Welcome to Forte!
A Kansas City Symphony Young Professional Event.
The 2026 theme is Melody in the Margins. Surround yourself with other Kansas City young professionals as we journey through the lost library of music, food, and drinks at the historic Shirley Bush Helzberg Symphony House. The performance spaces will be reimagined with your favorite genres of classical literature, such as “Regency”, “Greek Mythology”, “Mystery”, and “Fairytales”. You do not want to miss out!
Forte was created to encourage Kansas City young professionals to personally engage with the Symphony and its musicians. This yearly event is a musical and tasting experience featuring local restaurants, breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Young professionals will have the unique opportunity to travel room to room and floor to floor while also enjoying an intimate evening of beautiful music performed by your Kansas City Symphony Musicians. There is nothing like it in Kansas City!
Learn more about our available sponsorship packages
Follow us @fortekcs on Instagram for the latest Forte 2026 updates and other fun young professional events with the Kansas City Symphony.
Forte 2026
September 24
5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Shirley Bush Helzberg Symphony House
1644 Wyandotte 64108
- Restless Spirits
- Union Horse Distilling
- KC Bier
- Alice Scooper’s Ice Cream
- Sugar & Sky Cotton Candy
- The Olive Branch Co.
- Beer Kitchen
- Lulu’s Thai Noodles
- Atomic Cowboy
- Taco Naco
- Fannie’s West African Cuisine
- Union on the Hill Restaurant
- Wandering Vine
- Of Course Kitchen and Company
- Casa Ama
The Enchanted Forest Performance Space
- Chai Lee – Harp
- Ayrton Pisco – Violin
- Duke Lee – Viola
- Jen Richison – Viola
- Raymond Santos – Clarinet
The Evidence Performance Space
- TK DeWitt – Bassoon
- John Klinghammer – Bass Clarinet
- Evan Halloin – Double Bass
The Regency Performance Space
- Alex Lombo – Flute
- Carter Coleman – Violin
- Duncan Steele – Viola
- Sally Kim – Cello
The Ancient Ruins Performance Space
- Joon Park – Trumpet
- Julian Kaplan – Trumpet
- Liz Gray – Horn
- Wyatt Henderson – Trombone
- Joe Maiocco – Bass Trombone
Thank you to our wonderful Forte Committee!
Thank you to our generous 2025 Sponsors and Support
Principal
Associate Principal
Section Players
Stage Manager
AM CPA
Amos Family Funeral Home
Argana Investments, LLC
Artisan Financial Planning
Bretz Law Firm
BRR Architecture
CB Construction Services
Foulston Siefkin, LLP
Garmin
Global Ground Support, LLC
Heavenly Homes Team Real Estate
Katie Grimes, Cross Country Mortgage
Kembell Woods & Martinsen, LLP
Lockton/Tracy Musolf
Merrill Lynch/David Vosey
Metcalf Auto Plaza
Michelle B. Deutch DDS
No Coast Real Estate
Payne & Jones, Chartered
Tim Deves, Edward Jones
Travois
Individual Supporters
Amy and John Ruo
Bill and Peggy Lyons
Briana Cowell
Brian and Celeste Roggy
Deann and Jesse Elmore
Kristen and Quinton Huffman
Lisa Choules and Dr. John May
Mark Laverentz
Marney Family
Moore Family
Randy and Kelly Huffman
Sara Elmore and Jared Ayers
Scott and McKenzie Carroll
Shelly Freeman and Kimberly Jones
Steven and Megan Gohlke
Summer and Jack Treas
Toni Ruo
See all 2025 Forte photos here: