Rena Kraut

Director of the Saint Paul Chamber Music Competition

A professional musician and educator for the past 20 years, Dr. Rena Kraut regularly performs with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra. She has held teaching positions at several universities and colleges in the Midwest, directed educational workshops and chamber music seminars, led youth camps and competitions, and maintains a private teaching studio.

In 2016, Dr. Kraut founded Cuban American Youth Orchestra (CAYO), a non-profit organization which seeks to bring together Cuban and American musicians through education, cultural exchange, and performance opportunities. CAYO has developed and executed programming in both Minnesota and Cuba for students, citizens and teaching artists including small-group exchanges, chamber music residencies and large-scale orchestral tours.

Dr. Kraut holds degrees from Rice and the University of Minnesota as well as degrees in both music and English from Northwestern University.

Dr. Kraut has taught at The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music and directs the Saint Paul Chamber Music Competition.