Kansas City Symphony facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kansas City Symphony (KCS) |
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| Orchestra | |
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| Founded | 1982–present |
| Concert hall | Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts |
| Principal conductor | Michael Stern |
The Kansas City Symphony (KCS) is a famous orchestra in the United States. It is based in Kansas City, Missouri. The main conductor, also called the music director, is Michael Stern. The Symphony plays its concerts at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, which is a beautiful building at 1601 Broadway Boulevard.
Contents
The Symphony's Story: How It Started
Kansas City has had a few symphony orchestras over the years. The very first one was formed in 1911. But it stopped playing when World War I began because many musicians went to war. Later, another orchestra called the Kansas City Philharmonic started in 1933. It played for many years but stopped in 1982.
Just a few months later, a kind businessman named R. Crosby Kemper, Jr. decided that Kansas City needed a new symphony orchestra. He was a philanthropist, which means he loved to help people and good causes, often by giving money. So, he started the Kansas City Symphony in 1982.
Mr. Kemper asked other important people from Kansas City to help. These included Donald J. Hall, Sr., who led Hallmark Cards, and Henry W. Bloch, who helped start H&R Block. Together, they created a special fund of money, called an endowment, to help the Symphony get started and keep going. They also set up the Symphony's main goal: to share and support classical music so it can make the community better.
In 2002, the Kansas City Symphony helped create something cool called the Concert Companion. This was a special device that helped people learn about the music they were hearing during a concert. It was tested by the Kansas City Symphony and other big orchestras like the New York Philharmonic.
The Symphony used to play at the Lyric Theatre. But in September 2011, they moved to their amazing new home: Helzberg Hall, which is inside the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
The Kansas City Symphony Today
The Kansas City Symphony has 80 full-time musicians. All of them live in the Kansas City area. Each year, they have a long season of 42 weeks. During this time, they play many different kinds of concerts:
- Concerts for people who buy tickets for a whole series (subscription concerts).
- Special concerts for students and schools (educational concerts).
- Concerts in different cities and even other states (regional and national tours).
- Free concerts for everyone in the community (public outreach concerts).
The Symphony also plays music for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and the Kansas City Ballet. This means they help bring operas and ballets to life with their music!
The Symphony gets support from many people and groups. Besides ticket sales and donations, four special groups help raise money. They raise over $1,000,000 every year! Some of their fun events include:
- The Jewel Ball, a big fancy dance that also helps the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
- The Symphony Ball, another special event.
- The Designers' Showhouse, where a historic home is decorated by designers.
The Symphony has also made many recordings. Their first CD, American Voices, came out in 1995. They have released other CDs, including Gordon Chin's Formosa Seasons and music by famous composers like Britten and Vaughan Williams.
You can also hear the Symphony on the radio! Every week during their season, KCUR-FM broadcasts highlights from their performances. They have also been on national TV shows from PBS.
Meet the Music Directors
The music director is like the leader of the orchestra. They choose the music and guide the musicians during performances. Here are the people who have been the main music directors for the Kansas City Symphony:
- 2004–present: Michael Stern
- 1999–2003: Anne Manson
- 1986–1997: William McGlaughlin
- 1982–1986: Russell Patterson
Images for kids
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The Kansas City Symphony plays music for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone live.
