Join us for our 37th Season!
2023 – 2024 Season concerts
Now that Spring has sprung or at least is well on it’s way, we are planning and scheming for another wonderful and exciting season in 2023 – 2024 and can’t wait to tell you about it! While we can’t reveal all the secrets yet – we have a sneak peek and DATES for you!!
While you are dreaming of gardens and warm weather, we are dreaming of the wonderful choral and orchestra works at the holidays, Romantic strings and guitar or voice for Valentine’s, award winning exciting young pianists and new premieres, concertos and MORE! We promise you a magical season of the best we can offer YOU our insider music lovers – here’s the scoop so far:
Thursday, September 28, 2023 – Season Opener with award winning piano soloist
Sunday, October 8, 2023 – Free Community concert in the garden – Wornall House Gardens
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 – Holiday concert
Wednesday, February 14, 2024 – Valentine concert and Dinner Event
Thursday, May 2, 2024 – Season finale
Spring into Musical
Adventure!
Thursday, May 2, 2024
7:30 p.m. concert
Pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m
Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral
415 W 13th St, Kansas City, MO
Bruce Sorrell, conductor
Or call 816-960-1324 for tickets.
A thrilling and refreshing finale to the chamber orchestra season, and a gorgeous and cozy candlelight celebration! Spring from the Baroque roots of KCCO with another wonderful Bach Brandenburg concerto, and then take wing with spritely melodies and exciting arrangements for string orchestra. Champagne celebration to follow.
Program
An Irish Melody, Frank Bridge
Sinfonietta No. 2, “Generations”, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
Brandenburg No. 6, J.S. Bach
Sean Brumble and Duke Lee, soloists
Concerto Grosso in D Minor, H. 143 "La Folia", Francesco Geminiani
Nordic Suite, arr. Sørensen / Danish String Quartet
From the Maestro
Who doesn’t love the energetic, heartfelt, propulsive music of the Baroque era? We conclude the season with two great works from the era, including Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, a work suffused with the warm glow of the lower strings – violas, cellos, and bass. Also from the Baroque era is Geminiani’s “La Folia” Concerto Grosso in D Minor, based on a set of variations by Corelli.
Last season, we performed a work for strings by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson. This spring, we return to his music with the Sinfonietta No. 2, “Generations.” Equally at home in the worlds of jazz, dance, pop, film, television, and classical music, Perkinson studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and was an arranger for Marvin Gaye, Max Roach, and Harry Belafonte!
Folk music has always been a source of inspiration for composers, and two differing approaches will bring your spring alive, putting a lilt in your step and a smile in your heart. Frank Bridge sets the famous “Danny Boy” tune in his An Irish Melody from the early 20th century. And a century later, the Danish String Quartet enthralled the world with arrangements of the folk music from their native Scandinavia. Their Nordic Suite will bring the concert to a rousing conclusion!
Music from the Heart!
Dinner/Concert Event
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
6:30 p.m.
The Magnolia Brookside
624 E. 63rd Street, Kansas City, MO
Carolyn Watson, conductor
Let us serenade you at a cozy Valentine celebration! - A concert of gorgeous music by the KC Chamber Orchestra to warm your heart, preceded by a delicious three-course dinner and special entertainment. All followed by our signature Champagne Chocolate Celebration of desserts and a chance to greet musicians and soloists.
All seats reserved, tables from 2 to 6, and reservations will fill up fast. All tickets include three-course dinner, wine, dessert, special entertainment and KCCO concert. Our special Sweetheart package includes all above and special wine pairings from Cellar Rat, prime table seating, and special treats.
Conducted by Carolyn Watson, Principal Guest Conductor of the orchestra, the KCCO strings will excite lovers and lovers of music with the program below - a combination of beautiful melodies, virtuosity, dance suites and a legend about lovers of long ago!
Program
Angelica, Efrain Amaya
Rondo in A Major for Violin and Strings, Franz Schubert
Rena Ishii, soloist
Five Pieces for String Orchestra, Paul Hindemuth
Suite for Strings, Leoš Janacek
A Very Baroque Christmas
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
7:30 p.m.
Old Mission United Methodist Church
5519 State Park Road Fairway, KS 66205
Bruce Sorrell, conductor
Order tickets through Eventbrite!
Or call 816-960-1324 for tickets.
This concert is a rich tapestry of great Baroque music – a very Baroque Christmas! Bach’s Suite No. 3 is a celebration, with exciting trumpets and timpani. It will put you in a festive mood, whatever holiday you celebrate during the season of winter solstice. And the beautiful ‘Air’ in this suite is one of the most famous tunes ever composed.
Bach's 4th Brandenburg Concerto features the delight of 2 solo flutes and a truly exciting and virtuosic violin solo. Telemann’s concerto for the rich-sounding viola embodies the best of the era with aching, heartfelt slow movements, and excitingly rhythmic fast movements. These works give us a chance to highlight great soloists in the orchestra, violinist Anne-Marie Brown and violist Duke Lee.
After opening the season with Michi Wiancko's delightful arrangement of the La Folia variations, we turn to her again for another great setting, this time the Chaconne by Bach from his Partita No. 2 for solo violin arranged for string orchestra.
Music in the Garden
Sunday, October 8, 2023
6:00 p.m.
John Wornall House Museum
6115 Wornall Road, Kansas City
Carolyn Watson, conductor
5 p.m. Picnic Fare, Beer and Wine
from local KC Food Trucks!
6 p.m. Concert
We appreciate registration through Eventbrite to give us an idea of how many to prepare for, but plenty of room for walk-ins too!
Come early with chairs, blankets and an appetite! The program will include a selection of gorgeous string orchestra tunes, a symphony based on the Don Juan stories, and an exciting horn concerto by Mozart! Join the KCCO musicians and guest conductor Carolyn Watson as they bring you the
adventure of live music in the open air!
Season Ticket holders – we have reserved seats for you! Please register or call the office to let us know you will be coming to the concert. You may bring friends to join you. You can reach the office to reserve your seats by calling 816 960-1324.
Carolyn Watson
Program
Dabke, Kareem Roustom (b. 1971)
String Symphony no. 2 in D Major, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)
Allegro
Andante
Allegro vivace
Concerto no. 2 for Horn and Orchestra in E-flat Major, K. 417, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Allegro maestoso
Andante
Rondo
Symphony op. 12, no. 4 in D Minor, “La casa del diavolo,” G. 506, Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)
Andante sostenuto - Allegro assai
Andantino con moto
Andante sostenuto - Allegro con moto
Dabke by Kareem Roustom is based on a celebratory folk dance from Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. It's an energetic opener and a KCCO premiere! Mendelssohn composed his String Symphony no. 2 when he was twelve years old; it's in a classical style, in contrast with the romantic style he would later develop. Mozart's second Concerto for Horn in E-flat exhibits the composer's famous sense of humor. It's a charming and challenging showpiece for the horn. Boccherini's Symphony Op. 12, no. 4 is nicknamed "La casa del diavolo" because the final movement is an arrangement of a dance from Christoph Willibald Gluck's ballet Don Juan, or, The Stone Guest in which Don Juan is pulled down to Hell after refusing to repent for his life of debauchery.
Bach is Back! – And Mozart Too
Thursday, September 28, 2023
7:30 p.m.
Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral
Bruce Sorrell, conductor
Kuok-Wai Lio, pianist
We are so excited to begin the season with a blockbuster concert featuring two works for keyboard by two of the greatest European composers of the 18th century! Working in collaboration with the International Center for Music at Park University, Maestro Bruce Sorrell is thrilled to have award winning pianist Kuok-Wai Lio join the orchestra to perform both an amazing early Mozart concerto, and the incredible Bach Brandenburg 5 with the orchestra. What a treat it will be to hear both of these great works in one evening, interpreted by this young virtuoso.
Bruce Sorrell, Conductor
Kuok-Wai Lio, pianist
Program
La Follia Variations M. Wiancko/Geminiani
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 in D major J.S. Bach
Piano Concerto No.9 in E-flat major W.A. Mozart
More from the Maestro below:
Early in the 18th century, J.S. Bach completed his set of six Brandenburg Concertos, stunning in their variety and inventiveness. We have performed all of them several times over the past thirty-six seasons, but this will be the first time we have featured a modern piano as one of the solo instruments. The Fifth Brandenburg Concerto is renowned as a highly virtuosic and thrilling work for keyboard.
Equally important in the development of the keyboard concerto are the works by Mozart. Over fifty years after Bach’s achievement, Mozart began to revolutionize the piano concerto, imbuing them with drama, and haunting and beautiful melodies. This early concerto (Mozart was 21 when he wrote it) foreshadowed the compositional world of his later piano concertos.
The concert will open with a delightful arrangement by Michi Wiancko of Geminiani’s La Follia Variations. Wiancko riffs on the energy and style of the Baroque original, creating something fresh and utterly engaging.
2022 – 2023 Season concerts
Musical Pairings for Spring!
Friday, April 28, 2023
8:00 p.m.concert
Pre-concert talk at 7:00 p.m.
Old Mission United Methodist Church
5519 State Park Road
Fairway, Kansas
Bruce Sorrell, Conductor
%20MusicalPairings%20fb%20image%201200x630%20copy.jpg)
Our season finale concert celebrates spring with Mozart's amazing Sinfonia Concertante, Haydn's "Fire" Symphony No. 59, and more!
Great music, soloists and KC's beloved professional chamber orchestra come together to create the pairing of two iconic classical period works AND two amazing soloists, along with an exciting 20th century work for strings to celebrate the return of spring and the blockbuster ending to a wonderful season of concerts by KC's top instrumentalists.
Program
Sinfonietta No. 1 For Strings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson
Symphony No. 59 in A Major "Fire" . . . . . . . . .. . Haydn
Sinfonia Concertante . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . Mozart
Tamamo Gibbs and Christine Grossman, soloists
For the Love of Music
Valentine's Dinner / Concert Event
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
6:30 p.m.
The Magnolia - Brookside
624 E 63rd St, Kansas City, MO
Carolyn Watson, Conductor
Dinner entertainment by the Jeff Feeling Trio
Long a tradition with the KC Chamber Orchestra, our valentine to the city will feature gorgeous music for lovers and lovers of music! – and will include a concert along with our signature Champagne Chocolate Celebration, and a chance for attendees to greet our musicians and soloists.
Thank you to our partners for The Love of Music:
Program
Suite for Strings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Rutter
Lyric for Strings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G. Walker
Romance for Violin, Harp and String Orchestra . . . . . . A. Beach
Anne Marie Brown, Violin
INTERMISSION
Il Tramonto (The Sunset) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O. Respighi
Kelly Morel, Mezzo Soprano
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048 . . J.S. Bach
Carolyn Watson, Conductor
The House Without a Christmas Tree
Monday, December 5
7:30 p.m.
Gano Hall
William Jewell College
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
7:30 p.m.
pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m.
The Folly Theater
Bruce Sorrell, conductor
Bringing back the joy of the KCCO traditional holiday concert with a twist! This heartwarming opera by Ricky Ian Gordon brings to life the story of a family and a small town who find joy after loss. Appropriate for the whole family and a Midwest premiere!
Maestro Bruce Sorrell and up and coming young professional singers from the Graduate Artist Diploma program in Voice at William Jewell College will bring this great holiday tale to life with the orchestra. With program direction and mentorship by well known baritone Daniel Belcher and the savvy stage arts of Linda Ade Brand, this musical Christmas card will be a joy to behold.
Danny Belcher, baritone and Artist Diploma Program Director
Linda Ade Brand, Stage Director
Bruce Sorrell, Music Director
Virtuoso Pairings
Friday, November 4, 2022
7:30 p.m.
St. Mary's Episcopal Church
1307 Holmes Street
Kansas City, Missouri
Bruce Sorrell, conductor
Join the KC Chamber Orchestra as we feature two amazing award-winning soloists from Park University International Center for Music with the orchestra in a great Mozart concerto and thrilling Paganini, all under the direction of Maestro Bruce Sorrell – a triple virtuoso threat!
Experience Van Cliburn Finalist Ilya Schmukler’s artistry in his winning Mozart Concerto before he is presented at Carnegie Hall this December… and feel the emotion and virtuosity of Paganini performed by incredible violinist Ilkhom Mukhiddinov --all in a stunning candlelight performance!
Ilkhom Mukhiddinov, violinist
Ilya Shmukler, pianist
Music in the Garden
Sunday, October 9, 2022
6:00 p.m.
John Wornall House Museum
6115 Wornall Road, Kansas City
Carolyn Watson, conductor
Food Trucks, beer and wine at 5 p.m.
Concert at 6 p.m.
We appreciate registration through Eventbrite to give us an idea of how many to prepare for, but plenty of room for walk-ins too!
This free concert event in the beautiful gardens of the historic Wornall home is FREE for all ages and appropriate for families. Come early with chairs, blankets and an appetite - food trucks open at 5 p.m.! The program will include Mozart, Vivaldi and Piazzolla with exciting soloists, incredible tunes and some of the best players in town. Join the KCCO musicians and conductor Carolyn Watson as they bring great live music to Kansas City neighborhoods this fall!
Season Ticket holders – we have reserved seats for you! Please register or call the office to let us know you will be coming to the concert. You may bring friends to join you. You can reach the office to reserve your seats by calling 816 960-1324.
Carolyn Watson
Escape with Musical Pairings
Thursday, September 29, 2022
7:30 p.m.
Old Mission Methodist Church
Bruce Sorrell, Conductor
Join the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra as we launch a brand new season back at one of our favorite venues. Maestro Bruce Sorrell will “serenade” you with great musical pairings new and old to celebrate a full season back in the concert hall!
Don't miss the pairing of one of Haydn's most exciting symphonies, a great new work by one of the most important American composers of our time, and the lush, tuneful Serenade for Strings by Dvorak - perfect to revisit at this moment when beauty is so important.
Program
Entr’acte C. Shaw
Symphony No. 43 in E-flat Major “Mercury” F. J. Haydn
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Menuetto; Trio
IV. Finale: Allegro
~Intermission~
Serenade for Strings in E Major, Op. 22 A. Dvořák
I. Moderato
II. Tempo di Valse
III. Scherzo: Vivace
IV. Larghetto
V. Finale: Allegro vivace
Celebrate the Seasons
Friday, April 29, 2022
8:00 p.m.
Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral
415 W 13th St.
Kansas City, MO
The KCCO return to one of the most beloved and well known concertos for violin will be a blockbuster season finale featuring award winning young soloists from the International Center for Music, Park University! The 4 soloists were all mentored by founding concertmaster Ben Sayevich, and with a different violinist joining the orchestra for each season, the variety of sound will be truly exciting!
Bruce Sorrell, Conductor
Season Tickets will be available at the concert with Early Bird Pricing!
2021-2022 Season Concerts
For the Love of Music
Monday, February 14, 2022
6:30 p.m. Event start
7:30 p.m. Concert
Magnolia Brookside Event Space
624 E. 63rd Street
Kansas City, MO
What better way to warm up on a wintry night than with beautiful chamber music! Long a tradition with the KC Chamber Orchestra, our valentine to the city will feature gorgeous music for lovers and lovers of music! – AND will include a concert preceded by a cozy supper at the beautiful Magnolia venue in Brookside, and followed by our signature Champagne Chocolate Celebration*. Start your Valentine week off right with the KCCO!
The event includes reservations for an individual table for your party and special entertainment during dinner. (FULL EVENT is included for Season Ticket holders.)
Vaccination cards will be required for attendance. Masks are requested when entering or away from your table to keep everyone safe.
Tickets: $70, $45 (concert/dessert only), discounts for students and military
* Full event is dinner, concert and dessert/champagne. Option for concert and dessert/champagne only available on Eventbrite.
Program
Vaughan Williams, Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus
Richard Strauss, Duet-Concertino for clarinet and bassoon in F major, TrV 293
Jane Carl, clarinet and Eric Stomberg, bassoon
John Corigliano, Voyage (for string orchestra) (1976)
Mozart, Serenade No. 6 for Orchestra in D major, Serenata Notturna, K. 239
7:30 p.m.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
11 E 40th St, Kansas City, MO
Joyful Holidays
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Bringing back the joy of the KCCO traditional holiday concert of gorgeous classical music. A favorite Baroque violin concerto by Bach and the festive and exciting Pulcinella Suite by Stravinsky are joined by both old and new musings on the theme of peace: a beautiful Vivaldi motet for soprano, and Forrest Pierce's Jasmin Arrow Symphony. With the full chamber orchestra, great soloists and conductor Carolyn Watson, you can be sure it will be an evening of candlelit magic to warm your holidays.
Featuring: J.S. Bach – Violin Concerto in E Major , Tony DeMarco, violin soloist
A. Vivaldi – In nulla pax sincera, RV 630, Kayleigh Aytes, Soprano soloist
Forrest Pierce – Jasmin Arrow Symphony
I. Stravinsky -- Pulcinella Suite
and more!
Music in the Garden
Sunday, October 10, 2021
Concert at 6 p.m.
5 p.m. refreshments available from Urban Cafe and Touring Taps food trucks, providing food, beer, and wine
John Wornall House Museum
6115 Wornall Road, Kansas City
Please register for the event through Eventbrite.
Season Ticket holders – we have reserved seats for you! Please register or call the office to let us know you will be coming to the concert. You may bring friends to join you. You can reach the office to reserve your seats by calling 816 960-1324.
This one hour free concert in the beautiful gardens of the historic Wornall home is FREE for all ages and appropriate for families. Come early with chairs, blankets and an appetite! The program will include a selection of lively string orchestra tunes from Vivaldi and Purcell to exciting soloists and rousing dances by George Palmer. Join the KCCO musicians and conductor Carolyn Watson as they bring live music back to Kansas City this fall!
Urban Cafe and Touring Taps food trucks will be at the Wornall House from 5:00 on to provide picnic fare, wine, and local beers.
KC Celebrates Kenny Broberg
Presented by Park University and the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
7:00 p.m.
Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Helzberg Hall
In his first concert appearance since winning the coveted American Pianists Awards this summer, pianist Kenny Broberg will be celebrated by Kansas City audiences in a performance with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. This is your chance to experience the amazing artistry of this Park University graduate student here in KC at Helzberg Hall before he launches a career across the globe this fall. Featuring the gorgeous Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 and the fiery virtuosity of the Dante Sonata by Lizst, this is a concert not to be missed!
Click here to view more about the event and order tickets!
Or call 816 960-1324
Program
Kenny Broberg, Piano
Bruce Sorrell, Conductor
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 “Pathétique”
Nikolai Medtner: Fairy Tales Op. 20, No. 1; Op. 26, No. 2, 3
Frantz Liszt: Après une lecture du Dante – Fantasia Quasi Sonata
Kenny Broberg, Piano
Ludwig van Beethoven: Overture to “Egmont,” Op. 84
Kansas City Chamber Orchestra
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
Kansas Chamber Orchestra with Kenny Broberg, Piano
Kenny Broberg
2020-2021 Season Concerts
Playing in the Park
Saturday, June 26, 7:00 p.m.
Online – Zoom link will be provided for those who register
(and Season Ticket holders)
Premiere of the live concert recording of festive May 30 concert in the Lawrence Arts Center with intro and commentary.
Summer is here and the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra musicians want to come out and play! Celebrate the season with the gorgeous sounds of KC’s best string players as they come back together on stage at the Lawrence Arts Center. The live concert recording will showcase the KCCO strings and two amazing KU musicians: conductor Carolyn Watson and oboe soloist Margaret Marco — from Baroque tunes of Respighi and a joyous concerto by Vivaldi to the contemplative sounds of American composer John Corigliano and rousing dances by George Palmer.
Concert is FREE, please register to attend the Zoom premiere. Donations to the orchestra on the Eventbrite tickets page or here are greatly appreciated! Zoom link will be sent to those who register on or before June 26.
For the Love of Music
Saturday, March 13 (a live online experience on Zoom)
7:00 p.m.
Bringing the Music Home
Sunday, December 20 (a live online experience on Zoom)
7:00 p.m. (approximately an hour program)
A holiday virtual concert video of great performances, interviews, carols and more from the KC Chamber Orchestra, choir and guest soloists.
Cozy up to your fireplace and join us for a journey through great performances and holiday concert highlights with commentary by Music Director Bruce Sorrell, and guest interviews with Arnold Epley and folk singer Connie Dover. The orchestra is joined by Musica Vocale choral ensemble, award winning young pianist Kenny Broberg and more.
Beautiful violin, viola, cello and piano duo performances by some of our favorite musician couples in the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra
What better way to warm up on a wintry night than with beautiful chamber music by string duos! With a gorgeous variety of tunes and composers, some of our long term principal players are bringing you violin, viola, cello and piano performances by musical couples that live and play together! Banish a cold night or welcome the first whispers of spring with this great music, and get to know our players with short interviews and fun stories from their years with the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. Free to register, suggested donation greatly appreciated to support us continuing to Bring the Music Back!
Sunset Serenade
New date and location!
Sunday, November 8
Concert at 5:00 p.m.
Magnolia Brookside Event Space
624 E. 63rd Street, Kansas City, MO
Our postponed autumn celebration event is back with a new date! Although the weather will not allow us to be on the rooftops looking over the city, we will gather in a lovely indoor/outdoor climate-controlled venue in Brookside with plenty of room to spread out and relish the fall air as weather permits. This will be the final installment of our Bringing Back the Music series and a celebration of our musicians and hardworking staff.
Music paired with food and wines!
Wines by Cellar Rat Wine
and Food by Feasts of Fancy
Music in the Park
Sunday, September 20, 2020
Concert at 6:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m., gates open and food trucks
Ironwoods Park, Leawood, KS
A beautiful selection of lively string orchestra tunes will fill the air in this concert for all ages. Enjoy
this FREE outdoor event in the lovely Ironwoods Park Amphitheater. Grab food and beverage from
some of KC’s most popular food trucks beginning at 5 p.m.
Lawn chairs, blankets, and picnics welcome with plenty of room to spread out.
Music in the Garden
Sunday, October 11, 2020
Concert at 6 p.m.
5 p.m. refreshments available from food trucks
John Wornall House Museum
6145 Wornall Road, Kansas City
Set back time and an enjoy an old-fashioned evening of fun when the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra presents a free “Concert in the Garden" outdoors at the John Wornall House Museum.
This FREE family-friendly event will offer a sampling of classical favorites performed by local musicians with food and drink available for purchase from the Waffler and Touring Taps food trucks prior to the performance beginning at 5 p.m. Come early to find your spot – there is loads of room to distance and spread out in the gardens and lawn of this historic home.
A beautiful selection of lively string orchestra tunes and a Telemann Concerto with oboist Margaret Marco will float through the autumn air. Join your favorite KCCO players and guest conductor Carolyn Watson as we bring live music back to KC!
Lawn chairs, blankets, and picnics welcome with plenty of room to spread out.
Music in the Biergarten
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Concert 6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
310 W 79th St, Kansas City, MO 64114
Join the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and guest conductor Carolyn Watson for an evening of music and craft bier in the Biergarten at KC Bier Co. in Waldo! Come early to grab a good spot and enjoy a selection of authentic German-style bier, brats, pretzels and sides. Soft drinks and kids snacks available too.