03/09/2026
It is with great sadness that the UCA Department of Music announces the passing of Dr. Kay Kraeft, former Professor of Voice at UCA.
Dr. Kay Kraeft passed away on March 3, 2026, in Conway, Arkansas. Born on November 8, 1937, in Madison, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of Evelyn & Armin Kraeft. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Linda Kraeft of Pewaukee, Wisconsin.
Dr. Kraeft studied voice at Lawrence University and received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance from Indiana University. Her specialty was opera performance. After college, she went to New York City to audition for opera companies, but decided that vocal teaching was her passion. She was a professor of voice at Avery University of Virginia, the University of Alabama, and for over 20 years at the University of Central Arkansas.
While at UCA, Dr. Kraeft accomplished many major projects. In 1983 she established the Petit Jean International Art Song Festival, bringing in national and international artists and composers such as Phyllis Bryn-Julson, John Stewart, Tomas Grubb, Diana Walker, Michael Rickman, Jeorge Jellinek (well-known host of WQXR) and composers Libby Larsen, Lori Laitman, and Ned Rorem. She also distinguished herself by receiving a Fulbright Scholarship to teach at the Bolivian National Conservatory in La Paz, Bolivia. This residency led to a lifetime of trips to Bolivia for various purposes. She also wrote a Fulbright Grant to bring Bolivian Baritone, Ricardo Estrada, for a teaching residency at UCA in 1999. Following this, Dr. Kraeft became an active member of the Arkansas-East Bolivia Partners of the Americas, an organization whose mission is to “connect people and organizations across borders to serve and change lives through lasting partnerships.” Inspired by President Kennedy and founded in 1964, Partners of the Americas is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that links Arkansas and Bolivia. Dr. Kraeft was able to receive some travel funding over the years; however, she continued to support much of her travel and operating costs from her own funds.
Dr. Kraeft’s trips resulted in the discovery of numerous musicians who are the young musical leaders of Bolivia. These are national level players who she identified and brought to the attention of UCA music faculty. Often these students have wanted to pursue acceptance into quality music programs, yet the opportunities for advanced study do not exist in Bolivia. Working with her Bolivian partners, Dr. Kraeft actively recruited scores of students to the University of Central Arkansas Department of Music. While here, these students, in addition to studying music, enrich the lives of faculty and staff, and contribute to the community through participating in church music and the Conway Symphony Orchestra. For her tremendous work in teaching, traveling, and impacting the community through her endeavors, Dr. Kraeft was presented the Mayor’s Award for Community Advocate of the Arts. The award was presented at the 2016 Conway Alliance for The Arts awards ceremony.
Dr. Kraeft traveled to Bolivia with Maestro Israel Getzov, conductor of the Conway Symphony Orchestra and professor at UCA. While there, Getzov made numerous presentations and conducted a high profile concert with Encuentros Jovenes Musicas Bolivianos Festival. He was also exposed to Dr. Kraeft’s widespread influence. “Kay Kraeft is a music institution in Bolivia. Literally every musician I met knew of Kay Kraeft. Her 20 years of building musical bridges and serving as a vocal teacher in the country created an amazing contribution to musical society. It was an honor to be introduced to her network . . .”
On top of her recruiting efforts, Dr. Kraeft kept in contact with students once they were in Conway. She was an advocate for their well-being and helped them to find appropriate housing, jobs, and everyday resources. At any given time, she had students renting a room from her in her West Conway home. Students paid very little, and in exchange, they were able to pool resources for food and transportation. The bond between Dr. Kraeft and the students was wonderful to see. Students often accompanied her to concerts, church, and other events, and the number of Bolivian students studying at UCA continues to increase to this day. They are all especially grateful to Dr. Kraeft who initiated their experiences.
In retirement, Dr. Kraeft formed the “Songs Unlimited Foundation‘ for the purpose of hosting song festivals. She hosted two festivals at UCA, “Music of the Americas” and “Songs for Remembrance and Peace.” These events brought artists from across the U. S., South America, and the Caribbean to present recitals, lectures and concerts featuring song literature from around the world.
Information about a memorial service will be available at a later date. Donations will be accepted to the Arkansas-East Bolivia Partners of the Americas Kay Kraeft Music Scholarship for Bolivian music students attending the University of Central Arkansas, https://givebutter.com/YInPup or to UCA Friends of Music.
