Media Contact:  Jeff Barker   (816) 218-2626   jbarker@kcsymphony.org

Kansas City Symphony announces its 2021/22 Season

Subscriptions available now for Classical, Pops & Family Series, plus Holiday Concerts and Special Presentations

KANSAS CITY, Mo. | June 2, 2021 — The Kansas City Symphony announced its 2021/22 concert season today, returning to the stage in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts with in-person audiences and full capacity this September. Current season subscribers have until July 15, 2021 to renew or upgrade their existing subscription, and persons wanting to subscribe for the first time may now choose any unsubscribed seats.

“We’ve missed performing in Helzberg Hall in front of live audiences so much” said Executive Director Danny Beckley. “There is a spark that happens when musicians perform before a live audience. You can see and hear our musicians’ passion. And we see on your face how the music makes you feel. It’s a unique connection unlike any other, something we crave, something we are all ready to experience again. We’ve programmed a season full of unique and special moments. We’ll be joined by an exciting group of guest conductors and soloists, we’ll feature world premieres and commissions, plus some of the greatest classical pieces ever written, including Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony and Beethoven’s Ninth performed with the Kansas City Symphony Chorus.”

Music Director Michael Stern adds, “The need for healing that comes through music and community is important like never before. I believe we are about to begin a great new chapter — because of the resilience and dedication of our extraordinary musicians and staff, the steady and confident leadership of our Board of Directors, and all of you who understand how special a place Kansas City is. Welcoming full audiences back to Helzberg Hall will be emotional for all of us. Ever since my first concert here in 2005, my goal was always to build something of real meaning for music and for Kansas City, and to strive for something higher. I cannot wait to see you all at our concerts again in this exciting new season. I feel as energized now as I did when I first arrived, and I know that feeling is only going to get stronger.”

CLASSICAL SERIES PROGRAMS

September 24-26, 2021
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN  Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus
GABRIEL KAHANE  Piano Concerto (world premiere, Kansas City Symphony co-commission)
GUSTAV MAHLER  Symphony No. 1, “Titan”
Michael Stern, conductor
Jeffrey Kahane, piano

October 29-31, 2021
STUART MURRAY TURNBULL  Odyssey (world premiere)
MAX BRUCH  Violin Concerto No.1
JOHANNES BRAHMS  Symphony No. 1
Michael Stern, conductor
Randall Goosby, violin

November 5-7, 2021
FLORENCE PRICE  The Oak
RICHARD STRAUSS  Burleske in D Minor
NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV  Scheherazade
Peter Oundjian, guest conductor
Janice Carissa, piano

November 26-28, 2021
SAMUEL BARBER  Essay No.2
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN  Piano Concerto No. 4
ROBERT SCHUMANN  Symphony No. 3, “Rhenish”
Johannes Debus, guest conductor 
Eric Lu, piano

January 14-16, 2022
WILLIAM GRANT STILL  Poem for Orchestra
GEORGE GERSHWIN  Piano Concerto in F
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH  Symphony No. 5
Joshua Weilerstein, guest conductor
Jon Kimura Parker, piano

January 28-30, 2022
RICHARD STRAUSS  Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration)
JOEL THOMPSON  New work (Kansas City Symphony co-commission)
SERGEI PROKOFIEV  Violin Concerto No. 2
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN  Leonore Overture No. 3
Michael Stern, conductor
Vadim Gluzman, violin

February 4-6, 2022
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK  Othello Overture
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY  Variations on a Rococo Theme
SERGEI PROKOFIEV  Symphony No. 5
Eduardo Strausser, guest conductor
Zlatomir Fung, cello

March 4-6, 2022
HENRY PURCELL/BENJAMIN BRITTEN  Chacony in G Minor
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART  Piano Concerto No. 24
EDWARD ELGAR  Symphony No. 1
Michael Francis, guest conductor
Martina Filjak, piano

March 25-27, 2022
ANNA CLYNE  This Midnight Hour
CLAUDE DEBUSSY  La mer
JOHANNES BRAHMS  Violin Concerto
Michael Stern, conductor
Midori, violin

April 1-3, 2022
JOAN TOWER  Tambor
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART  Clarinet Concerto
IGOR STRAVINSKY  Pétrouchka, 1947 revision
Christian Reif, guest conductor
Raymond Santos, principal clarinet, Bill and Peggy Lyons Chair

April 22-24, 2022
AARON COPLAND  El Salón México
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF  Piano Concerto No. 4
ZOLTÁN KODÁLY  Dances of Galánta
BÉLA BARTÓK  Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin
Paolo Bortolameolli, guest conductor
Conrad Tao, piano

June 3-5, 2022
MAURICE RAVEL  Mother Goose Suite
CHRIS ROGERSON  Violin Concerto (world premiere, Kansas City Symphony co-commission)
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS  Symphony No. 3, “Organ”
Gemma New, guest conductor
Benjamin Beilman, violin
Jan Kraybill, organ

June 17-19, 2022
LILI BOULANGER  D’un matin de printemps
JEAN SIBELIUS  Violin Concerto
PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY  Suite from The Sleeping Beauty
Ryan Bancroft, guest conductor
Augustin Hadelich, violin

June 24-26, 2022
GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL  “Zadok the Priest,” Coronation Anthem No. 1
JESSIE MONTGOMERY  Piano Concerto (Kansas City Symphony co-commission)
LUDVIG VAN BEETHOVEN  Symphony No. 9, “Choral”
Michael Stern, conductor
Awadagin Pratt, piano
Kansas City Symphony Chorus, Charles Bruffy, chorus director
Caitlin Lynch, soprano
Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano
Derrek Stark, tenor

 

POPS SERIES PROGRAMS

October 22-24, 2021
THE MUSIC OF JOHN WILLIAMS
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor

January 7-9, 2022
REVOLUTION: THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES – A SYMPHONIC EXPERIENCE
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor

April 7-9, 2022
FRANK AND ELLA, TOGETHER AGAIN
Jack Everly, guest conductor
Capathia Jenkins, vocalist
Tony DeSare, vocalist

May 20-22, 2022
Windborne’s THE MUSIC OF QUEEN
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor
Brody Dolyniuk, vocalist

 

FAMILY SERIES PROGRAMS

Sunday, October 3, 2021
HALLOWEEN SYMPHONY SPOOKTACULAR!
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor

Sunday, November 21, 2021
THE COMPOSER IS DEAD AND OTHER MUSICAL MYSTERIES
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor

Sunday, December 19, 2021
CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor
Kansas City Symphony Chorus, Charles Bruffy, chorus director
Ashley Brown, vocalist

Sunday, March 13, 2022
BUCKETS N BOARDS
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor
Matt Levingston, entertainer
Gareth Sever, entertainer

 

HOLIDAY CONCERTS

December 10-12, 2021
HANDEL’S MESSIAH
Patrick Dupré Quigley, guest conductor
Kansas City Symphony Chorus, Charles Bruffy, chorus director

December 16-19, 2021
CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor
Kansas City Symphony Chorus, Charles Bruffy, chorus director
Ashley Brown, vocalist

December 22-24, 2021
HOME ALONE: Film + Live Orchestra
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor

 

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

January 20-23, 2022
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX™ IN CONCERT: Film + Live Orchestra
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 20-22, 2022 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, January 23, 2022 at 2 p.m.
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor

February 10-13, 2022
STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI™ IN CONCERT: Film + Live Orchestra
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 10-12, 2022 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, February 13, 2022 at 1 p.m.
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor

April 12-14, 2022
ABBA THE CONCERT: A TRIBUTE TO ABBA
Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor

June 9-10, 2022
Windborne’s THE MUSIC OF THE ROLLING STONES: MICK JAGGER & KEITH RICHARDS 1969
Brent Havens, guest conductor
Tony Vincent, vocalist

 

More information about these concerts, including times, prices and how to subscribe, is available at the Kansas City Symphony’s website, kcsymphony.org, or by calling the Symphony Box Office at (816) 471-0400, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

To renew your existing season subscription seats, CLICK HERE.

To order new season subscription seats, CLICK HERE.

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About the Kansas City Symphony

Founded in 1982, the Kansas City Symphony has established itself as a major force in the cultural life of the community. Praised for performances of uncompromising standard, the orchestra is the largest in the region and enjoys a national reputation under the artistic leadership of Music Director Michael Stern. The Symphony performs more than 130 concerts each year, welcomes guests of international acclaim as part of its Classical and Pops series, and serves as the orchestra for the Kansas City Ballet and Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Complementing its full schedule of concerts, the Symphony enriches the lives of Kansas City residents by providing music education opportunities for children and adults, such as KinderKonzerts, Young People’s Concerts, an instrument petting zoo and concert comments. Highlights each season include a range of free master classes, events and concerts reaching more than 250,000 community members.

The Symphony has released nine highly praised CDs to date with Reference Recordings. The latest release features One Movement Symphonies of Samuel Barber, Jean Sibelius and Alexander Scriabin. The Symphony and Michael Stern also have recorded for the Naxos label. Kansas City’s new classical music radio station, 91.9 ClassicalKC, broadcasts Kansas City Symphony performances each week. For more information on the Symphony, please visit kcsymphony.org.