Kyle Ritenauer Named Director of the University Symphony Orchestra

Montclair, NJ — The John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University is pleased to announce that Kyle Ritenauer has been named Director of Orchestral Studies.

In addition to his leadership at Cali, Ritenauer is a regular presence at Lincoln Center, where he has conducted 22 performances with the New York City Ballet over the past year. He has also led 21 performances at The Juilliard School and has conducted the National Symphony Orchestra in performance at the Kennedy Center.

Ritenauer has served on the conducting staffs of the New York Philharmonic, Opéra de Montréal, and Des Moines Metro Opera. He has been a member of the Artistic Staff at the Manhattan School of Music since 2021 and, since 2024, has served on the conducting faculty of the Pierre Monteux School as Associate Conductor.

During his four-year tenure as Interim Director, Ritenauer has led a range of significant productions and performances, including the university’s first-ever performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in collaboration with the University Chorale and an ever-deepening collaboration with the Cali Opera Program, most recently in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. He has expanded recruitment efforts for the MSU Symphony through initiatives such as this year’s StringFest, which welcomed 250 high school music students to campus, and by establishing the Montclair Violin Prize to recognize outstanding local violinists.

In this role, Ritenauer will continue to guide and inspire orchestral students through high-level ensemble experiences, artistic mentorship, and professional preparation. His leadership will help students deepen their musical growth while building the collaborative and creative skills essential for today’s evolving careers in music.

“Dr. Ritenauer is an outstanding performer and educator, and we are excited to partner with him as he builds connections between our orchestra program, the university, and the community,” said Shea Scruggs, Director of the Cali School of Music.

The Cali School invites the community to join in congratulating Ritenauer on this appointment.