The Kent Philharmonic Orchestra, in existence since 1975, is a college/ community symphony orchestra devoted to the performance of symphonic literature. KPO consists of adult musicians and some GRCC students seeking credit. The orchestra performs four major programs per year and membership is by audition or permission of the conductor.

The orchestra operates through Grand Rapids Community College which provides funding for the conductor, rehearsal space and in part for support services, concertmaster salary, printing services, hall rental, music purchase or rental costs and other miscellaneous expenses. The balance of funding is through ticket sales, donations, and fundraising. Leadership of the Kent Philharmonic Orchestra is provided by its Board of Directors, comprised of KPO members and others outside the membership, all elected by the orchestra. Concerts are presented in Royce Auditorium of the St. Cecilia Music Center, a collaborative partner with GRCC, and other Grand Rapids area venues. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Grand Rapids Community College Music Center.

Libor Ondras, Music Director

Dr. Libor Ondras is a conductor, violist, and educator. He began his studies as a recipient of the Slovak Ministry of Culture Fellowship to study viola at the prestigious Moscow Conservatory with Fjodor Druzhinin and Yuri Bashmet. Ondras continued his studies at the Academy of Music Arts in Prague, and completed his DMA at the University of Houston.

Ondras has worked with leading artists and conductors and performed with orchestras in the US, Europe, and Japan including Houston Symphony, Utah Symphony, Carnegie Hall Project with Sir George Solti, Vienna Philharmonic,
and Bernstein’s Pacific Festival Orchestra. He has given lectures and played recitals for the American Viola Society and International Viola D’Amore Society. His research and scholarly writings were published in the Journal of
American Viola Society.

Passionate recitalist and chamber musician, Ondras serves as an artist-in-residence and string faculty at the Bay View Chautauqua Music Festival. He is a founder and violist of the Hummel Trio, a frequent chamber music
coach of the winning ensembles at the Michigan Chapter of the American String Teachers Association and guest clinician at the University of Notre Dame, Grand Valley State University, Central Michigan University, and
University of Costa Rica. Prior to coming to MI, Dr. Ondras served as a Director of Orchestras at the University of Tampa, FL where he also founded and lead Quartet-de-Minaret. Among their frequent chamber music
appearances and residencies were Sarasota International Chamber Music Festival and Haydn Festspiele International Festival (Austria).

His recent engagements include a visiting artist at the Royal Conservatory of Scotland, solo appearance with the Northwest Sinfonietta of Washington,
featured artist for the National Conference of League of American Orchestras leading Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, a research project
at the Belle Violinmaking School in Bilbao, Spain, resident faculty at the InterHarmony International Festival in Italy, visiting professor of viola and
chamber music at Central Michigan University, and his solo appearance and conducting debut at the Carnegie Hall in June 2026.

Dr. Ondras is a Music Director of the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra and Kent Philharmonic Orchestra (MI), guest conductor for the Slovak State Opera and Director of Orchestras and professor at the Grand Rapids Community College.

Elizabeth VanZytveld

Elizabeth VanZytveld holds a Master’s degree in violin performance from the University of Southern California, where she studied violin with Eudice Shapiro and chamber music with Ron Leonard, and a Bachelor’s degree in music education from Calvin College. Betsy directed string and vocal music programs in Michigan and California schools, founding the string program for the Valley Christian Schools. She later taught at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, spending summers on faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Betsy currently enjoys performing and teaching private violin and viola students ages 11-77.