Richard McKay

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.{{Cite web |title=Rachmaninoff, Fourth piano concerto in G minor, op. 40 : historical perspective and an analysis of the various editions / Richard McKay. |url=https://catalyst.library.jhu.edu/discovery/fulldisplay?&context=L&vid=01JHU_INST:JHU&search_scope=All_except_EU&tab=Everything&docid=alma991038479879707861 |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Johns Hopkins Libraries - Catalyst |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Stories |first=Local |date=2020-01-07 |title=Meet Richard McKay |url=https://voyagedallas.com/interview/meet-richard-mckay-dallas-chamber-symphony-dallas-arts-district/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=voyagedallas.com |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Harriman |first=Randy |date=February 16, 2008 |title=Butler Opera Center to stage works by Bernstein, Mozart |url=http://www.austin360.com/arts/content/arts/stories/2008/02/0216butler.html |url-status=deviated |access-date=February 16, 2008 |work=Austin American-Statesman}}{{Cite web |last=Faires |first=Robert |date=2008-04-30 |title=The Austin Chronicle: Arts: Butler School of Music: For this John Adams, a King |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:616087 |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=The Austin Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430200403/http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:616087 |archive-date=2008-04-30 }}{{Cite web |date=2006-12-09 |title=School of Music {{!}} Welcome to the UT School of Music |url=http://www.music.utexas.edu/ensembles/details.aspx?ID=27 |access-date=2024-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209121002/http://www.music.utexas.edu/ensembles/details.aspx?ID=27 |archive-date=9 December 2006 }}

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.{{Cite web |last=Richard |first=Kimberly |date=2022-03-12 |title=The Making of the Conductor who Created the Dallas Chamber Symphony |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/entertainment/the-scene/the-making-of-the-conductor-who-created-the-dallas-chamber-symphony/2912969/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=NBC 5 News Dallas-Fort Worth |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2015-01-31 |title=Clint Needham |url=http://www.presser.com/Composers/info.cfm?Name=CLINTNEEDHAM#Works |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Theodore Presser|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150131013324/http://www.presser.com/Composers/info.cfm?Name=CLINTNEEDHAM#Works |archive-date=2015-01-31 }} He received additional training through festivals and masterclasses with conductors Kurt Masur, Larry Rachleff, Mark Gibson, Robert Spano, Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Leonard Slatkin, Kenneth Kiesler and Leon Fleisher.{{Cite web |title=11-12-10. MSM Symphony / Kurt Masur Conducting Seminar {{!}} Manly Romero |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309051149/www.manlyromero.com/?page_id=79 |access-date=2024-10-06 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Schedule {{!}} sxsw.com |url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2014/2014/events/event_IAP25546 |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=South by Southwest Music Festival}}

McKay began his conducting career at the Baltimore Symphony while at Peabody, and the Dallas Symphony during the tenure of Jaap van Zweden.{{Cite web |title=Chasing Home |url=https://www.albanyrecords.com/catalog/troy1975/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Albany Records |language=en-US}} In 2011, he became the music director of the Dallas Chamber Symphony, where he is credited with spurring the orchestra's artistic growth.{{Cite journal |last=Cantrell |first=Scott |date=2024 |title=Dallas Chamber Symphony - Sounds of America |journal=Gramophone |issue=May}}{{Cite web |last=Cantrell |first=Scott |date=2023-05-24 |title=Review: The Dallas Chamber Symphony performs a gripping Beethoven 'Eroica' Symphony |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/performing-arts/2023/05/24/review-the-dallas-chamber-symphony-performs-a-gripping-beethoven-eroica-symphony/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cantrell |first=Scott |date=2022-04-27 |title=Stirring performances from Dallas Chamber Symphony, but the concert was one piece too long |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/performing-arts/2022/04/27/stirring-performances-from-dallas-chamber-symphony-but-the-concert-was-one-piece-too-long/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Dallas News |language=en}} During his directorship he has led notable collaborations with artists Anton Nel, Chee-Yun Kim, Kenny Broberg, Kazuhiro Takagi, and Joe Kraemer.{{Cite web |last=Cantrell |first=Scott |date=2024-05-01 |title=Review: A refreshing Brahms Third Symphony from the Dallas Chamber Symphony |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/performing-arts/2024/05/01/review-a-refreshing-brahms-third-symphony-from-the-dallas-chamber-symphony/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Montes |first=Bianca |date=2019-02-20 |title=Out and About: Dallas Chamber Symphony Wows With Strings {{!}} People Newspapers |url=https://www.peoplenewspapers.com/2019/02/20/out-and-about-dallas-chamber-symphony-wows-with-strings/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Cantrell |first=Scott |date=April 20, 2017 |title=Orchestra responds to inspired leader |work=The Dallas Morning News |pages=E1-2}}{{Cite web |last=Cantrell |first=Scott |date=2013-09-18 |title=Classical music review: A fine opening concert from Dallas Chamber Symphony |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/architecture/2013/09/18/classical-music-review-a-fine-opening-concert-from-dallas-chamber-symphony/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Richard |first=Kimberly |date=2023-10-07 |title=Dallas Chamber Symphony opens its 2023-2024 season with movie-in-concert of 'Sunrise' |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/entertainment/the-scene/dallas-chamber-symphony-opens-its-2023-2024-season-with-movie-in-concert-of-sunrise/3354635/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-04 |title=TechNotes - Dallas Chamber Symphony |url=https://dcsymphony.org/technotes/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Zeeble |first=Bill |date=2014-04-08 |title=Mesquite School And Dallas Chamber Symphony Team Up For Unique Classroom Experience |url=https://www.keranews.org/education/2014-04-08/mesquite-school-and-dallas-chamber-symphony-team-up-for-unique-classroom-experience |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=KERA News - National Public Radio |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Frosini |first=Teresa |date=2014-05-22 |title=DISD Students Attend Dallas Chamber Symphony « CBS Dallas / Fort Worth |url=http://dfw.cbslocal.com/video/10182430-disd-students-attend-dallas-chamber-symphony/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=CBS 11 News DFW|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522001500/http://dfw.cbslocal.com/video/10182430-disd-students-attend-dallas-chamber-symphony/ |archive-date=2014-05-22 }}{{Cite web |date=2016-12-13 |title=Creative Placemaking Grants and 2017 Guidelines Announced {{!}} NEA |url=https://www.arts.gov/news/2016/creative-placemaking-grants-and-2017-guidelines-announced |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=National Endowment for the Arts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213011408/https://www.arts.gov/news/2016/creative-placemaking-grants-and-2017-guidelines-announced |archive-date=2016-12-13 }} He also established the orchestra's Dallas International Piano{{Cite web |title=About - Dallas International Piano Competition |url=https://dallasipc.org/about/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |language=en-US}} and Violin{{Cite web |date=2023-03-10 |title=About - Dallas International Violin Competition |url=https://dallasivc.org/about/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |language=en-US}} competitions.{{Cite web |last=bfc-admin |date=2019-05-09 |title=Dallas Chamber Symphony reaches the seven-year mark |url=https://symphony.org/dallas-chamber-symphony-reaches-the-seven-year-mark/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Symphony |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Diovanni |first=Tim |date=2023-06-08 |title=Dallas Chamber Symphony launches violin contest, adding to competition offerings |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/performing-arts/2023/06/08/dallas-chamber-symphony-launches-violin-contest-adding-to-competition-offerings/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |last=Callon |first=Cheryl |date=2020-09-21 |title=Review: Beauty and the Beast {{!}} Texas Ballet Theater {{!}} Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House |url=http://www.theaterjones.com/ntx/reviews/20170910135212/2017-09-10/Texas-Ballet-Theater/Beauty-and-the-Beast |access-date=2024-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921065600/http://www.theaterjones.com/ntx/reviews/20170910135212/2017-09-10/Texas-Ballet-Theater/Beauty-and-the-Beast |archive-date=2020-09-21 }} 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. In 2024 he was given the Dallas History Makers award by the Dallas Historical Society for Excellence in Arts Leadership.{{Cite web |title=Dallas History Makers – Dallas Historical Society |url=https://www.dallashistory.org/support/dallashistorymakers/#1709826756167-d0a60571-b6f1 |access-date=2024-10-06 |language=en-US}}

• Joseph Thalken, Aaron Copland, Chasing Home, Appalachian Spring Suite, Dallas Chamber Symphony, Albany Records, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-30 |title=New CDs: Fabio Luisi conducts Nielsen; Richard McKay leads the Dallas Chamber Symphony |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/performing-arts/2024/07/30/new-cds-fabio-luisi-conducts-nielsen-richard-mckay-leads-the-dallas-chamber-symphony/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}
• Tsontakis, Anasa, David Krakauer clarinet, Aspen Music Festival, AACA, 2013.{{Cite web |date=2 July 2013 |title=American Academy of Conducting at Aspen |url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/911038564?oclcNum=911038564 |website=WorldCat}}
• Sibelius, Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Aspen Music Festival, AACA, 2013.{{Cite web |date=9 July 2013 |title=American Academy of Conducting at Aspen |url=https://search.worldcat.org/title/861758579 |website=WorldCat}}
• R. Schumann, Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Manhattan School of Music Symphony, MSM, 2010.{{Citation |last1=McKay |first1=Richard |title=Final concert of the Kurt Masur conducting seminar: withKurt Masur and selected seminar participants |date=2010 |url=https://library.msmnyc.edu/record=b1119810 |access-date=2025-01-03 |others=Manhattan School of Music |place=New York, NY |publisher=Manhattan School of Music |oclc=694798726 |last2=Chang |first2=Gene |last3=Ahn |first3=Seyeon |last4=Segal |first4=Yaniv |last5=Patel |first5=Sameer |last6=Seaton |first6=Scott |last7=Kidd |first7=Sarah |last8=Mas-Arocas |first8=Ocavio |last9=Masur |first9=Kurt}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://richardmckaymusic.com Official website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:McKay, Richard}}

Category:Living people

Category:1982 births

Category:21st-century American conductors (music)