Christopher McKay

Christopher McKay

Teaching Artist (Viola)

Violist Christopher McKay joined The Phoenix Symphony in 2008 as section viola and is currently the  Acting Assistant Principal Viola, a post he has held since 2009. From 2007-2008 he held a one-year  position with the Louisville Orchestra and from 2001-2007 he was Principal Viola of the Evansville  Philharmonic Orchestra (IN). His other orchestral experience includes positions with Central City  Opera (CO), Lancaster Festival Orchestra (OH), New Jersey Opera, Owensboro Symphony, Baton  Rouge Symphony Orchestra, and substitute with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Since 2012  he has been a regular substitute with the Grant Park Festival Orchestra in Chicago, IL.  

In addition to his extensive orchestral experience, Mr. McKay is also a chamber musician, soloist,  and teacher. From 2001-2007 he was violist of the Eykamp String Quartet, an ensemble that held a  combined residency with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and the University of Evansville. As  a member of the Quartet he performed numerous concerts each year at the University, participated  in outreach concerts in and around the Evansville metropolitan area, and coached University and  Youth Orchestra students in chamber and orchestral music. As Principal Viola of the Philharmonic  he had the pleasure of performing the solo viola parts in Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote in 2006 and  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola in 2004. His duties as Adjunct  Instructor of Viola at the University included teaching private viola lessons and performing solo  recitals.  

As a passionate chamber musician Mr. McKay, along with TPS first violinist Karen Sinclair, founded  the modular chamber music ensemble Urban Nocturnes in 2009. Born out of friendship and a desire  to collaborate together, this ensemble has expanded to a six-person roster and is dedicated to the  highest level of performance of the traditional chamber music repertoire. As a Phoenix, AZ based  ensemble they are currently Artists-in-Residence at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown  Phoenix. Mr. McKay received his viola performance degrees from Louisiana State University (BM)  and Indiana University (MM), and has twice been a TMC fellow at the world renowned Tanglewood  Music Center (1998 and 2006). His primary teachers were Alan deVeritch, Jerzy Kosmala, and Julian.