Roger Kalia, Music Director
Praised for bringing a “fresh view to classical music” (The Republic), Indian American conductor Roger Kalia is a versatile communicator who brings unique and unmistakable energy to the podium. Recently profiled by Symphony Magazine in recognition of his innovative programming, Kalia has been hailed as “leading with passionate intensity and a clear beat” as well as being “one to watch” (Long Beach Gazette).
Kalia is now in his sixth season as Music Director of the Evansville Philharmonic, in his eighth season with Orchestra Santa Monica, and recently completed six seasons with Symphony New Hampshire. He was most recently appointed Music Director of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra beginning in the 2025-26 season. The recipient of several awards from the Solti Foundation, including an Elizabeth Buccheri Opera Residency with Lyric Opera of Chicago and five Career Assistance Awards, Kalia has been praised for his “extraordinary leadership” (Courier & Press).
The 2025-26 season opens with Kalia leading the Chicago Sinfonietta in a performance of his groundbreaking show with acclaimed Bollywood singer Anuradha “Juju” Palakurthi, Symphony Masala. Upcoming guest engagements include a masterworks debut with the Canton Symphony Orchestra, and a return to the Redlands Symphony as a finalist for the Music Director position.
In recent seasons, Kalia has also appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, Chicago Sinfonietta, Louisiana Philharmonic, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, Szczecin Philharmonic (Poland), Hollywood Chamber Orchestra, Boise Philharmonic, Spartanburg Philharmonic, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, and the symphony orchestras of Lima, Adrian, Bakersfield, Great Falls, Owensboro, Spokane, Amarillo, and Wheeling.
Kalia also serves as Music Director & Co-Founder of the Lake George Music Festival, which has been described as “an unparalleled classical music experience in the Adirondacks” (Chronogram). Concert performances of the Festival Orchestra are regularly featured on NPR’s Performance Today and highlighted in Gramophone Magazine, Musical America, and Saratoga Living, among others.
Kalia has collaborated with a wide range of artists including singer Jubilant Sykes (appointed as Orchestra Santa Monica’s inaugural artistic partner); Grammy-winning trio Time for Three; Indian tabla virtuoso Sandeep Das; singer/songwriters Randy Newman and Randy Jackson; rock musicians Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls and Nancy Wilson of Heart; and actor Jack Black. He continues to be a sought-after interpreter of film scores including recent performances of Star Wars: A New Hope.
Kalia currently resides in Indiana with his wife, musicologist and violinist Christine Wisch, and their son Adrian.
[updated July 2025]