Judges
Hye-Jung Hong
Christopher Kelts
Michael A. Murray
Grant S. Peters
Kirsten Weingartner Weiss
Dr. Hye-Jung Hong
Since giving her debut at the Palace of Arts in Seoul, Korea, Hye-Jung Hong has performed in recitals in Germany, Holland, Italy, China, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Canada and Colombia. In the U.S., she has appeared as concerto soloist with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and has given numerous solo and collaborative concerts. She has performed at the Missouri Music Teachers Association State Conference and has appeared on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial concert series in Chicago. Recent performances include guest concerts at Tainan National University of the Arts and National Sun Yat-Sen University in Taiwan, National University of Bogota in Colombia, Liaoning Normal University and Qingdao University in China, Spelman College, University of Arkansas and Louisiana State University.
Hong has received critical praise for the artistry of her performances. Her playing has been described as “full of energy and electricity that stimulates the Korean musical world.” (Piano Eum-Ak) The German newspaper Die Rheinpfalz praised the “musicality, crystal clearness and elegance” of her performances. She has recorded on the Navona Records label.
Hong’s principal teachers include Julian Martin, Dominique Weber and Daewook Lee. A dedicated teacher, her students have won top prizes in many competitions including the Kuleshov International Piano Competition, American Protégé International Piano Competition, Jefferson City Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Charles R. Hall Young Artist Competition, Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition, Lee Piano Competition, and Starr Young Artist Competition. She received her Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. Currently she is Associate Professor of Piano at Missouri State University and is President-Elect for the Missouri Music Teachers Association.
Dr. Christopher Kelts
Christopher Kelts is the Director of Orchestras at UMKC Conservatory. Concurrently, Kelts is music director and conductor for the Kansas City Civic Orchestra, Kinnor Philharmonic and Saint Joseph Symphony. He is an active clinician, guest conductor and educator, and his conducting engagements appear around the Midwest region, greater United States and International stages.
Kelts has been a judge of the Hellam Young Artist Competition since 2015.
Dr. Michael A. Murray
Cellist Michael Murray leads a varied professional life as performer, artist teacher and scholar. He appears in the recent 217 Film “Civilisation and America,” a documentary highlighting Lord Kenneth Clark’s epic thirteen-part television series “Civilisation” and the impact it had on the national conscience of the United States during the Vietnam War. Murray contributes to the London Cello Society with a recently published essay on Gabriel Faure. He is the recipient of the Missouri Governor’s Recognition for Excellence in Education for his versatility at Missouri State University. Murray’s service to the Springfield (MO) Symphony includes 32-years as Principal Cellist, during which time he appeared as soloist in works by Bloch, Beethoven, Schumann, Vivaldi, Mark Mellits, Andre Previn, and Ellen Taaffe Zwillich. He records for Albany and MSR Classics chamber works of Stephan Dankner and Richard Faith. As recitalist and chamber musician, Murray performs in London, Warsaw, Prague, Rome, and many parts of the U.S.
Dr. Grant Peters
Grant S. Peters is Professor of Music at Missouri State University, where he teaches applied studio trumpet and serves as the Brass Area Coordinator. He is currently Past-President of the International Trumpet Guild, and organization he served as President from 2019-2021. Prior to his appointment at Missouri State, he served as co-principal trumpet of the Orquesta del Principado de Asturias in the northern Spanish province of Asturias (1992). During the 1989 season, he was a member of the Columbia Artists Management ensemble Dallas Brass, touring throughout 26 states and Canada. While with the Dallas Brass, he recorded the album A Merry Christmas with Brass for the Word Label. He has performed in solo and chamber settings in Canada, Spain, Poland, England, Sweden, Thailand, Russia, Australia, and the Czech Republic.
His primary research focus is promoting and performing new works for the trumpet by American composers. Peters has performed the World Premieres of Richard Faith’s Evocations (2005) for trumpet and piano; Michael Murray’s What is it For? (2003) for trumpet and organ; Kenton Bales’ From the Hills (1999) for trumpet and wind ensemble; Robert Frank’s Liturgical Impressions (1986) for trumpet and organ; and the European Premiere of John Prescott’s Toccata and Fugues (1999) for two trumpet and organ in 2002.
A solo album entitled Friendly Amendments, consisting of previously unrecorded works for trumpet and organ by American composers, was released in Spring 2004. A second recording in 2006, From the Hills, features new American works for solo trumpet with piano and chamber ensembles. In December of 2009 he produced and performed with the Missouri Chamber Players on Rhapsody, a recording of chamber music by American composer Richard Faith for the MSR Classics label.
Peters holds the Bachelor of Music in Education degree from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, and the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Trumpet Performance from the University of North Texas. His principal teachers include Dennis Schneider and Leonard Candelaria. Peters is an Artist/Clinician for Schilke trumpets.
Kirsten Weingartner Weiss
Kirsten Weingartner Weiss began her music studies at age 4 and holds degrees in both violin and viola. She currently serves as the principal violist of the Springfield Symphony and recently retired from the concertmaster position of the Missouri Philharmonic after nearly 15 years. Weiss is also an avid chamber musician. In the past, she has performed as a member of the Illinois, Peoria, Cedar Rapids and Omaha symphonies, as well as the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and she spent 10 years as violist and violin soloist with the Lawrence Welk Show. Recently she served as a substitute violinist on the national tour of “Hamilton” in both Springfield and Minneapolis. Besides her performing, Weiss has a private studio of approximately 30 young violin and viola students and was the recipient of the 2023 Missouri String Teachers Association Artist Teacher Award. Weiss and her husband Dan are the proud parents of three sons and four cats.