Kevin Rhodes began his conducting career at the age of 16 in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana. He received his piano degree from Michigan State University, where he studied conducting with Leon Gregorian, and his master's degree in conducting from the University of Illinois, where he studied with Paul Vermel.Kevin Rhodes began his European career as a conductor at the Stadttheater in Basel, Switzerland. He then joined the Deutsche Oper as its first Kapellmeister, conducting hundreds of performances of repertoire ranging from The Magic Flute to The Knight with the Rose, as well as principal conductor of the Vienna State Ballet, including The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet. Further engagements followed in numerous other opera houses and orchestras on the continent: Berlin, Wiesbaden, Heidelberg, Naples, Verona, Milan, Paris, Stuttgart, etc. In 2001, Kevin Rhodes was appointed Music Director of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Massachusetts and the Traverse Symphony Orchestra in Michigan.He has dedicated himself to building these two ensembles, as well as to the many outreach and educational activities undertaken by these institutions. At the start of the 2010-2011 season, Kevin began work as Principal Conductor of Boston's Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra. Kevin Rhodes has also been invited to conduct the Houston Symphony Orchestra, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra (FL), the Canton Symphony Orchestra (OH), the Queens Symphony Orchestra (NJ) and many others. His work with many of these illustrious opera houses has been seen and heard throughout Europe in numerous television appearances, and worldwide in numerous film productions.