Kris Duke is a 17 year old soon-to-be senior at Reynolds High School where he is principal cello under the direction of Ben Brooks.  Kris started playing cello at the age of nine with Lorely Zgonc.  A year later, he started studying with Connie Lorimor privately.  After years of success with Ms. Lorimor, Kris began studying with Jane Day.  In 2008, Kris went on to study with Hamilton Cheifetz, whom he currently studies with, at Portland State University.  He has been selected by both Day and Cheifetz to perform at the Oregon Cello Society's Student recital numerous times over the years.  In 2008, Kris was selected to perform in the OMEA All-State Orchestra where he served as fifth chair.  In 2009, he was again selected to perform in the All-State Orchestra and was also chosen to play in the MENC All-Northwest Orchestra where he served as third chair in both.  Kris was chosen to perform at the OSAA State Solo Contest in both 2008 and 2009 where he placed 9th and 3rd respectively.   He made his concerto debut in 2008, playing the third movement of the Saint-Saens Cello Concerto with Mt. Hood Pops Orchestra.  Kris also played the first movement of Dmitri Kabalevsky's Cello Concerto No. 1 in G Minor with the Chelahem Symphony under the baton of Ben Brooks in April of 2009.  Kris one day dreams of going to a major music conservatory and becoming a professional musician.