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!”

Kansas City Ballet offers exceptional quality and a wide variety of repertory from renowned classics to exciting contemporary ballets. The company has a strong tradition of excellence, and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007-08 with prestigious invitations to perform at New York’s Joyce Theater and Kennedy Center’s Ballet Across America festival. The Village Voice calls Kansas City Ballet, “… a sleek little company with a strong repertory and 26 excellent dancers,” and the New York Post writes “… it’s a lively, stylish company, and we would welcome a return visit.” Kansas City Ballet’s home, the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity, in conjunction with their stage at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, is poised to make Kansas City AND Kansas City Ballet a true destination for dance. Devon Carney became Kansas City Ballet’s artistic director in July 2013. Please contact the company for current touring repertoire. Each booking includes community outreach, education activities, master classes, and lecture/demos that may be tailored for presenter needs.

KC Contemporary Dance has been voraciously creating and presenting fresh, exciting, contemporary dance since 2005. A professional non-profit dance company based in Kansas City, MO, KCCD presents high-quality dance performances in Kansas City and across the Midwest region. The company creates new work through the Artistic Director’s innovation and collaboration, and is committed to the continued experimentation of movement. In the 2020 season, KC Contemporary Dance strives to make the performing arts accessible to all through outreach and educational programs. KC Contemporary Dance is led by Artistic Director Leigh Murray and Associate Director Katie Metzger, and features 12-14 dancers from across the country. KCCD is available for workshops/lecture-demonstrations, master classes, informal and/or improvisational performances in non-traditional performance settings, formal theatre concerts, and residencies.

Juggling Jeff has been amazing audiences for over 15 years. Through stunts of silliness, stamina and bravery, he engages and enlightens. The Juggling Jeff Show is high-energy, fast-paced, comedic juggling show that includes danger, suspense, lots of audience interaction and a single magic trick! It’s great family entertainment that both kids and adults will enjoy. Jeff’s use of comedy and audience participation make him an audience favorite time and time again. Jeff’s programs, no matter if they are educating about the library, Shakespeare, Med-evil Jesters or simply entertaining, are perfect for almost any type of event both inside and outside.

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.