Kris Hilding received their Bachelors of Music from the University of Kansas, where they studied with violists Philip Kramp and Boris Vayner, composer Bryan “Kip” Haaheim, and conductors David Neely and Raffaele Cipriano. Kris then went on to complete their Masters of Music degree in Orchestral Conducting at Wichita State University with Dr. Mark Laycock. They are currently pursuing a DMA in Instrumental Conducting at the University of Connecticut under the direction of Dr. Paul McShee.

Kris is an active conductor and clinician who has worked with several ensembles and schools across the state of Kansas, and their arrangements and original compositions have been featured on various programs. As a violist, Kris has played in multiple ensembles in central and northeast Kansas. They also regularly perform with virtual ensembles and other online performers and content creators. They were the founder and director of the Bravura Chamber Orchestra, a student-run ensemble at the University of Kansas, now the Philharmonic Orchestra. Their previous teaching positions include orchestra director at Bethel College in Newton, Kansas, Interim Orchestra Director at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kansas, and Orchestra Assistant at Billy Mills Middle School in Lawrence, Kansas. Kris also enjoys teaching private lessons for beginning violin and viola students.

When not practicing or studying scores, Kris enjoys playing video games, board games, gardening, reading manga, watching anime, and taking a totally reasonable amount of pictures of their cat.

Contact Information

Office Location	DRMU 154A