Conductor

“excellently finessed and balanced performances of Mozart.” - ArtsKnoxville review of Mozart’s La finta giardiniera

“the orchestra impressed under Kevin Class’ sparkling pacing.” - ArtsKnoxville review of Bizet’s Carmen

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A Brief Introduction

A powerful mediator between drama and music, Kevin Class combines nearly 35 years of orchestral conducting experience with 20 years of immersion in the realm of opera. With the quality of his musicianship profusely verified through his international performances, and numerous commercial recordings as a pianist, his qualifications and abilities to evoke scintillating performances from orchestras is impressive. Class embodies a rare musicianship described by Murray Perahia as “poetic” and by Fanfare Magazine as “impeccable.”

Class possesses an impressive ability to coax precision and volcanic energy from orchestral and vocal forces. His years of overwhelming experience in academia simply equips him with the skills to quickly and efficiently decipher musical issues and deliver uncompromising results to the full capacity of all musicians with whom he works. He

has helped to train a number of impressive young conductors who are appearing with major orchestras and in opera houses around the world, and his commitment to the education of young artists in Asia in particular is central to his priorities as a teacher.

  • Music Director & Conductor Tennessee Opera Theatre. 2007-present

  • Conductor, Saluzzo Opera Academy, Italy. 2021-present

  • Conductor, OpernFest, Berlin Opera Academy, Germany. 2019-present

  • Conductor/Faculty Head of Conducting and Collaborative Piano. Arezzo Opera Festival, Italy. 2014-2018

  • Music Director/Conductor Seoul International Opera Festival. 2009

  • Visiting Professor of Orchestral Conducting. Southwest University, Chongqing, China. 2009

  • Conductor, Opera Studies Faculty: Martina Arroyo opera program, Indiana University. 2005-07

  • Guest Music Director/Resident Conductor Illinois Opera Theatre. 2001-2005

  • Conducted orchestras in US, Canada, Italy, Belgium, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Malaysia & The Philippines

  • Conducting students have appeared with San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera, Dallas Opera, Glimmerglass Festival, Salzburg Festival, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Miami Symphony Orchestra, Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, etc.

  • More than 30 years experience as an orchestra & opera conductor with a sizable orchestral repertoire and more than 60 operas conducted.

  • Conducting mentors included Zdzislaw Kopac, Jerry Blackstone, Frank Shipway, Gustav Meier, Carl St. Clair, Michel Singer, David Effron & Eduardo Diazmunoz