News & Press
April 8, 2025
Tribune Star
'Decades of Pop' reveals energy, range of Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra
Wearing a stylish, slim-fit black suit and black shirt, Kalia was a veritable energy machine on the Tilson stage…He brought to mind the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Gustavo Dudamel. He danced, swayed, swooped, hunched, yet never seemed to lose intimate connection with every member of the orchestra.”
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Stephanie Salter
April 29, 2024
Courier & Press
East meets West at EPO concert
Roger Kalia skillfully kept the tempos in check throughout and truly made the orchestra sing. No section of the orchestra was without its dramatic moments, and there were innumerable beautiful solos (especially the clarinet strain in the third movement).
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Bill Hemminger
October 25, 2023
India New England News
Symphony New Hampshire Makes History as it Debuts First-Ever Bollywood Songs on Western Instruments with Singer Anuradha Palakurthi-Juju
...this show was the first of its kind in United States or perhaps in the world...Roger conducted the event with infectious aplomb...Unbelievable show.
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October 2, 2023
Courier & Press
EPO’s first Classics Concert a thrilling performance
The sound of the tremendous applause at the conclusion of the first Classics Concert of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra might still be ringing in the Victory Theatre, so enthusiastically was the entire program received and so thrilling was the orchestra’s performance.
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Bill Hemminger
May 2, 2023
Manchester Ink Link
Symphony NH Celebrates 100 years
Kalia also looked about the full house and said, 'this is just amazing.' Indeed it was. The new performance space, the full house, the renewed energy and an expanded mission to bring live concerts to every county in the State of New Hampshire, brought a standing ovation closure to the concert.
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Keith Spiro
January 24, 2023
Courier & Press
‘Musicians’ Choice’ afternoon a hit with EPO crowd
Sunday afternoon’s "Musicians’ Choice" concert with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra thrilled an enthusiastic and appreciative local audience...Kalia spoke about the idea for the program itself: why not let the musicians, all of whom have had active and long-term participation in concert music, select their favorite works or works they would love to hear performed by the EPO?
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Bill Hemminger
January 24, 2022
Courier & Press
Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra warms the night with well-balanced program
Beethoven’s 'Seventh Symphony' heated up the entire second half of the program. Conducting without a score, Roger Kalia displayed both his love of the symphony and his careful attention to the symphony’s many musical challenges. And it was worth it…A thrilling performance of which Kalia and the orchestra should be proud.
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William Hemminger
October 18, 2021
Courier & Press
Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra celebrated literature in music at performance
As he so often does, Kalia (leaving instrumentalists on stage) addressed the audience, thanking them for their support of their excellent hometown orchestra. He announced the ways that this program highlighted the skills of local artists, not only musicians.
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Bill Hemminger
September 27, 2021
Courier & Press
Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra returns with a grand performance
Saturday night’s Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra concert — with the entire musical ensemble arrayed on the brightly-lit Victory stage — was truly a vision... How exciting to see the grand lobby alive again with patrons and how wonderful to hear the EPO musical forces gathered under the baton of Roger Kahlia. The last time the whole orchestra performed may have been Kahlia’s audition in February 2020, and the concert was a wonderful way to emerge from under the throes of the pandemic.
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Bill Hemminger
April 26, 2021
Courier & Press
Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra concert closes the classics season with aplomb
Kalia reminded listeners that few other orchestras have managed to present in-house concerts this past year. He also described the many pop-up and small-venue performances that orchestra members have provided for the Evansville public. Evansville is surely lucky to have such a talented, versatile conductor as well as a group of musicians willing to perform in a pandemic.
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Bill Hemminger
November 15, 2020
Courier & Press
Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra connects and celebrates
As Kalia said to the audience, the re-invention of the entire classics season and all its programs has been, strangely enough, the “silver lining” of this Covid curse. It was hard to tell which was greater on Saturday night—the exuberant and expert ensemble playing on stage or the palpable excitement of the audience.
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Bill Hemminger
October 18, 2020
Courier & Press
Evansville Philharmonic concert uplifts the spirit
This piece [Arvo Pärt’s “Fratres,”], with its changing meters and changing textures, must be a challenge not only for the soloist but also for the conductor. Roger Kalia was easily up to the task, though, and the performance was 10 minutes of musical magic.
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Bill Hemminger
September 21, 2020
Courier & Press
First concert for new EPO director delights
For his first concert, conductor Roger Kalia selected four delightful compositions that displayed a variety of musical styles and periods as well as the technical and musical abilities of the orchestra members. Owing to COVID-19 protocols, the orchestra was much reduced, mostly only masked string players. Kalia sported a black mask throughout the performance. Audience members, limited in number, were spread out around the Victory Theatre.
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Bill Hemminger
March 1, 2020
Courier & Press
Fifth and final EPO music director candidate impresses
Roger Kalia showed his musical mettle from the very beginning of the program, with the Dances of Galánta of Zoltán Kodály. The composition is a setting of dance-like themes and rhythms that suggest the gypsy-inspired street bands of Kodály’s youth. With a great variety of tempos, irregular rhythms and solos for many instruments, the work surely taxes the ability of the conductor to control the ensemble. These demands presented no problem for Kalia, who danced along with the music yet seemed to offer just the right cues and direction.
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Bill Hemminger
Daily Telegram
It was readily apparent that he [Kalia] and the musicians had a very positive rapport going on, and the results were obvious in the quality of the music-making…and given the warmth of the response he received from the audience after the concert, it’s clear that the audience connected with him too.
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The Glens Falls Chronicle
He has envisioned an unboundaried venue where popular music meets classical—and here, he has the wherewithal to realize that vision, to overwhelmingly engaging ends. How could he not be thrilled? Again, this was most clearly thrilling for him, as well as for the audience and the musicians. Lucky, lucky all of us. Music making should always be such juicy pleasure.
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The Glens Falls Post Star
The wildly positive crowd response prompted Kalia and his enthusiastic cohort to perform a clearly unplanned encore replaying one movement of Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9. The obviously familiar piece was rendered with vigor and joie de vivre that engulfed the listeners like a tsunami…I found the performance to be one of the most memorable I have ever experienced, as many in the audience very obviously did as well.
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Glens Falls Post Star
What was effectively a “pick-up” symphony orchestra of outstanding musicians from around the world led by the brilliant young American conductor Roger Kalia “hit the ball out of the park.” The rendering of the two-piece program absolutely overwhelmed an audience that buried the musicians with non-stop shouts of “bravo,” comprising a lengthy standing ovation.
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The Glens Falls Chronicle
Mr. Kalia did beautiful things with that much-beloved piece [New World Symphony]. His reading as conductor is strong and powerful, evoking its most muscular and evocative beauty…Responding to overwhelming emotion and enthusiasm from both audience and players, they encored the last few moments of the piece. It was a triumph.
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March 12, 2025
Manchester InkLink
Serenade of the Winds: A powerful performance by Symphony NH
If anyone is interested in attending and listening to a Symphony New Hampshire performance, they definitely should. You will learn something new and be able to listen to beautiful music! Their performances will take you back in time but are still relevant today because everyone needs to take a break and have a good time sometimes.
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Talia Harmon
November 3, 2024
Manchester InkLink
Exploring Beethoven’s 3rd with Symphony NH
What’s fun for Kalia – is not bowing and then facing the orchestra to conduct but rather to have that relationship with the audience and how we as audience feel after the concert. He wants to see the joy in the audience – to communicate that joy that all on stage feel when they perform for us.
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Keith Spiro
September 5, 2024
Evansville Living
A Dream Fulfilled
Evansville Philharmonic celebrates its granite jubilee.
'Looking ahead, the philharmonic is focused even more on accessibility and building new relationships. There is a great sense of pride within our organization and people feel recognized and appreciated, which is a beautiful thing to be a part of.'
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Timothy Weir
May 19, 2024
WTHI
Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra's conductor announces retirement, introduces the next face for the role
'In November of 2022, he covered for me, and he just won the hearts of everybody- the musicians, the audience, our board. They all said, 'hey, this guy is something!' said Bowden.
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Natalie Seals
December 12, 2023
Manchester Ink Link
Brass to the Max: Symphony NH and Spartans Drum Corps together on one stage, Jan. 13
'We are elated to work with these young musicians!' says SNH Music Director, Roger Kalia, 'Giving students the opportunity to work with professionals in this way can be transformational. The Spartans’ mission aligns eloquently with Symphony New Hampshire, and this is going to be an amazing experience for all involved.'
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September 26, 2023
India New England News
SNH Presents First-of-Its-Kind “Symphony Masala” Concert With Indian-American Singer Anuradha Palakurthi-Juju
'This is probably the first such concert in the United States,' said Anuradha Palakurthi-Juju. 'The occasion of the centennial of the oldest professional orchestra in New Hampshire makes it a special honor for the larger Indian community in the Greater Boston area.'
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May 3, 2023
WEHT Eyewitness News
Evansville philharmonic signs three-year contract extension with Roger Kalia
'We are thrilled Maestro Roger Kalia has extended his contract with the Evansville Philharmonic,' said Executive Director Kimberly Bredemeier. 'His excellence and creativity shine through on the stage. His programming gives something for everyone to enjoy and showcases the talent of the Evansville Philharmonic musicians.'
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Zach McKnight
May 3, 2023
The Violin Channel
Conductor Roger Kalia Renews Contract at the Evansville Philharmonic
'His concerts have been delightful, and the diversity of his programming is remarkable. I am delighted that Roger accepted our invitation to be our music director, and I am thrilled that he has signed a three-year contract extension with us. I look forward to hearing him conduct the Evansville Philharmonic for many years to come'
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August 2, 2022
Santa Monica Mirror
Music Director Roger Kalia Renews Contract With Orchestra Santa Monica for Another Three Years
'I am grateful and honored to continue and deepen my relationship with Orchestra Santa Monica for the next three years. Santa Monica is a city that is filled with dedicated audiences who are passionate supporters of the orchestra. I am immensely proud to be part of the OSM family, and I am looking forward to making music with our wonderful musicians in the years to come.'
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June 10, 2022
Courier & Press
COVID didn't slow the Evansville Philharmonic, which is set for a jam-packed season
Kalia is proud, though, that despite the pandemic, all scheduled EPO shows went on as scheduled, in some form or fashion. He said the pandemic forced creativity to evolve, and some positive things happened as a result. 'We did pop-up performances on the street. Went to hospitals. We were one of the few orchestras not to shut down in the country,' Kalia said. 'We didn’t cancel a single performance.'
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John T Martin
June 3, 2022
WNIN
Metallica to Mozart: EPO Season Aims for Variety of Genres, Venues
'I also feel like what was missing was connecting with different age groups, different backgrounds of different people, and we're doing much more of that now,' he said. 'With the diversity series for instance, we're performing not only at museums and different places in the community, we're also performing in temples.'
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Tim Jagielo
April 29, 2022
Indiana Humanities
National Poetry Month — Roger Kalia
Roger Kalia shares how music help us cultivate hope and community in times of crisis.
At their core, the humanities are about the human experience, and no life or culture is complete without music. It is an expression of ideas and emotions, and through it, we can seek to understand both ourselves and each other. In both creating and listening to music, we share space and time, and we are reconnected and reminded of our shared humanity and the gifts it brings us.
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October 18, 2021
New Hampshire Public Radio
Give Back NH: Symphony NH
'Now that our audiences are back with us — I'm just very grateful to be the music director of New Hampshire's oldest professional orchestra and as a conductor, you know, it's something that I love making music with people. I love interacting with people, and that's a big part of the job.'
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Emily Quirk
August 22, 2021
Look TV Media
Look This Week: roger Kalia
'We really pride ourselves on the diversity of our programming; Everything from the classics by Beethoven, Mozart [and] Schubert to contemporary living composers. Composers who are composing in a variety of styles: pop music, electronic music, you name it. We do it all at Lake George Music Festival.'
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Jesse H. Jackson
August 21, 2021
The Lake George Examiner
Lake George Music Festival’s Family Concert entertains with music and theatre
After a year of virtual performances, the Lake George Music Festival is back in town with live performances. 'We’re in person, we’re together again, and that is so important,' says Kalia. 'I can’t tell you how good it feels to make music with real musicians and not in a computer screen.'
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Gillian Burdett
June 18, 2021
Courier & Press
Evansville Philharmonic announces new season, new Bourbon series
'The idea of being together and community is at the core of this very special season,' Kalia said. 'The past year had its challenges, but I am so proud that we were able to keep the music alive and provide a sense of healing for our musicians and community.'
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Abbey Doyle
May 22, 2021
Channel 14 News
Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra performs at Bosse Field for first time
'This is the very first time we’ve ever performed at Bosse Field, and I always say it’s a national treasure,' Kalia said. 'This is the third-oldest ballpark in the country, and a big goal of mine has been getting the orchestra out of the Victory Theatre and into the community, so that’s what we’re doing tonight. It’s going to be a fun show with a lot of different music.'
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Jessica Costello
January 28, 2021
Symphony
Podium Launches
Kalia’s inaugural concert, which included music by J.S. Bach, George Walker, and Mozart, also featured the world premiere of a fanfare by Paul Dooley called River City, to celebrate the city of Evansville. 'We adapted it for COVID and put four brass musicians in the theater balcony,' Kalia says. 'It was antiphonal, beautiful, almost Gabrieli-like.'
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Nancy Malitz
October 29, 2020
Ages of Rock Podcast
"This week Bill, Allen, and Dennis get classy with our guest, Roger Kalia, the new conductor of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. We talk with him about being one of over 250 candidates trying out for the position. We also talk about his background in music and having socially distanced performances during a pandemic."
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Allen Tate and Dennis Talbott
September 26, 2020
The Telegraph
Conductor Roger Kalia leads Symphony NH concert in Greeley Park
'My job is to enable the performers to give their best,' he said. 'To really create an atmosphere where they feel they can play at their best is so important to me as a conductor rather than me just standing up there waving my arms.'
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George Pelletier
August 30, 2020
WEHT Eyewitness News
New Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra conductor looking forward to opening night
'I still have so many people that I want to meet … you name it, I want to meet you, I want to get to know you and I want you to come to the symphony because the symphony is for everyone,' Kalia said. 'This season is called ‘Connect and Celebrate’ so that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to get to know our audiences even more.'
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Ryan Witry
April 4, 2020
Broadway World
Roger Kalia Named Music Director Of Evansville Philharmonic
A dynamic and innovative presence both on and off the podium, Roger Kalia is a respected collaborator with orchestras and artists alike, known for his eloquent and compelling interpretations, and for bringing a 'fresh view to classical music.'
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Stephi Wild
November 15, 2019
Spokane Public Radio
From the Studio: Spokane Symphony’s Masterworks 4
Spokane Symphony's Masterworks series continues with a commemoration of the Moon Landing. Guest conductor Roger Kalia visits the studio with Spokane Symphony's new Marketing Director, Kathy Gustafson, and Director of Education Programs, Janet Napoles, for a discussion of the concert's program and multi-media presentations.
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September 10, 2019
New Hampshire Magazine
Exploring the Nashua Food Scene with Symphony NH’s New Maestro
'It’s a tough field with conducting positions growing rarer. By nature, I am a very social person who truly enjoys meeting and interacting with as many people as I possibly can. As a trumpet player, you often sit in the back of the orchestra, which can be somewhat of an isolating experience. Furthermore, I would often get nervous during solos, and my lip would quiver slightly. Conducting came quite naturally to me, and the direct connection and interaction with the musicians was appealing.'
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Susan Laughlin
July 18, 2019
Santa Monica Mirror
Roger Kalia Signs 3-year Contract To Serve As Music Director Of Orchestra Santa Monica
'Roger is a true artist and our board, musicians, and audience members are all very enthusiastic about his leadership, talent, energy, and ideas. We are pleased with all that he is accomplishing in our community and are proud of the fact that he’s also becoming increasingly prominent on the national level.'
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