening concert from Dallas Chamber Symphony". Dallas News. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  20. ^ Richard, Kimberly (2023-10-07). "Dallas Chamber Symphony opens its 2023-2024 season with movie-in-concert of 'Sunrise'". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  21. ^ "TechNotes - Dallas Chamber Symphony". 2023-04-04. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  22. ^ Zeeble, Bill (2014-04-08). "Mesquite School And Dallas Chamber Symphony Team Up For Unique Classroom Experience". KERA News - National Public Radio. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  23. ^ Frosini, Teresa (2014-05-22). "DISD Students Attend Dallas Chamber Symphony « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth". CBS 11 News DFW. Archived from the original on 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  24. ^ "Creative Placemaking Grants and 2017 Guidelines Announced | NEA". National Endowment for the Arts. 2016-12-13. Archived from the original on 2016-12-13. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  25. ^ "About - Dallas International Piano Competition". Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  26. ^ "About - Dallas International Violin Competition". 2023-03-10. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  27. ^ bfc-admin (2019-05-09). "Dallas Chamber Symphony reaches the seven-year mark". Symphony. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  28. ^ Diovanni, Tim (2023-06-08). "Dallas Chamber Symphony launches violin contest, adding to competition offerings". Dallas News. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  29. ^ Callon, Cheryl (2020-09-21). "Review: Beauty and the Beast | Texas Ballet Theater | Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House". Archived from the original on 2020-09-21. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  30. ^ "Dallas History Makers – Dallas Historical Society". Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  31. ^ "New CDs: Fabio Luisi conducts Nielsen; Richard McKay leads the Dallas Chamber Symphony". Dallas News. 2024-07-30. Retrieved 2024-10-06.