Kelly Markgraf

About

Kelly Markgraf is an Associate Professor of Music (Voice) at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, one of the premier music institutions in the United States. A distinguished baritone with an extensive and acclaimed career, Markgraf performs repertoire from baroque through contemporary classical music. He has created roles in several world premieres, including works by Grammy Award-winning composer Mason Bates, Joel Puckett, and Laura Kaminsky. His performance credits include collaborations with major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and Chicago Symphony, working with renowned conductors such as Gustavo Dudamel and Michael Tilson Thomas. Markgraf has performed in recital twice at Carnegie Hall and with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at Alice Tully Hall. His discography includes the Grammy Award-winning recording of Mason Bates's The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, as well as world-premiere recordings of Harbison's Requiem, Ricky Ian Gordon's The Grapes of Wrath, Kaminsky's As One, and Floyd's Wuthering Heights. He has appeared on PBS's nationally televised Great Performances at Carnegie Hall alongside Thomas Hampson and Yo-Yo Ma, and has been featured on NPR's Performance Today. Beyond his performance career, Markgraf is passionate about teaching vocal technique. His interest in archaic vocal treatises informs his pedagogical approach, making centuries-old bel canto concepts accessible to modern singers. He is the founder and lead mentor of The Legato Project, a mentoring platform offering guidance to aspiring young vocalists seeking entry into university music programs and conservatories.

Education & Qualifications

A.D. in Opera Performance, The Juilliard School (2009); M.M. in Vocal Performance, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (2005); B.M. in Vocal Performance, Boston University (2002)

Teaching Styles