Kantorei of Kansas City (Kantorei KC) performs mainly contemporary, baroque, and renaissance choral pieces which are rarely performed in Missouri. The choir, ranging between 12 and 18 singers, performed at the 2019 American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) National Convention. Its most recent recording, To Bethlehem in 2016, received critical acclaim in Europe and North America; it was The Guardian (UK)’s top pick for “New Christmas Album” that year.

The Kansas City Symphony is rapidly gaining recognition for its virtuosic performances and imaginative programming. The Symphony performs regularly in communities throughout the region and is committed to bringing the joy of music to the broadest possible audience. Tour performances can be customized for your location and budget, ranging from the full 80-musician orchestra to a 40-musician chamber orchestra. Tour performances may be accompanied by community outreach events, master classes, educational programs, and small-ensemble performances. The Kansas City Symphony is a vibrant orchestra, brilliantly performing masterworks to critical acclaim.

The Kansas City Chorale, founded in 1982, is a professional vocal ensemble that enriches local, national, and international communities through its dedication to excellence in performing music from diverse historical periods. Along with the Phoenix Chorale, the Kansas City Chorale is the first North American choir to record for Chandos Records, having made its first appearance on the label in 2006 with Eternal Rest. Their second CD, Grechaninov’s Passion Week, was released in 2007 and received Grammy® nominations in four categories, including Best Classical Album, Best Choral Performance, Best Surround Sound Album, and won a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Classical, in 2008. Also in 2008, the choir’s third joint recording with the Phoenix Chorale, a disc of sacred choral works by Josef Rheinberger, was released and received Grammy nominations for Best Choral Performance and Best Surround Sound Album. The Chorale’s latest album, Life & Breath, Choral Music of René Clausen, will release June 1, 2012. Audiences around the globe have enjoyed the sounds of the Kansas City Chorale through recordings and radio broadcasts. In 2009, the Chorale performed in South Korea at the Incheon Choral Festival, and also that year, made its New York debut, with the Phoenix Chorale, in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. The New York Times referred to the choirs’ “refined sound and elegant phrasing” as well as its “vivid intensity,” and praised the performance for its “buoyant pulse and energetic finesse.”

Kansas City Celtic Pipes & Drums features the Great Highland Bagpipes and Scottish Drums. Led by Pipe-Major Kevin Gilstrap, the band strives for musical excellence, whether at a concert, convocation or parade! “The energy shot through the sky!” “What a memorable day for so many people.” “We just can’t describe to you the WOW factor!”

Judy Domeny Bowen is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable performer of traditional Ozark ballads, contemporary folk music, farm songs, and original songs written especially for teachers. Perfect for community concerts, festivals, and school and library presentations, Judy enthralls audiences of all ages with her songs, witty rapport, distinctively clear voice (read this–you can really understand her words!), and solid guitar playing. Senior citizens thrill to hear songs such as Red Wing, The Strawberry Roan, and The Letter Edged in Black from their childhoods once again. Children and adults love the stories and imagery within her songs. Judy’s extensive repertoire includes ballads dating back to the 1300’s, pioneer songs from the 1800’s, popular Ozark songs of the early 1900’s, cowboy songs, Civil War songs, farm songs, and original songs about being a schoolteacher. Specialty programs include Songs Mama Sang, Life on the Farm, Folk Music for Children, So You Want to Be a Teacher, and Legends of the Nativity. Judy’s clarity, warmth, good humor and spontaneity wins the audience over every time!

A life-long passion for the American West and music has taken Johnny Kendrick around the nation to share his art and knowledge. Respected for his music and scholarly abilities, his fascination with cowboys and their stories led to his developing a program tracing the history of the west through its music using traditional songs, through movie-era cowboys to contemporary performance. Besides appearances at cowboy events such as Echoes of the Trail and the Colorado Cowboy Poetry Gathering, his interests extend to early country music and he can structure programs revolving around the music and life of Jimmie Rodgers and other old-time and western swing musicians.

The Jim Widner Big Band is a 17 piece Jazz Orchestra playing music in the styles of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, and Maynard Ferguson, yet with a distinct sound and style all of their own. The band is comprised of former members from the bands of Stan Kenton, Woody Herman,  Maynard Ferguson and others. It  has recorded six critically acclaimed CD’s some of which can be heard digitally on Spotify, Pandora and You Tube. They have also performed with artists such as Clark Terry, Louie Bellson, Buddy DeFranco, John Pizzarelli, Marilyn Maye, Steve Lippia, and Lou Marini.  The band’s recording of “CARAVAN” served as a catalyst to the movie “WHIPLASH“. Celebrating their 33rd anniversary, The Jim Widner Big Band has established itself in an educational setting, presenting concerts, clinics, festivals and summer jazz camps.

With meandering roots from the Missouri Ozarks all the way to Tubingen, Germany, Ironweed brings you only the finest in bluegrass, vintage country and good ol’ hillbilly twang. The band features champion, Kelly Jones on fiddle, Joe Wieneman on mandolin, Jane Accurso on guitar and lead vocals, Dierik Leonhard on banjo, and Matt Bossaller on upright, slap bass. From Jimmy Martin to Hazel Dickens, you can expect a bucketful of tunes about trains, moonshine, dirt, heartache, pigs and girls named Sophronie. Ironweed is available for festivals, sidewalk gigs, parades, dances, school events, workshops and just about any sort of celebration you’re itchin’ to do.

The Intercultural Music Initiative is an innovative concert and educational outreach program featuring classical and contemporary works by composers of African, Hispanic and Asian-descent, along with standard repertoire. Our programs offer a unique concert experience and help integrate new musical works by lesser-known composers into existing performance repertoire. Concerts, Lectures, Lecture-recitals and short-term artist residencies are customized to fit your departmental budget.