Christopher McKay joined the Phoenix Symphony viola section in 2008. He has served in many capacities as orchestral musician, chamber musician, soloist, and teacher. He has performed with many orchestras across the US including the Grant Park Orchestra in Chicago, Louisville Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony, Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, New Jersey Opera, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Owensboro Symphony, and the Lancaster Festival Orchestra.

From 2001-07 Mr. McKay was Principal Violist of the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, a unique position that partnered with the University of Evansville.  Through this partnership he served as violist and founding member of the Eykamp String Quartet and taught viola at the University of Evansville as an Adjunct Instructor. His solo engagements with the EPO include Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante and Strauss’ Don Quixote and was a regular recitalist at the University of Evansville.  Additional teaching experience includes Visiting Instructor at Indiana University-Bloomington, Indiana University-Southeast Summer String Clinic, and the Blue Lake Arts Camp.

A passionate chamber musician, Mr. McKay, along with TPS first violinist Karen Sinclair, founded the chamber music ensemble Urban Nocturnes. As a Phoenix based chamber ensemble they are dedicated to the highest level of performance of the traditional classical chamber music repertoire and are currently Artists-in-Residence at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Phoenix, AZ.  More information about Urban Nocturnes can be found at Facebook.com/urbannocturnes or at trinitymusicaz.org.  

Mr. McKay received his viola performance degrees from Louisiana State University (BM) and Indiana University (MM) and has twice been a fellow at the world renowned Tanglewood Arts Center. His primary teachers were Julian Wilkison, Jerzy Kosmala and Alan deVeritch, with additional instruction from Paul Neubauer and James Dunham.