Kent Philharmonia Orchestra (MUS 193)
The Kent Philharmonia Orchestra, in existence since 1975, is a college/community symphony orchestra devoted to the performance of symphonic literature. The orchestra provides an outlet for people who love to perform but do not depend on it for their livelihood. Members, who freely give of their time, come from all walks of life and share a common love of performing great music from composers of the past and present.
The orchestra operates through Grand Rapids Community College which provides funding for the conductor, orchestra manager and concertmaster. Leadership of the Kent Philharmonia Orchestra is provided by its Board of Directors, comprised of members of the orchestra elected by their peers.
The orchestra operates through Grand Rapids Community College which provides funding for the conductor, orchestra manager and concertmaster. Leadership of the Kent Philharmonia Orchestra is provided by its Board of Directors, comprised of members of the orchestra elected by their peers.
Musical Director - Libor Ondras, PhD.
Dr. Ondras studied violin at Bratislava Conservatory, one of the most prestigious conservatories of former Czechoslovakia. He participated and received prizes in national and international competitions, attended master-classes with leading artists, toured internationally with the conservatory orchestra, and performed at international music festivals with a chamber music ensemble he established and directed. The Slovak Ministry of Culture awarded Dr. Ondras a full scholarship to study viola at the famous Moscow Conservatory. Dr. Ondras continued his studies at the Academy of Music Arts in Prague. He completed his M.M and D.M.A. degrees at the University of Houston, TX.
Dr. Ondras has held teaching positions at Houston Baptist University (TX), Snow College (Ephraim, Utah), and the University of Tampa (FL).
While in Utah, Dr. Ondras developed and directed the SanPete County Community Orchestra and the chamber music series “Arts for Everyone.”
During his tenure as the Orchestra Director at the University of Tampa, FL, he was put in charge of building a new string program. He has actively recruited students through a variety of means, including hosting clinics at Tampa Bay area high schools, guest conducting professional and youth orchestras, performing with the Quartet de Minaret (quartet-in-residence at UT), maintaining a sizable violin/viola/conducting studio, adjudicating both national and international competitions, and performing with professional ensembles like the Florida Orchestra, the Florida Chamber Orchestra, the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonics, and Opera Tampa.
Dr. Ondras also has established and directed several annual outreach programs at the University of Tampa that include an intensive orchestral workshop for talented string players and a summer chamber music camp. His artistic vision led him to develop collaborative projects with Opera Tampa, as well as the Florida Orchestra. In 2006, he established a first-ever quartet-in-residence at UT.
Dr. Ondras has held teaching positions at Houston Baptist University (TX), Snow College (Ephraim, Utah), and the University of Tampa (FL).
While in Utah, Dr. Ondras developed and directed the SanPete County Community Orchestra and the chamber music series “Arts for Everyone.”
During his tenure as the Orchestra Director at the University of Tampa, FL, he was put in charge of building a new string program. He has actively recruited students through a variety of means, including hosting clinics at Tampa Bay area high schools, guest conducting professional and youth orchestras, performing with the Quartet de Minaret (quartet-in-residence at UT), maintaining a sizable violin/viola/conducting studio, adjudicating both national and international competitions, and performing with professional ensembles like the Florida Orchestra, the Florida Chamber Orchestra, the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra, the Orlando Philharmonics, and Opera Tampa.
Dr. Ondras also has established and directed several annual outreach programs at the University of Tampa that include an intensive orchestral workshop for talented string players and a summer chamber music camp. His artistic vision led him to develop collaborative projects with Opera Tampa, as well as the Florida Orchestra. In 2006, he established a first-ever quartet-in-residence at UT.
