Kermit Poling
General ManagerThe 2019 silver medal winner of the International Global Music Award, Kermit Poling is Music Director of both the South Arkansas Symphony, the Marshall Symphony Orchestra, the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet, the Associate Conductor of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra as well as General Manager of the Red River Radio Network.
Also a composer, Poling's ballets have been performed throughout the country. In 2017, Poling made his debut with the London Symphony Orchestra for an album of his music. In 2019, Pennsylvania Ballet and Ballet Des Moines premiere his most recent works. He has created orchestral arrangements for a wide range of artists, including Grammy winning guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd and blues singer Irma Thomas. He has also scored several films, including the original silent feature Tarzan.
Poling received the Outstanding Artist in Music Fellowship in 2000 from the State of Louisiana and twice received a Music Fellowship from the Shreveport Regional Arts Council. His awards include scholarships to the Boston Conservatory of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Tanglewood Music Center, where he studied with Leonard Bernstein, Kurt Masur, Gustav Meier and Seiji Ozawa. In 2005, Maestro Poling served as one of three international judges for China’s National Young Artists Competition with the China National Symphony in Beijing. He has received numerous commissions to create new scores for theatrical works, including The Glass Menagerie, Memoirs, Elektra and others. In 1998 he was chosen by Emmy award winning artist William Joyce to compose the music for his stage adaptation of The Leafmen and the Brave Good Bugs.
Maestro Poling has been a featured conductor on NPR's Performance Today, the Arkansas Educational Television Network, the Red River Radio Network, WGBH Boston and has appeared as violinist on Louisiana Public Television and PBS in addition to numerous television and radio stations throughout the country. Centaur Records released a CD of his newest Christmas arrangements performed by the West Edge String Quartet. Away from the podium, Poling also serves as organist and choral director at St. George's Episcopal Church in Bossier City.
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Airs Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at 6 p.m. Henrietta Wildsmith is the photographer for the Shreveport times, and a lot more. She has also worked as Staff…
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Airs Monday, February 4, 2019, at 11 a.m. Kermit Poling spoke with Thomas Hundemer and Paul Christopher about Babbit Fest, a musical tribute to composer…
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Airs Friday, February 1, 2019, at 11 am. Kermit Poling spoke with pianist Simone Dinnerstein who will be the featured soloist on their next concert…
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Airs Monday, January 28, 2019, at 11 a.m. Kermit Poling spoke with Bob Savage and Jim Smilie from the CityPark Players in Alexandria about their new…
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Airs Tuesday, October 21, 2020, at 10 a.m. Michael Butterman and Jennifer Carsillo will join us this Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. for a live performance…
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Airs Thursday, October 11, 2018, at 10 a.m. Steve Aiken joins Kermit Poling as the Shreveport Opera Express presents a wonderful concert in our Marion and…
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Airs Friday, September 21, 2018, at 11 a.m. Kermit Poling spoke with conductor Michael Butterman about the 2018-19 season opener by the Shreveport…
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Airs Friday, August 24, 2018, at 12 noon. This week we'll hear a concert from the 2016 season by the South Arkansas Symphony Orchestra with music by…
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Airs Friday, August 17, 2018, at 12 noon. This week we'll hear a concert from the 2017 Shreveport Summer Music Festival featuring Wenzel Pichl's Sinfonia…
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Airs Friday, July 20, 2018, at 12 noon. The Emerson String Quartet recorded live at the First United Methodist Church in Shreveport featuring Eugene…