Austin American-Statesman, David Mead

Dialogues of the Carmelites, April 2006

"This production's artistic center of gravity was conductor Garrett Keast, demonstrating Friday evening how a conductor's strong technique and right artistic sense draws the constituent efforts into focus, making the best use of what is right and minimizing what is not. He got artistically superb, if not flawless, playing from the orchestra."

News Times, Connecticut, Jan Stribula

Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, March 2007

"With Guest Conductor Garrett Keast, the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra was very good at putting new spins on some old numbers. Considering the limited rehearsal time Keast had for developing his ideas with the RSO, the performance was remarkable. Using strong energetic body language, Keast met the challenges amazingly well, bringing his own nuances to the old classics." "With unusual articulation and modulations in dynamics, Keast brought some boldness into fine-tuning the sound of the RSO. He seemed to enjoy breaking the mold, thinking outside the box, planning out every measure, and shaping the phrasing with his own fresh approach."

Austin American-Statesman, David Mead

Hansel and Gretel, October 2008

"Garrett Keast, conducting his third production at UT and a kind of principal guest conductor, draws a rich, full tone from the orchestra. Particularly on Friday evening, he was able to pull back into line players and singers who fell victim to opening night jitters."

Town-Crier News, Leonard Wechsler

Norma, March 2007

"Garrett Keast, one of America’s brightest young conductors, was the musical director of the production. He melded an exceptional group of musicians together into a marvelous orchestra. He took control during the overture, clearly demonstrating both his own and the orchestra’s extraordinary talents."

Howard Pollack, author of AARON COPLAND

Appalachian Spring, 1999

"[Congratulations] on a really beautiful performance. It is a warm and tender reading [of Appalachian Spring], absolutely fresh and honest; you've really captured the spirit of the piece. I love your sound and your phrasing. Bravo!"

Opera News, David Shengold

Boccaccio, 2002, Garrett Keast - Chorus Master

"The most impressive element of the production [was] Garrett Keast and Elaine Smith Purcell's well-prepared chorus."

Ridgefield Press, Courtenay Caublé

Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, March 2007

"Maestro Keast’s fine reading of the scores and excellent command of the orchestra would have pleased the younger [J.C.] Bach."

Palm Beach Post, Sharon McDaniel

Norma, March 2007

"In this second of two performances (Norma opened Wednesday), the turnaround began with the pitcher - in this case, guest conductor Garrett Keast. The buzz he created with the orchestra traveled throughout the auditorium. Keast especially set the course for the cast's three main guest stars. The company gave a spirited and well-groomed performance."

News Update: Best Opera Performance

Austin Critics Table, 2006

Under Garrett Keast's direction, the University of Texas Butler Opera Center production of Dialogues of the Carmelites, was crowned “Best Opera Performance” for the 2005-2006 Austin season.

Austin American-Statesman, Out and About Blog

Michael Barnes, April 2006

"Opera: I’ve employed too many superlatives in this space lately. I have an excuse. I continue to see things that are the best of their kinds. Most recent example: “Dialogues of the Carmelites” from the UT Butler Center — the best student opera I’ve ever witnessed. Poulenc’s score receives a honeyed treatment from conductor Garrett Keast (bring him back!), while this meditation on fear and redemption during the French Revolution from director — and Austin Arts Hall of Fame inductee — Robert DeSimone and super-designer Christopher McCollum fit the score and story closely."

Town-Crier News, Florida

Madama Butterfly, April 2003

"The fully-staged opera [was] performed by a professional cast and...chamber orchestra under the direction of talented conductor Garrett Keast... The music is beautiful and the performances are magnificent."