Currently leading his 32nd season as Music Director of the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, his 12th season as Music Director of the Marshall Symphony, and in his 41st season with the Shreveport Symphony, Kermit Poling is consistently hailed as an inspiring, passionate presence in American music. The classical music magazine Fanfare wrote, “The Romantic spirit lives, breathes and flourishes in Kermit Poling”, remarking on his “quite natural musicianship” and a “Schubertian gift for melody.”

 

Kermit Poling conducts internationally, while his compositions are also performed throughout the world. In 2017, Mr. Poling conducted his debut recording with the London Symphony Orchestra for an album of his compositions on the Centaur label. Fanfare welcomed the release as “a fabulous disc, splendidly recorded and executed.”

 

Kermit Poling’s compositions have excited audiences everywhere. His Symphony #1 “Shreveport Symphony” was premiered by Michael Butterman and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra in 2016.  Ballet companies throughout the United States, including Ballet Des Moines, the University of Hartford, Ballet Oklahoma, Shreveport Metropolitan ballet and The Pennsylvania Ballet have commissioned and performed his works.. January, 2023 premiered his 2nd guitar concerto, featuring Lily Afshar, while the Shreveport Summer Music Festival presented his Symphony #2, “The Angels Gathered” in October of that year, subsequently broadcast internationally on the EWTN cable network. Most recently,  at the Shreveport Summer Music Festival, Kermit conducted the world premiere of a new work “To the Moon, Mars and Beyond” to great response.

 

Kermit Poling studied with Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Masur, Gustav Meier, Roger Norrington and Seiji Ozawa. He is a Silver Medalist from the 2019 International Global Music Awards, a 2000 Outstanding Artist in Music Fellowship from the State of Louisiana and was awarded two music fellowships from the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. In 2012, Mr. Poling received a career advancement award from the State of Louisiana.

 

Passionately devoted to musical education, Kermit Poling has served on the faculty of Centenary College, Texarkana Community College, Boston Conservatory and Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music. He has also been an artist in residence and taught masterclasses at the University of Delaware, Kilgore College and Stephen F. Austin State University and is regionally known as the general manager of the Red River Radio public radio network.