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KC Symphony Board of Directors
Founded by R. Crosby Kemper, Jr.† in 1982
Board of Trustees established in 1983
Officers
Linda Gill Taylor, Chair
Kenneth V. Hager, Vice Chair & Secretary/Treasurer
Timothy P. Cook, Vice Chair
Michael M. Gentry, Vice Chair
Jeff Hargroves, Vice Chair
Marny Sherman, Vice Chair
Directors
Dr. Scott S. Boswell Sr.
Grant Burcham
Susan Chambers
Elizabeth Gray
Scott Hughes
Bebe Kemper Hunt
Julian Kaplan
Susan Newburger
Joseph Nuñez
Willy F. Pegues IV
Andy Pence
Linda S. Stevens
Patrick A. Valadez
Jesse Yukimura
Ex Officio
Shirley Bush Helzberg, Chair Emerita
Daniel E. Beckley, President and CEO
Past Board Chairs
Paul H. Henson† 1983-85
R. Crosby Kemper, Jr.† 1985-87
Paul H. Henson† 1987-88
George E. Powell, Jr.† 1988-90
David W. Hunerberg 1990-95
Shirley Bush Helzberg 1995-2013
William M. Lyons 2013-19
Patrick McCown 2019-23
† In memoriam
Founding Directors
In memoriam
Henry W. Bloch
William N. Deramus III
George C. Dillon
James H. Hale
Donald J. Hall
Paul H. Henson
R. Crosby Kemper, Jr.
George E. Powell, Jr.
George A. Russell
Richard H. Spencer
Richard J. Stern
Foundation Board of Directors
Christine Kemper, President
Julia Irene Dennie-Kauffman, Vice President
Russell W. Baker, Jr., Secretary/Treasurer
Emily Hill
David Powell
Chris Schumm
Linda S. Stevens, Auxiliary Representative
Lori Feek, Foundation Coordinator
KC Symphony Staff
Executive
Danny Beckley, President and CEO
Young Young Wang, Assistant to the President
AJ Harbison, Content Developer and Executive Support Specialist
Production
Ben Motter, Chief Production Officer
Kate Breytspraak, Director of Artistic Administration
Stephanie Brimhall, Director of Education and Community Engagement
Justin White, Director of Orchestra Personnel
Elena Collins, Assistant Personnel Manager
Jenna Dolinger, Production Manager
Jackie Esquivel, Orchestra Operations Assistant
Annie McPherson, Artist Liaison and Assistant to the Music Director
Tyler Miller, Stage Manager
Patrick Chamberlain, Artistic Advisor
Patrice Sollenberger, Assistant Chorus Director
Development
Eva James Toia, Chief Development Officer
Daniel Morel, Associate Director of Development
Nathan Shields, Manager of Leadership Giving
Roslinde Rivera, Annual Fund Manager
Mark Laverentz, Manager of Corporate Partnerships
Marcy Osburn, Donor Information Specialist
Katie Jenkins, Donor Engagement and Events Associate
Nora Kerwin, Development Operations Associate
Xavier Bowling, Special Projects Coordinator
Finance and HR
Sara Lohe, Chief Financial Officer
Katy Koepke, Accounting Manager
Toni Stock, Senior Accountant
Marketing and Sales
Julius Lai, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer
Hannah Goodwin, Digital Marketing Manager
Box Office
Stephen Borodkin, Manager of Ticketing Services
Sarah Martin, Assistant Manager of Ticketing Services
Adeca Chareunsab, Customer Relations Representative
Jacob Bross, Customer Relations Representative
Catherine Cone, Customer Relations Representative
Joanna Ehlers, Customer Relations Representative
William Landon, Customer Relations Representative
Evan Nelson, Customer Relations Representative
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KC Symphony Orchestra Roster
MATTHIAS PINTSCHER, MUSIC DIRECTOR
FIRST VIOLINS
Jun Iwasaki, Concertmaster
Miller Nichols Chair
Stirling Trent, Associate Concertmaster
Sunho Kim, Assistant Concertmaster
Anne-Marie Brown
Michael Brown
Betty Chen
Anthony DeMarco
Susan Goldenberg*
Tomoko Iguchi
Dorris Dai Janssen
Filip Lazovski∆
Chiafei Lin
Vladimir Rykov
Alex Shum*
SECOND VIOLINS
Tamamo Someya Gibbs, Principal
Carter Coleman, Associate Principal
Kristin Velicer, Assistant Principal
Minhye Helena Choi
Samuel Frois∆
Mary Garcia Grant
Kazato Inouye
Rena Ishii
Paul Kim
Stephanie Larsen
Jinyou Lee‡
Sodam Lim
Ayrton Pisco
VIOLAS
MingYu Hsu, Principal
Duncan Steele, Associate Principal
Jessica Nance, Assistant Principal
Kent Brauninger
Sean Brumble
Marvin Gruenbaum
Jenifer Houck
Duke Lee
Jesse Yukimura
CELLOS
Mark Gibbs, Principal
Robert A. Kipp Chair
Susie Yang, Associate Principal
Richard Hill Chair
Alexander East, Assistant Principal
Maria Crosby
John Eadie
Lawrence Figg
Sally Kim
Meredith McCook
Allen Probus
DOUBLE BASSES
Evan Halloin, Acting Principal
Richard Ryan, Acting Associate Principal
Nils Aardahl
Lena Goodson∆
Joseph Nuñez
Keith Wymer∆
FLUTES
Michael Gordon, Principal
Marylou and John Dodds Turner Chair
Shannon Finney, Associate Principal
Liz Teplitsky∆
PICCOLO
Liz Teplitsky∆
OBOES
Kristina Fulton, Principal
Shirley Bush Helzberg Chair
Alison Chung, Associate Principal
Matthew Lengas
ENGLISH HORN
Matthew Lengas
CLARINETS
Javier Morales-Martinez∆, Acting Principal
Bill and Peggy Lyons Chair
Raymond Santos‡
Trevor Stewart∆, Acting Associate Principal
John Klinghammer
E-FLAT CLARINET
Trevor Stewart∆
BASS CLARINET
John Klinghammer
BASSOONS
Ann Bilderback, Principal Barton P. and Mary D. Cohen Chair
Thomas DeWitt, Associate Principal
Maxwell Pipinich
CONTRABASSOON
Thomas DeWitt
HORNS
David Sullivan, Acting Principal Landon and Sarah Rowland Chair
Elizabeth Gray, Acting Associate Principal
David Gamble
Stephen Multer, Associate Principal Emeritus
Benjamin Bacni∆
TRUMPETS
Julian Kaplan, Principal
James B. and Annabel Nutter Chair
Omri Barak^, Associate Principal
Shea Kelsay∆
TROMBONES
Evelyn Carlson, Principal
Porter Wyatt Henderson, Associate Principal
Joseph Maiocco^
BASS TROMBONE
Joseph Maiocco^
TUBA
Joe LeFevre, Principal
Frank Byrne Chair
TIMPANI
Timothy Jepson, Principal
Michael and Susan Newburger Chair
PERCUSSION
David Yoon, Acting Principal
Justin Ochoa∆, Associate Principal
Adrian and Nancy Kay Hertog Family Chair
HARP
Chai Lee^, Principal
LIBRARIANS
Elena Lence Talley, Principal
Fabrice Curtis, Associate Principal
DAVID T. BEALS III CONDUCTORS
Luke Poeppel, Assistant Conductor
Daniel Wiley, Associate Conductor
Justin White, Director of Orchestra Personnel
Elena Collins, Assistant Personnel Manager
Tyler Miller, Stage Manager
Mark Watson, Assistant Stage Manager
Kristina Banton, Lighting Designer
* Non-Rotating Musician
^ New Member
‡ On Leave of Absence
∆ One-Year Member
Elf in Concert
Friday, November 28, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 29, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 30 at 2:00 p.m.
Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Constantine Kitsopoulos, Guest Conductor
John Debney Elf Act I Intermission Act II
The 2025/26 season is generously sponsored by SHIRLEY and BARNETT C. HELZBERG, JR.
Additional support provided by
CONSTANTINE KITSOPOULOS
GUEST CONDUCTOR
onstantine Kitsopoulos has established himself as a dynamic conductor known for his ability to work in many different genres and settings. He is equally at home with opera, symphonic repertoire, film with live orchestra, music theatre and composition. His work has taken him worldwide, where he has conducted the major orchestras of North America, the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the Tokyo Philharmonic.
The 2025/26 season will bring Kitsopoulos back for return engagements with the New York Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony and New Jersey Symphony, among others.
In the past two seasons, Kitsopoulos conducted return engagements with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and Pacific, New Jersey, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Santa Barbara and San Francisco symphonies. Highlights of previous seasons include return engagements with the Dallas Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Houston Symphony and Vancouver Symphony. Kitsopoulos also conducted Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and Leonard Bernstein’s Mass and Candide at Indiana University (IU) Opera Theatre.
In addition to Kitsopoulos’ engagements as guest conductor, he was music director of the Festival of the Arts Boca from 2010 until 2023 and general director of Chatham Opera between 2005 and 2015. He was assistant chorus master at New York City Opera from 1984 to 1989.
Kitsopoulos has developed semi-staged productions of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, for which he has written a new translation, Don Giovanni and La bohème. He has conducted IU Opera Theatre’s productions of Falstaff, Die Fledermaus, A View from the Bridge, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Most Happy Fella, South Pacific, Oklahoma, The Music Man and The Last Savage.
JOHN DEBNEY FILM
COMPOSER
ohn Debney is the ultimate film music character actor. In equal demand for family films such as Jingle Jangle, Come Away, and Elf, as he is for adventure films like Iron Man 2, the Oscar-nominated composer also scored the powerful and poignant The Passion of the Christ. Debney is an agile jack-of-allgenres, sci-fi adventure (ORVILLE), composing for comedies (Bruce Almighty), horror (Dream House) and romance (Valentine’s Day) with the same confidence and panache. Debney is also known for his work in such films as Princess Diaries, Sin City, Liar Liar, Spy Kids, No Strings Attached, The Emperor’s New Groove, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Hocus Pocus. Debney’s work also includes Disney’s The Jungle Book directed by Jon Favreau, Fox’s Ice Age: Collision Course directed by Mike Thurmeier, and Twentieth Century Fox’s award-winning musical The Greatest Showman starring Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron. Debney’s most recent films include The Beach Bum starring Matthew McConaughey and directed by Harmony Korine, the Warner Bros. comedy feature Isn’t It Romantic starring Rebel Wilson, Paramount Pictures’ family adventure feature Dora and the Lost City of Gold, and Bleecker Street’s biopic Brian Banks. Upcoming for Debney is Come Away directed by Brenda Chapman and starring Angelina Jolie.
Born in Glendale, California, Debney’s professional life began after he studied composition at the California Institute of the Arts, when he went to work writing music and orchestrating for Disney Studios and various television series. He won his first Emmy in 1990 for the main theme for The Young Riders, and his career soon hit a gallop. Since then he has won three more Emmys (Sea Quest DSV), and been nominated for a total of six (most recently in 2012 for his work on the Kevin Costner western miniseries Hatfields & McCoys). His foray into videogame scoring—2007’s Lair—resulted in a BAFTA nomination and a Best Videogame Score award from The International Film Music Critics Association.
Debney has collaborated with acclaimed directors as diverse as Robert Rodriguez, Garry Marshall, Mel Gibson, the Farrelly Brothers, Jon Favreau, Jim Sheridan, Ivan Reitman, Peter Chelsom, Rob Cohen, Brian Robbins, Tom Shadyac, Sam Raimi, Adam Shankman, Howie Deutch, Renny Harlin, Peter Hyams and Kenny Ortega. He was nominated by the Academy for his Passion of the Christ score. Inspired by that score, he then created The Passion Oratorio, performed in 2015 in the historic Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba, Spain in front of 6,000 people during Holy Week. In 2005, Debney was the youngest recipient of ASCAP’s Henry Mancini Career Achievement Award.
“If I’m doing my job well,” says Debney, “I need to feel it. I really try to make sure that whatever I’m doing— even if it’s a comedy—that I’m feeling it and feeling either humor or the pathos or the dramatic impact of what I’m seeing. That’s the way I approach it.”
in Concert
Film Credits
“Elf”
Directed by Jon Favreau
Produced by Kent Alterman, Cale Boyter, Julie Wixson Darmody, Toby Emmerich, and Jimmy Miller
Written by David Berenbaum
Starring:
Will Ferrell
James Caan
Bob Newhart
Edward Asner
Mary Steenburgen
Zooey Deschanel
CineConcerts Staff
Justin Freer
President/Founder/Producer
Brady Beaubien Co-Founder/Producer
Andrew P. Alderete Chief XR Officer/ Head of Publicity and Communications
Andrew McIntyre Director of Operations Senior Brittany Fonseca Marketing Manager
Si Peng
Senior Social Media Manager
Music by John Debney Cinematography by Greg Gardiner
Edited by Dan Lebental
Produced by New Line Cinema & Guy Walks Into a Bar Productions
Distributed by New Line Cinema
Opus 3 Artists Worldwide Representation
JoAnn Kane Music Service Music Preparation
Justin Moshkevich, Igloo Music Studios Sound Remixing
Bryan Busby Chief Meteorologist and Green Ribbon Champion
In September 2021, my beautiful petite, 20-year-old dancer goddaughter’s body would wait no more. I was devastated. For several weeks, I had watched the care team treat Helena Francine Nicole like a queen.
For many years, I have been a registered donor and advocate — asking friends, colleagues and viewers to consider doing the same. But this personal loss hit me hard. Her loss has me doubling down on my efforts to ensure no one else is ever in our position. All I felt was sadness because the question of “how to save a life” should have been easy to answer. However, we lost Helena simply because of the lack of a suitable heart. Spare another family the grief and pain and join the donor registry.
– Bryan Busby
Handel’s Messiah
Friday and Saturday, December 5-6, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Nicholas McGegan, Guest Conductor
Nola Richardson, Soprano
Sara Couden, Contralto
James Reese, Tenor
Paul Max Tipton, Bass
Kansas City Symphony Chorus
George Frideric Handel Messiah
Part I: The Advent of Messiah Intermission
Part II: The Passion of the Christ
Part III: Resurrection
The Willard Martin French double harpsichord used in this program was generously donated by the Community of Christ.
The 2025/26 season is generously sponsored by SHIRLEY and BARNETT C. HELZBERG, JR.
The concert weekend is sponsored by BILL and MARILYN TAYLOR
Additional support provided by
Program Notes
BY KEN MELTZER
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Messiah (1742) 120 minutes
Soprano, contralto, tenor and bass soloists, mixed chorus, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 2 trumpets, timpani, harpsichord, organ and strings.
The creation of George Frideric Handel’s most cherished work, Messiah, took place during a challenging period in the composer’s life. The steady decline in the popularity of Italian opera in London had caused Handel tremendous financial hardship. In addition, Handel’s rigorous work schedule took a profound toll on the composer’s health.
It was at this point that Handel received a libretto for a new work, an oratorio based upon the birth, life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The author of the libretto was Charles Jennens, who collaborated with Handel on several oratorios.
Handel began composition of Messiah on August 22, 1741. There seems to be no question that the libretto, taken from the Old and New Testaments, proved to be a source of majestic inspiration. Handel, working at a lightning pace, composed Messiah in just 24 days.
Once Handel completed Messiah, he focused his attention upon Samson, another oratorio inspired by the Bible. It was during this period that Handel accepted an invitation to travel to Dublin for a series of concerts in aid of charity. In November, Handel set sail for Dublin, bringing with him several works for performance at the charity concerts. Among those works was Messiah.
The premiere of Messiah took place at Dublin’s New Music Hall in Fishamble Street on April 13, 1742. In anticipation of a capacity audience, women were asked to wear dresses without hoops. Men were requested to leave their swords at home.
The Dublin premiere was a tremendous success. The first London performance of Messiah, which took place at Covent Garden on March 23, 1743, was more problematic. It appears the London public gave Handel’s Messiah a mixed reception. However, at least according to one observer, those in attendance — including a very prominent member of the audience — were particularly moved by a portion of the oratorio. This resulted in the birth of a tradition that continues to this day: “When the chorus struck up ‘for the Lord God Omnipotent’ (in the ‘Hallelujah’ Chorus), they were so transported that they all together, with the King (who happened to be present), started up and remained standing till the chorus ended.”
In May 1750, Handel agreed to present Messiah as a benefit for London’s Foundling Hospital. The performance venue of the Hospital’s Chapel, coupled with the worthy cause, removed any possible objections. Charity concerts of Messiah became a yearly tradition at the Foundling Hospital.
On April 6, 1759, Handel made his final public appearance, conducting a London performance of Messiah. Eight days later, Handel was dead at the age of 74. The funeral, held in Westminster Abbey, attracted an estimated 3,000 mourners.
Three years after Handel’s death, the great church unveiled a monument, created by the French sculptor, Louis-François Roubiliac. The monument depicts Handel, holding the score of Messiah. Overhead, an angel plays a lyre. The score is opened to the soprano solo that serves to begin the oratorio’s Third Part: “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.”
A SACRED ORATORIO Messiah (1742)
MUSIC BY GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL (1685-1759)
TEXTS SELECTED FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE BY CHARLES JENNENS (1700-1773)
PART ONE: THE ADVENT OF MESSIAH
Sinfonia (Overture)
Accompagnato
Tenor
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness; prepare ye the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
(Isaiah 40:1-3)
Air
Tenor
Ev’ry valley shall be exalted, and ev’ry moutain and hill made low; the crooked straight and the rough places plain.
(Isaiah 40:4)
Chorus
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
(Isaiah 40:5)
Accompagnato
Bass
Thus saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts: Yet once a little while and I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations; and the desire of all nations shall come.
(Haggai 2:6-7)
The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the Covenant, whom you delight in; behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
(Malachi 3:1)
Air Contralto
But who may abide the day of His coming, and who shall stand when He appeareth? For He is like a refiner’s fire.
(Malachi 3:2)
Chorus
And He shall purify the sons of Levi, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
(Malachi 3:3)
Recitative Contralto
Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Emmanuel, God with us.
(Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)
Air and Chorus Contralto
O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain. O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, behold your God!
(Isaiah 40:9)
Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
(Isaiah 60:1)
Chorus
O thou that tellest… etc.
Accompagnato
Bass
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
(Isaiah 60:2-3)
Air Bass
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
(Isaiah 9:2)
Chorus
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:6)
Pifa (“Pastoral Symphony”)
Recitative
Soprano
There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
(Luke 2:8)
Accompagnato
Soprano
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
(Luke 2:9)
Recitative
Soprano
And the angel said unto them: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
(Luke 2:10-11)
Accompagnato
Soprano
And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying: (Luke 2:13)
Chorus
“Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men.”
(Luke 2:14)
Air
Soprano
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King cometh unto thee; He is the righteous Saviour, and He shall speak peace unto the heathen.
(Zechariah 9:9-10)
Recitative
Contralto
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing.
(Isaiah 35:5-6)
Messiah (cont.)
Duet
Contralto and Soprano
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; and He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
(Isaiah 40:11)
Come unto Him, all ye that labour, come unto Him that are heavy laden, and He will give you rest. Take his yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
(Matthew 11:28-29)
Chorus
His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
(Matthew 11:30)
PART TWO: THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
Chorus
Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.
(John 1:29)
Air Contralto
He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
(Isaiah 53:3)
Chorus
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows! He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him.
(Isaiah 53:4-5)
Chorus
And with His stripes we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:5)
Chorus
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way. And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:6)
Accompagnato
Tenor
All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn; they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying:
(Psalm 22:7)
Chorus
“He trusted in God that He would deliver Him; let Him deliver Him, if He delight in Him.”
(Psalm 22:8)
Accompagnato
Tenor
Thy rebuke hath broken His heart: He is full of heaviness. He looked for some to have pity on Him, but there was no man, neither found He any to comfort him.
(Psalm 69:20)
Arioso
Tenor
Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow.
(Lamentations 1:12)
Accompagnato
Tenor
He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgressions of Thy people was He stricken.
(Isaiah 53:8)
Air Tenor
But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell; nor didst Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption.
(Psalm 16:10)
Chorus
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.
(Psalm 24:7-10)
Air Soprano
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.
(Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15)
Air Bass
Why do the nations so furiously rage together, and why do the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against His anointed.
(Psalm 2:1-2)
Chorus
Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us.
(Psalm 2:3)
Recitative
Tenor
He that dwelleth in Heav’n shall laugh them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision.
(Psalm 2:4)
Air
Tenor
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
(Psalm 2:9)
Chorus
Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
(Revelation 19:6)
The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever.
(Revelation 11:15)
King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
(Revelation 19:16)
Messiah (cont.)
PART THREE: RESURRECTION
Air Soprano
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
(Job 19:25-26)
For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that sleep.
(I Corinthians 15:20)
Chorus
Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
(I Corinthians 15:21-22)
Accompagnato Bass
Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
(I Corinthians 15:51-52)
Air Bass
The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality.
(I Corinthians 15:52-53)
Chorus
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing and honour, glory and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Revelation 5:12-14)
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HOLIDAY CONCERT
Handel’s Messiah
NICHOLAS MCGEGAN
GUEST CONDUCTOR
his sixth decade on the podium, Nicholas McGegan — long hailed as “one of the finest Baroque conductors of his generation” (The Independent) and “an expert in 18th-century style” (The New Yorker) — is recognized for his probing and revelatory explorations of music of all periods. Following a 34-year tenure as music director of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, he is now Music Director Emeritus. He is also principal guest conductor of Hungary’s Capella Savaria. At home in opera houses, McGegan shone new light on close to 20 Handel operas as the artistic director and conductor at Germany’s International Handel Festival Göttingen for 20 years (1991–2001), and the Mozart canon as principal guest conductor at Scottish Opera in the 1990s. He was also principal conductor of Sweden’s Drottningholm Court Theatre from 1993 to 1996.
Best known as a Baroque and Classical specialist, McGegan’s approach has made him a pioneer in broadening the reach of historically informed practice beyond the world of period ensembles to conventional symphonic forces. His guest-conducting appearances with major orchestras — including the New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong philharmonics; the Chicago, Dallas, Milwaukee, Toronto, Sydney and New Zealand symphonies; the Philadelphia Orchestra; the Royal Northern Sinfonia and Scottish Chamber orchestras; and the orchestras of London’s Royal Opera House and Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw — often feature Baroque repertoire alongside Classical, Romantic, 20th-century and even brand-new works.
English-born, McGegan was educated at Cambridge and Oxford. He was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) “for services to music overseas.”
About the Kansas City Symphony Chorus
he Kansas City Symphony Chorus is a 160-voice ensemble that continues its long tradition of excellence serving as “the choral voice of the Kansas City Symphony.”
The Symphony Chorus has been offering quality choral music to the greater Kansas City metropolitan area since the early 1960s, first as the Mendelssohn Choir and then as the Civic Chorus. After the creation of the Kansas City Symphony, the Symphony Chorus assumed its current name and role as the Symphony’s “choral voice” in 1988.
The Symphony Chorus has represented Kansas City in five concert tours, including performances in New York City, Boston, the Berkshires, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Mexico where it performed with the Mexico City Symphony. The Symphony Chorus women recorded Holst’s The Planets with the Kansas City Symphony in January 2015.
The Kansas City Symphony Chorus musicians are all volunteers from the region’s extensive musical community selected through rigorous auditions. Members have rich backgrounds in both music education and performance, and are engaged as soloists and conductors in schools, churches and venues throughout the region.
HOLIDAY
Kansas City Symphony Chorus Roster
Patrice Sollenberger, Assistant Chorus Director
Keith Florea, President
Briana Carillo, Librarian
Dan Velicer, Accompanist
SOPRANO
Addison Acheson
Laura Alexander
Barb Allinder
Rebecca Baker
Pamela Beglau
Nellie Bills
Elizabeth Brockhoff
Rachel Burke
Emily Butler
Skye D. Clements
Laura Connor
Kaylee Costanzo
Sofia Gillespie
Holly Hacking
Deanna Hartman
Erica Hazelton
Madeleine Herst
Trinity Hill
Erin Hiscock
Sarah-Cate Horseman
Tiffany Keegan
Caitlin Kenney
Nancy Lacy
Kristy Lambert
Zenia Lee
Marie Lerner-Sexton
Jihye Lovelace
Crystal Manes
Lindsey Marts
Sarah Meyer
Sabrina Miller
Doriana Nealy
Natalie Neri
Dana O’Regan
Kirsten Oelklaus O’Brien
Suzette Price
Maria Rangel-Flemmer
Gretchen Rohrs
Jennifer Roth
Bethany Ruisinger
Jana Samuel
Angela Schumacher-Porras
Jerusha Staggs
Hope Tevault
Maham Theisen
Connie Van Engen
Natasha VanDyke
Annie Walsh
ALTO
Gwendolyn Akins
Conway
Lynne Beebe
Joyce Bibens
Amber Bracken
Katie Camlin
Marlene Carnahan
Briana Carrillo
Hyang Sook Choi
Helen Cowan
Christine Epps
Nicole Eubanks
June Farson
Anna Featherston
Tori Fugate
Kimberly J. Gear
Patricia Henshaw
Julia K. Heriford
Lenette Johnson
Margaret Jones
Ashley Jones Rivers
Avery Keown
Janice Kibler
Katherine Lang
Mikaela Lange
Abby Lathrop
Julia Leamon
Lori LeVine
Meghan LeVota
Diane Martin
Sandra McCormick
Hollie Meek
Heidi Menssen
Jillian Miller
Svetlana Mitchell
Karla Morgan Massia
Nguyen Nicholson
Grace Park
Madeline Rettman
Carol Robinson
Caryl Schultz
Anna Kate Scott
Amber Smith
Caitlin Smith
Greta K.
Sonnenberg
Karen Spalding
Sheree Stoppel
Madison Thomas
Sara Treffer
Caitlin Walker
Grace Wampler
Carolyn Welch
Sarah Zung
TENOR
Ron Alburtus
Leon Barnes
Rory Behrens
Timothy Dennison
Tony Donley
Kit Doyle
Bryce Elder
Ryan Flemmer
Keith Florea
Presten Fry
Fredrick Hoeppner
Brandon Hottman
James Jorns
Russell Joy
Mark Kahler
William Kenefake
Will Kubie
Mark Lange
Damon Locke
Paul Meissbach
Trent Menssen
Casey Morgan
Andy Pierce
Jonathan Plummer
Jeff Preuss
Ward Russell
Brogan Sullivan
David Sutherland
Alan Taliercio
Sheldon Vogt
Stephen White
Jeff Williams
Craig Zernickow
BASS
Ben Albertson
Brett Anderson
Jerl Banning
James Bourassa
Richard Brooks
Zach Buchanan
Tom Burchett
John Burke
Scott Chellgren
Bert Dothage
Bruce Everett Douglas
James R. Duncan
Jeff Duncan
Aden Eilts
Bill Featherston
Brendan Gibson
Scott B. Hall
Jude Harb
Joseph S. Hicks
Jonathan Hinderks
Don Hires
George Keeper
Bill Lacy
Art Lafex
Dave Lockett
Roger McDougle
Donald Milligan
Kenneth Moncrieff
Patrick Orlich
John Pinkston
Austin Planker
Joe Potter
Chris Pressler
David Reid
Ed Roberts
John Ross
Scot Schwartz
David Smale
Joshua Stark
Robert Stepanich
Rick Stephenson
Gregory Toplikar
Ken VanEngen
Mike Wieners
Musician Bios
NOLA RICHARDSON
Soprano
Australian-American soprano Nola Richardson has been particularly noted for her performances of Bach, Handel and Mozart and has won first prize in all three major American competitions focused on the music of J.S. Bach. Recent highlights include Handel’s Samson with the Oratorio Society of New York at Carnegie Hall, Bach’s B Minor Mass with American Classical Orchestra at Lincoln Center, a performance for Leipzig Bach Fest with the Bach Choir of Bethlehem and her Kennedy Center debut in Handel’s Radamisto with Opera Lafayette. She has performed works of Bach and Handel with the Atlanta, Baltimore, Colorado, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Seattle symphonies; with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra; and at the Cincinnati May festival. She appears frequently with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, Voice of Music, and Musica Angelica. In the 2025/26 season she makes her debut with LA Opera and Beth Morrison Projects creating the title role in the new opera Hildegard by Sarah Kirkland Snider. She will perform Messiah with the Tucson and Kansas City symphonies and Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate with Helena Symphony, as well as making solo appearances with Philharmonia Baroque, Ars Lyrica Houston and American Classical Orchestra among others. Nola holds a DMA in Early Music from Yale.
SARA COUDEN Contralto
Contralto Sara Couden is a premier interpreter of operatic, orchestral, chamber and song repertoire. Her 2025/26 season includes a debut with Detroit Opera as Rita in Poul Ruders’ The Handmaid’s Tale, a debut with the Houston Symphony in selections from La vida breve, Ježibaba (Rusalka) with Pacific Northwest Opera, Die Hexe/Die Mutter (Hänsel und Gretel) with Lakes Area Music Festival and Handel’s Messiah with the St. Louis Symphony, Kansas City Symphony and Tucson Symphony. Concert highlights from previous seasons include her debut recital at the Manchester Music Festival Philadelphia Orchestra as Mother/Chinese Cup/Dragon Fly (L’enfant et les sortilèges), the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in Julia Perry’s Stabat Mater, the Seattle Symphony in Handel’s Messiah and the California Symphony in songs by Alma Mahler as well as Carnegie Hall in Karl Jenkins’ Stabat Mater. Opera highlights include her debut with the Metropolitan Opera as Tetka (Jenufa) and Albine (Thaïs), her San Francisco Opera debut as Rita (The Handmaid’s Tale), Ottavia (L’Incoronazione di Poppea) with West Edge Opera, Juno (Semele) with St. Petersburg Opera, Israelitish Man (Judas Maccabaeus) with Philharmonia Baroque, Ormindo (Ermelinda) with Ars Minerva, Dejanira (Hercules) at the Staunton Music Festival and Testo in Stradella’s La Susanna with Heartbeat Opera and Opera Lafayette.
Musician Bios (cont.)
JAMES REESE Tenor
James Reese is a noted interpreter of Baroque music and other early repertoire, as well as an advocate for new music. In the 2025/26 season, James will enjoy a wide range of projects and repertoire, giving performances throughout the United States and Canada. Of particular note: Messiah with the Kansas City Symphony, as well as St. Thomas Fifth Avenue (NYC) and the Apollo Chorus of Chicago; in recital with soprano Maya Kherani at Opera Lafayette; A Bach Celebration with Tafelmusik; and a series of recitals with lutenist Brandon Acker. As a recording artist, James won a Grammy® award as a soloist singing the music of Edie Hill on the record ”Born,” released by The Crossing. His discography also includes several discs on the ECM, Harmonia Mundi and Hyperion labels. James is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. He holds a master’s degree from Yale University’s School of Music, where he studied with James Taylor at the Institute of Sacred Music. James is the 2018 winner of the Margot Fassler Award for the Performance of Music at Yale. He is also a winner of the Career Advancement Award — which recognizes “especially promising young artists” — from the Musical Fund Society. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Natalie.
PAUL MAX TIPTON Bass
Described by the Atlanta JournalConstitution as a dignified and beautiful singer, bass-baritone Paul Max Tipton enjoys an active career in opera, oratorio and chamber music, performing and recording throughout North America, Europe and Asia. A versatile singer, Paul’s repertoire ranges from Machaut and Monteverdi to Britten and Bolcom, with his interpretations of the works of Bach and Haydn being acclaimed in particular for their strength and sensitivity. Recent collaborations include Haydn’s Creation with Pacific Symphony, Christus in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion at the Spoleto Festival USA, the title role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the University of Michigan with Martin Katz conducting, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Grand Rapids Symphony and Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum at Carnegie Hall under Ton Koopman. Recent recordings include a Grammy® nomination for Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with Seraphic Fire and Bach’s St. John Passion as Christus with Cantata Collective and Nicholas McGegan. Paul trained on full fellowship at the University of Michigan School of Music in Ann Arbor, being mentored by mezzo-soprano Luretta Bybee, tenor George Shirley and collaborative pianist Martin Katz. He is a 2010 graduate of the Yale University Institute of Sacred Music in oratorio and early music, studying with tenor James Taylor. Paul resides in New York City.
Leslie Odom, Jr.: The Christmas Tour
Friday and Saturday, December 12-13, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Caleb Young, Guest Conductor
Leslie Odom, Jr., Vocalist
Steven Walker, Music Director/Guitar
Christopher Cadenhead, Piano
David Chiverton, Drums
Eric England, Bass
Selections will be announced from the stage. There will be an intermission.
The 2025/26 season is generously sponsored by SHIRLEY and BARNETT C. HELZBERG, JR.
Guest artist Leslie Odom, Jr. is sponsored by MYONZA GRAY
Additional support provided by
Leslie Odom, Jr.: The Christmas Tour
CALEB YOUNG
GUEST CONDUCTOR
aleb Young is an American conductor who excels in bringing both American and European classical music to life. Drawing on his training with renowned Finnish conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Young merges European classical techniques with a deep appreciation for American composers, offering performances that are both distinctive and powerful. Known for his ability to connect with people both on and off the stage, Young creates meaningful experiences for audiences and musicians alike.
Highlights of the 2025/26 season include Young’s debuts with the Helsinki Philharmonic, conducting a program to include the European premiere of John Williams’ Viola Concerto with Antoine Tamestit and the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester. He also returns to the Opera North Orchestra for a John Williams program, and to the Kansas City Symphony, Iceland Symphony and Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Last season featured debuts with orchestras such as the BBC Concert Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, Israel Philharmonic and Iceland Symphony.
Young’s conducting resume includes collaborations with a number of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Detroit Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Finnish Chamber Orchestra and Tapiola Sinfonietta. He regularly works with luminaries like John Williams and Gustavo Dudamel and has served as a cover conductor for the Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic.
A graduate of Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, Young holds a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting. His pedagogues include David Effron, Arthur Fagen and John Ratledge. As the founder of KammerMahler, Young recently led the ensemble in the world-premiere recording of Klaus Simon’s chamber arrangement of Mahler’s Symphony No. 9.
LESLIE ODOM, JR.
VOCALIST
eslie Odom, Jr. is a multifaceted, awardwinning vocalist, songwriter, author and actor. With a career that spans all performance genres, he has received recognition with Tony® and Grammy® Awards as well as multiple Emmy® and Academy Award® nominations for his excellence and achievements in Broadway, television, film and music. Most recently, Odom made his long-awaited return to Broadway to star in and co-produce the new Broadway production of the classic American comedy Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch by the legendary Ossie Davis, which opened in September 2023 to widespread critical acclaim. Additionally, he starred in the highly anticipated sequel to the original iconic film “The Exorcist” for Blumhouse and Universal Pictures. Odom is a BMG recording artist and has released four full-length albums.
Well known for his breakout role as the original Aaron Burr in the smash hit Broadway musical Hamilton, Odom won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and a Grammy Award for his performance as a principal soloist on the original cast recording. He made his Broadway debut in Rent at the age of 17. He also starred opposite Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo in a 2014 City Center Encores! revival of Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick…Boom!
He has performed at the White House, Super Bowl, Oscars and Grammys, and on hallowed stages such as Lincoln Center, Rockefeller Center and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
In March 2018, Odom added the title of author to his resume with the release of his book “Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher and Never Stop Learning.” Co-written with Nicolette Robinson, Odom’s first children’s book, “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know,” was published in March 2023 and debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at #7 in its first week.
Leslie Odom, Jr.: The Christmas Tour
Musician Bios
STEVEN WALKER, Music Director/Guitar
Steven Walker is a guitarist and music director who began his career in Washington, D.C. and is currently based in New York City. He has appeared in concert and on recordings with various artists including Ledisi, BeBe Winans, En Vogue, Susan Boyle, Rashaan Patterson, Eric Roberson, Renée Elise Goldsberry and Jonathan Nelson. In New York, he has performed in the orchestra for various Broadway shows including Kinky Boots, Mean Girls, Frozen and SpongeBob SquarePants. He has been working with Leslie Odom, Jr. since 2016, serving as music director since 2021. He’s excited to be part of this year’s Christmas tour and to celebrate the season with audiences around the country.
CHRIS CADENHEAD, Piano
Chris Cadenhead, born in Hollywood, Florida, has been captivating audiences worldwide since age 17 as a versatile musician who has performed alongside an extraordinary range of artists — from music royalty like Prince and The Jacksons to contemporary stars including Justin Bieber, Ludacris and CeeLo Green, as well as legends Gloria Gaynor and KC & the Sunshine Band. Beyond the stage, Cadenhead has made his mark as a producer, creating music for hit television series including “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “E! True Hollywood Story” and “90 Day Fiancé,” while also contributing to Terrace Martin’s Grammy®-nominated R&B album “Velvet Portraits.” His debut album “After Hours” showcases the depth of his artistry, blending his rich vocal talents with the jazz roots that have shaped his distinctive sound throughout his dynamic career.
DAVID CHIVERTON, Drums
The beat of a drummer’s soul could not have been placed in a more incomparable percussionist than David Chiverton. In church, he recognized his passion for drums and began playing at the age of 3. Upon graduating from high school, he was offered a full academic scholarship to Florida International University and a position as a key player in the University’s Big Band. David connected with super-producer of Miami, Florida, “Bigg D,” where he was the featured drummer every Wednesday night at Miami L.I.V.E at Santos Miami. With this weekly club gig, David has shared the stage with artists ranging from John Legend to Lil Wayne. He is currently touring internationally with various talents, including Leslie Odom Jr. and Jill Scott, and has been highlighted as one of South Florida’s most outstanding musicians.
ERIC ENGLAND, Bass
Originally from New Jersey, Eric England grew up in a musical family being exposed to many types of music from a young age. Playing both electric and upright bass is his passion. It was during his high school years that he became more serious about jazz. Eric attended the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami and studied jazz and studio music. Before and after graduating he worked in Miami’s music scene covering a vast variety of music styles while gaining invaluable experience. Eric currently resides in Los Angeles, California where he continues to gain experience as a top-call musician. He has worked and recorded with such artists and groups as Jon Secada, Rihanna, Lil Wayne, Dave Liebmann, Nicole Henry and Troy Roberts’ Nu-Jive amongst many others and is currently a part of Leslie Odom, Jr.’s touring band.
Christmas Festival
Thursday and Friday, December 18-19, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Daniel Wiley, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor
Melinda Doolittle, Vocalist
Allegro Choirs of Kansas City, Christy Elsner, Founder and Artistic/Executive Director
Kansas City Symphony Chorus
For more information on the Kansas City Symphony Chorus, see pages 30-31.
The 2025/26 season is generously sponsored by SHIRLEY and BARNETT C. HELZBERG, JR.
The Family Series is sponsored by
Christmas Festival is sponsored by WEB and TRACY BIXBY
Additional support provided by
Christmas Festival
Christmas Festival Program
Paul Campbell
Arr. Gray
Kristen Anderson-Lopez/ arr. Danielle
Morten Lauridsen
Howard Blake
Emil Waldteufel
Robert Wendel
J.S. Bach/arr. Berens
Intermission
Christopher Tyler Nickel
Michael Isaacson/arr. Hardin
Christmas Celebration Overture
“Happy Holidays” / “It’s the Holiday Season” Melinda Doolittle
Kansas City Symphony Chorus Allegro Choirs
“Into the Unknown”
Melinda Doolittle
Kansas City Symphony Chorus Allegro Choirs
“O Magnum Mysterium”
Kansas City Symphony Chorus
“Walking in the Air” from The Snowman Allegro Choirs
Les Patineurs (Skater’s Waltz), op. 183
Little Bolero Boy Joy!
Christmas Morning
Rhythm of the Lights: A Chanukah Fantasia
Kansas City Symphony Chorus Allegro Choirs
Adolphe Adam/arr. Gray
“O Holy Night”
Melinda Doolittle
Kansas City Symphony Chorus
Steve Allen/arr. Gray
John Rox/arr. Campbell
Leroy Anderson
Randol Alan Bass
Various/arr. Goller
“Cool Yule”
Melinda Doolittle
“I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”
Sleigh Ride
Gloria Kansas City Symphony Chorus
Christmas Carol Sing-Along
Melinda Doolittle
Kansas City Symphony Chorus Allegro Choirs
Thursday
DANIEL WILEY
DAVID T. BEALS III ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR
aniel Wiley is a dynamic conductor quickly establishing himself across North America. He has appeared with leading ensembles including the Cincinnati Symphony, Cincinnati Ballet, Kansas City Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, Toledo Symphony, Wichita Symphony, Orchestra Iowa, Quad City Ballet, Salisbury Symphony, Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Abridged Opera, London Symphonia, Boise Philharmonic, Abilene Philharmonic, Meridian Symphony (ID), Equilibrium Ensemble and University of North Florida Opera.
Daniel currently serves as the associate conductor of the Kansas City Symphony and music director of the Salisbury Symphony, Anderson Symphony and West Valley Symphony. Previous appointments include assistant conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops, May Festival and Jacksonville Symphony; associate conductor of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra; and music director roles with the Windsor Symphony Youth Orchestras, Windsor Symphony Community Orchestra and Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science Youth Orchestra. He has also served as visiting professor and wind ensemble conductor at the University of Windsor’s School of Creative Arts, education conductor for London Symphonia and conductor for Windsor Abridged Opera.
A prizewinner at both the Smoky Mountain International Conducting Institute and Competition and the Los Angeles International Conducting Competition, Daniel also has a strong background in contemporary music. He has conducted world premieres through the Composing in the Wilderness program at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in Alaska and worked with the Musicbed Music and Film Corporation in Fort Worth, Texas.
A former public-school music teacher, Daniel remains passionate about supporting young musicians, frequently serving as a guest clinician for student ensembles across North America.
MELINDA
DOOLITTLE
VOCALIST
elinda Doolittle is a soul-stirring songstress. She is a flawless vocalist with irresistible artistry and effortless style compelling her audiences to keep listening.
Tone deaf as a child, Melinda’s choir teacher would plead with her not to sing, but just silently move her mouth. Undaunted, her love of singing drove her to enter a talent show in the seventh grade where she stunned the audience with her miraculously spot-on vocals and beautiful voice. She never looked back.
Melinda graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. She became a highly soughtafter background vocalist singing for musical icons including Michael McDonald, Aretha Franklin, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Aaron Neville and Jonny Lang.
Doolittle became a household name during season six of “American Idol” in 2007. She came in third in the voting, with Simon Cowell calling her his “personal favorite.” She quickly became the sweetheart of the show, winning over the hearts of all with her stunning powerhouse vocals and her personal charm.
Doolittle continues to thrill audiences everywhere from the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame to the White House, from the Copa Room to Carnegie Hall. In addition, she has been a featured guest with the Boston Pops, Charlotte Symphony and United States Air Force Orchestra to name a few, including a featured performance at the 2015 Boston Pops Fourth of July Spectacular. She is currently headlining her own soulful show, “Great American Soul Book.”
In thankfulness for all she has been given, Doolittle gives back to these amazing organizations: Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House and Malaria No More (Presidential Delegate to Africa).
HOLIDAY CONCERT
Christmas Festival
CHRISTY ELSNER
FOUNDER AND ARTISTIC/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
native Kansan, Christy Elsner is the Founder and Artistic Director of Allegro Choirs of Kansas City, now celebrating over 25 years of musical excellence. Known for her engaging energy, humor and inspiring leadership, Christy combines high artistic standards with a deep commitment to empowering young singers. An active clinician and conductor, she has led regional, state and national honor choirs and presents workshops on innovative rehearsal techniques and the developing female voice. Recognized by the KC Independent as one of “Five Women Making a Difference in the Performing Arts,” she is also the author of “Gadgets for Great Singing” (Hal Leonard, 2013) and the forthcoming “The Athletic Singer.” Her choral arrangements are published by Hal Leonard and MusicSpoke. Christy earned her degree in music education from the University of Kansas, where she received the Marcus E. Hahn Award for Outstanding Senior. When not dreaming up new ideas for Allegro, she loves cooking, fitness and time with her family — including her Allegro-alum children and new grandbaby.
Allegro Chorus Roster
Remi Anderson
Allison Baldwin
Alice Benson
Ellie Berg
Jordin Berg
Stella Biondi
Lucy Bolejack
Ava Bond
Peyton Botsford
Eliza Brady
Madeline Bratkovic
Nora Bryan
Nora Butler
Blythe Buttrey
Ella Call
Taylor Campbell
Charlotte Chadwick
Mallory Collins
Lillie Craft
Vivian Crum
Jordin DeRossett
Vivie Diediker
Avery Dilberto
Addison Douglas
Brookelynn Durham
Catie Ewens
Mia Ewens
Sophie Ewens
Meredith Facer
Henley Ferguson
Jalyn Floetke
Hayleigh Francis
Myla Gorman
Lainey Guettermann
Charlotte Gurley
Camille Harbison
Eden Hodges
Leah Hodges
Emma Houghton
Layla Hubbel
Paige Jackson
Reagan Jeffcote
Selene Jundi
Laila Kelman
Katharine Klusman
Lola Kocsis
Brooklyn Lane
Emma Lee
Chloe Madson
Daleyza Marquez
Bella Martin
Estella Maser
Madison McCown
Alexis McGuire
Katherine Medina
Audrey Mercer
Margaret Morgan
Alaina Moyer
Risa Nash
Edie Nelson
Audrey Novacky
Abigail Oler
Sophia Olivarez
Ella Pasquini
Jaretzi Ponce de Leon
KelliAnne Race
Alejandra Raus Ocasio
Daphne Reed
Sophia Roberts
Elin Scherrer
Julianna Sheafer
Miriam Sidwell
Katherine Simmons
Abby Smith
Ava Staniszewski
Charlotte Stone
Anna Stura
Sienna Suderman
Abigail Swanson
Charlotte Sweet
Madelyn Thurman
Karis Tilghman
Karmen Tilghman
Adie Timmons
Tori Timmons
Coroline Vazquez
Selina Vega
Rylee Walker
Quinn Wetzel
Chloe White
Ashlyn Widener
Scarlett Willhite
Naomi Yeamans
Adelyn Zysk
About Allegro
or over 25 years, Allegro Choirs of Kansas City has inspired audiences locally, nationally, and abroad through heartfelt, energetic, and artistically excellent choral performances. Founded in 1999 with just 38 singers, Allegro has grown into one of the nation’s premier youth choir organizations—now encompassing five youth ensembles and a new women’s choir—serving more than 200 singers from across the Kansas City metro. Praised by the Kansas City Star as “the voice of angels,” Allegro transforms the lives of young singers through rigorous musicianship, teamwork, and joyful artistry. The choirs rehearse weekly from August through May at the Allegro Studio in Bonner Springs, Kansas — intentionally located in an underserved area for arts and youth education. Singers represent over 60 schools across the Kansas City metro including public, private and homeschool students.
Allegro’s choirs perform four major concerts each season, offer free community performances and have been featured at state, regional and national music conventions. They are frequent guests of the Kansas City Symphony and have appeared in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., St. Peter’s Basilica and even the White House. Through its outreach programs and benefit concerts, Allegro remains deeply committed to giving back — using music as a bridge of empathy, community and connection. This year, Allegro singers will embark on an international tour to Austria and the Czech Republic sharing their music and spirit with audiences around the world.
Please visit www.allegrokc.org for more information about the choirs, auditions and performances.
HOLIDAY CONCERT Christmas Festival
Christmas Carol Sing-Along
Angels We Have Heard on High
Angels we have heard on high, Sweetly singing o’er the plains: And the mountains in reply, Echoing their joyous strains.
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Joy to the World!
Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and heav’n and nature sing.
O Come, All Ye Faithful
O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him, Born the King of angels!
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”
Deck the Hall
Deck the hall with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la.
’Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol. Fa la la la la, la la la la.
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas, And a happy New Year.
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin, Good tidings for Christmas and a happy New Year. We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas, We wish you a Merry Christmas, And a happy New Year.
It’s A Wonderful Life in Concert
Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 24, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Ron Spigelman, Guest Conductor Kansas City Symphony Chorus
Dimitri Tiomkin It’s A Wonderful Life Act I Intermission Act II
The 2025/26 season is generously sponsored by SHIRLEY and BARNETT C. HELZBERG, JR.
Additional support provided by
RON SPIGELMAN
GUEST CONDUCTOR
ustralian conductor Ron Spigelman was recently appointed the principal pops conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic. Earlier in his career he was the associate conductor in Buffalo Philharmonic and the Fort Worth Symphony as well as the music director of the Texas Ballet Theater, San Angelo Symphony (TX), Texas Chamber Orchestra, Springfield Symphony (MO) and Lake Placid Sinfonietta (NY), where he is now conductor emeritus. He has also served as principal pops conductor of the Fort Worth and Syracuse symphonies.
Recent guest conducting appearances include the symphonies of Atlanta, St. Louis, Baltimore, Utah, Oregon, Kansas City, Vancouver and Nashville as well as the Minnesota Orchestra.
He has conducted symphonic, ballet, opera, musical theatre and pops programs plus more than 30 live-to-film productions including all eight of the “Harry Potter” films. Guest artists he has accompanied include Horacio Gutierrez, Rachel Barton Pine, Richard Stoltzman, Marvin Hamlisch, Peter Paul & Mary, James Taylor, Leslie Odom Jr., Gladys Knight and many others.
Career highlights include the world premiere of Pegasus by Lowell Liebermann with the Dallas Symphony, his Carnegie Hall debut with the Buffalo Philharmonic and the world premiere recording of Sylvan by Michael Torke with the Lake Placid Sinfonietta.
Ron lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma with his wife Laura. They have a combined 6 children. He is board president of Harmony Project Tulsa, bringing instrumental instruction to underserved youth in collaboration with the Tulsa Public Schools. He also recently graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in family and human development at Arizona State University, receiving the dean’s medal for academic excellence, and is pursuing a master’s in liberal studies.
DIMITRI
ZINOVICH TIOMKIN
COMPOSER
imitri Zinovich Tiomkin was born in Kremenchuk on May 10, 1894. His mother, Marie (née Tartakovsky), was a music teacher and his father, Zinovie, a physician. A student at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, he excelled as a solo pianist under the tutelage of Felix Blumenfeld and Isabelle Vengerova, and also studied with composer Alexander Glazunov, the conservatory’s director.
Tiomkin’s professional debut in film music came in St. Petersburg’s cinemas, where he accompanied Russian and French silent films. He also provided piano accompaniment for the ballerina Thamar Karsavina on army post tours and improvised on the piano during performances by the comedian Max Linder. These experiences and the skills he gained helped lay the foundation of his American film music career.
Tiomkin was hired by Universal in 1931 to score the Russian-themed Resurrection, his first effort at a nonmusical film, and it was Paramount’s Alice in Wonderland that offered Tiomkin his first chance at composing and arranging the underscore and songs for a major motion picture. Film music assignments continued sporadically until he met director Frank Capra at a party and a personal friendship blossomed. The two first worked together on Lost Horizon (1937). That score helped make Tiomkin’s reputation as a creator of music on a grand scale for large symphonic and choral forces – a fortunate development given his interest in rich orchestrations. Tiomkin’s music for Lost Horizon was nominated for an Academy Award, although the nomination itself went to the head of the music department.
The Capra-Tiomkin partnership continued with You Can’t Take It With You (1938), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Meet John Doe (1941), and It’s a Wonderful Life (1947). During World War II Capra recruited Tiomkin to score the “Why We Fight” series of training and indoctrination films produced by the Army Signal Corps. Music for a dozen documentaries, including The Negro Soldier (1944) and The Battle of San Pietro (1945), was the result.
A gift for melody is part of Tiomkin’s enduring legacy. As an artist, he followed his instincts, which perhaps contributed to his success. Production manager Henry Henigson said, “He yesses everybody but does what he believes.” Tiomkin’s musical talent, endearing personality, and broken English (he reflected on his inability to master the language without an accent in his 1959 autobiography, Please Don’t Hate Me) may have enabled him to get away with this in Hollywood.
Film Credits
“It’s a Wonderful Life”
Directed by Frank Capra
Produced by Frank Capra
Written by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett and Frank Capra
Starring:
James Stewart
Donna Reed
Lionel Barrymore
Thomas Mitchell
Henry Travers
Beulah Bondi
Ward Bond
Frank Faylen
Gloria Grahame
CineConcerts Staff
Justin Freer
President/Founder/Producer
Brady Beaubien Co-Founder/Producer
Andrew P. Alderete
Chief XR Officer/ Head of Publicity and Communications
Andrew McIntyre Director of Operations Senior Brittany Fonseca Marketing Manager
Si Peng
Senior Social Media Manager
Music by Dimitri Tiomkin
Cinematography by Joseph F. Biroc and Joseph Walker
Edited by William Hornbeck
Produced by Liberty Films
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, Paramount Pictures
Opus 3 Artists Worldwide Representation
JoAnn Kane Music Service Music Preparation
Justin Moshkevich, Igloo Music Studios Sound Remixing
About the Kansas City Symphony
only its 43rd season, the Kansas City Symphony has already become one of America’s most vibrant major orchestras and has gained national and international recognition. With the 2024/25 season, the Symphony welcomed conductor and composer Matthias Pintscher as its new music director. Pintscher regularly conducts many of the world’s best orchestras and opera companies and ranks as one of the world’s foremost composers of orchestral music.
Continually creating live music experiences in Helzberg Hall, located in the prestigious Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the Symphony serves Kansas City’s metro population of more than 2.2 million people as well as welcoming visitors from around the globe. The Symphony’s 80 full-time musicians from around the world bring a diverse and dynamic range of musical experiences to our audiences in both orchestral and chamber music formats each season. In addition to concerts in Helzberg Hall, Symphony musicians perform throughout the region on our portable stage, the Mobile Music Box. The Symphony also serves as the orchestra for the Kansas City Ballet and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, adding to the rich cultural experiences that these organizations offer to the community.
Top international soloists perform with the Kansas City Symphony every season, including brilliant classical musicians, popular singer/ songwriters, rock bands and other creative performers. The Symphony also performs live soundtracks for a variety of fan-favorite films, with the movie projected on a giant screen above the stage.
Music connects us; it has the unique ability to draw us closer to our inner selves and also closer to one another, transcending our differences. Every Kansas City Symphony concert will take you on an emotional journey — a journey that’s deeply personal but also a journey that we all experience together as one.
We’re happy you are here. We are your Kansas City Symphony.
Symphony Society Contributors
The list of individual contributors includes gifts of $2,500 or more received during our 2024/25 season.
MAESTRO’S CIRCLE
($100,000 and Above)
Anonymous (2)
Virginia and Charles Clark
Paul DeBruce and Linda Woodsmall-DeBruce / The DeBruce Foundation
Barnett and Shirley Helzberg ◊
Marilyn McConnell
Michael A. Waterford
COMPOSER’S CIRCLE
($50,000 to $99,999)
Ann Baum / G. Kenneth and Ann Baum
Philanthropic Fund
Web and Tracy Bixby
J.B.† and Anne Hodgdon
Min and Fan Kao
Mr.† and Mrs. Stuart Knutson
Bill and Peggy Lyons ◊
Lorraine Martin ◊
Jean and Tom McDonnell
Virginia Merrill†
Betty C. Scott ◊
Dana Seeley
Vera and Mike† Seeley
John and Marny Sherman
Kent Sunderland
MUSICIAN’S CIRCLE
($30,000 to $49,999)
June Beaver
David A. Cooley, M.D.
J. Scott Francis, Discretionary Fund / Francis Family Foundation
Michael and Marlys Haverty
Joan Horan ◊
Michael† and Susan Newburger ◊
Betsy Piebenga
Charlotte and Bob Ronan ◊
BRAVURA CIRCLE
($12,500 to $29,999)
Anonymous
Phil and Alice Bixby
The Brandmeyer Family
Marian Wood Bump
Grant and Wendy Burcham
Kenny and Sherrie Burgess
Susan and Charles Chambers
Tim Cook
Curtis and Lillian Cooper
William and Dorothy Curry
Paul and Lynn Douthat
John M. and Mary Ann Edgar / Edgar Law Firm LLC
Howard and Anne Elsberry
Sue Ann and Richard Fagerberg
Michael D. Fields ◊
Bill and Christy Gautreaux
Michael and Sara Gentry
Kenneth and Marilyn Hager
Donald Hall, Sr.†
Hargroves Family Foundation
Charles and Barbara Haviland
Dr. Sara Hicks and Mr. Michael O’Connell
Liz and John Hjalmarson
Grace G. and Dr. James M. Hobbs II
Ellen and Irv Hockaday ◊
Chris and Adele Hodgdon ◊
Sharon and John Hoffman
Rod and Susan Kelley
Kirk Foundation / Judy Kirk
Carol and John Kornitzer
Daniel and Jan Lewis
Carl Manning and Dana Fields
Ford and Christine Maurer
Pat and Beth McCown
Mike and Jan McGraw
John and Jackie Middelkamp
Edward P. Milbank
Sue and Lewis Nerman
Lyman and Sally Ott ◊
George and Wendy Powell ◊
Gary C. Robb and Anita Porte Robb
Wallace and Mary Fern Souder
Randy and Mary Ann St. Clair
Jonathan and
Meredith Sternberg
Linda S. Stevens ◊
Robert M. Suhre ◊
Bill and Marilyn Taylor ◊
Steve and Linda Taylor ◊
Melanie and H. Wayne Thompson, Jr.
Ann Marie Trask
Marylou Turner ◊
Chasitie and Michael Walden / Burgess Family Foundation
Connie Walker
Daniel Walker ◊
CRESCENDO CIRCLE
($6,000 to $12,499)
Anonymous (3)
M. Wayne Alexander and John W. Braum ◊
Scott and Bernadette Ashcraft
Sara and Stephen Balawajder
Brian and Jennifer Blake
Dr. Carol Blum and Mr. Steven Wilson
Dr. Valerie Chow and Judge Jon R. Gray (ret)
Martha Comment
Bunni and Paul Copaken
Robert Cross
Uta Cross
Michael and Diane Dark
Richard and Maureen
Durwood Foundation
Warren and Jenny Erdman
Michael and Melanie Fenske
Byron and Dana Fink
Shelly Freeman and Kimberly Jones
Suzanne Frisse ◊
Marilyn A.W. and Norman E. Gaar, Esq.† ◊
Jacob Gerson
James Gerson
John and Lynn Gerson
Levi and Emily Gerson
Gregory E. Gille
Peter and Chris Godfrey
Myonza Gray
Edmund and Michiko Gross
Christopher and Marsha Haufler
James Heryer and Annette Evans
Heidelmann Jackson
Family Fund / Kelda Jackson and Georg Heidelmann
Kim and Ted Higgins
Bill and Irma Lou Hirsch
Amy and Paul Holewinski
Linda Houston Foundation
Beth Ingram
Roger and Sandy Jackson
Tom and Madeline Johnson
Steve Joss ◊
Nancy L. Kain ◊
Dr. Andrew Kao
Julie Kemper Foyer and Jean-Charles Foyer
Bruce and Janet Kernes
Kirk Foundation
James C. Kogel ◊
Mordy Kopperman
William Kornitzer and Linda Coburn Kornitzer
Lois Lacy
Michael and Patricia Manners
Doug and Nina McKenna
JoZach Miller and Peter Bali
Dr. and Mrs. Fred Neuer
George and Cynthia Norton
George and Suzy Pagels
Bobby and Eleanor Patton
Dr. Ron and Donna Patton ◊
John and Linda Perkins
Drs. Sanford and Elizabeth Peterson
Sarah, Joseph, Pamela and Donald Raffurty
Greg and Caroline Reintjes
Jill Ingram Reynolds
Sid and Jeannine Richison
William and Nancy Scheerer ◊
Ken Schmitz
James and Katherine Schorgl
Suzanne Shank and John Lohmeyer
Dr. Elisa S. Silverstein
Greg and Barbara Storm
Ann and John Sundeen, Jr.
David and Meg Swant
Sven and Julia Sykes
Ursula Terrasi and Jim Miller ◊
Mary and Al Tikwart
Robert and Merrill Walz ◊
Gena and Steven Williams
John and Karen Yungmeyer
OVERTURE CIRCLE
($3,500 to $5,999)
Anonymous
Patty Aenchbacher
Mr. and Mrs. James Andrews
Richard and Emily Ballentine
Leonard and Irene Bettinger
Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
Doug and Cindy Brown
Wendy and Troy Burgess ◊
Mary Canham
Robert L. Claassen
Donna Gould Cohen
Jane and George Cornwell
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Cummings
Nancy Doty Davis
Cary and Pam DeCamp
Steven DeWilde and Bradley Pearson
Mark and Lisa Ebbitts
Constance B. Fayen
Ellen Feldhausen
Joerg and Christa Finger
Mark and Nancy Gilman
Dr. and
Mrs. Charles W. Gorodetzky
Dr. Robert Graham and Dr. Jane E. Henney
Denise Griffey and Leon Langlitz ◊
Dr. Allen and Mrs. Gail Gutovitz
Chuck and Karen Haber
Katie and Aaron Hackman
Dr. Richard and Julie Hellman
Pamela T. Henderson
Bradley and Karen Hodges
Pegge Hudgins
Dr. Randall and Doranne Hudson ◊
Quinton and Kristen Huffman ◊
Randy and Kelly Huffman
Vicki and Harold James
Allen and Carol Jenks
Dick and Sandy Jones
Dr. Newton Jones and Mr. James Corrick
Dr. Robert Klein
Dr. Barbara Lukert and Estate of Mary Stoskopf
Martha, Greg, and Terri Maddux
Pete and Michelle Mirakian
Pam and Jim Nolan
Christopher and Megan Olvera
Nancy Panzer-Howell
Willy Pegues and Hayat Abdullahi
Leslie Pfriem
Patricia Raffel
Reses Apfel Family / Jacqueline D. Reses
Fred and Susan Reynolds ◊
Scott and Beth Riekeman
Michelle and Chuck Ritter
Lisa and Charles Schellhorn
Randy Sedlacek and Mary Ventura
Clarence E. Simmons, Jr.
Joe and Susan Sims ◊
Louis and Sharon Smith
Susan and Tuck Spaulding
Jeannine Strandjord
Sue Strickler
Fr. Paul Turner
John and Angela Walker
Steven and Janet Walker
Dr. Mark and Mary Ellen Walton
Chris Wasmund
Howard and Irene Weiner
Janice White
John and Mary Sue Williams
Claire† and Russell Wilson
George and Beverley Wilson
Dave and Shirley Wurth
Bernie Young and Sandra Holt
Karl and Beth Zobrist
Symphony Society Contributors (cont.)
FANFARE CIRCLE ($2,500 to $3,499)
Anonymous (2)
Susan and Ho Anthony Ahn
Joe and Malinda Algaier
Steve and Jeri Allison
Ida B. Anderson
Bruce and Gerry Barker
Scott and Robin Boswell
Tom and Judy Bowser ◊
Cheryl and Barry Brady
Robert and Pamela Bruce
Stephen and Susan Bubb
Gerard and Judy Bukowski
Steve and Sally Burk
Forrest Chumley and Barbara Valent
Ron and Kim Coker
Jeff Cotter and Karen Suhre
Suzanne Crandall
Una Creditor ◊
Bill Dickinson and Barbara Loots
Carol and Mark Dirkes
Dr. Margaret Estrin Drinkwine and Mr. Frank Drinkwine
Lisa and Buzzah Feingold
Brad and Mary Footh
Bradley and Theresa Freilich
Mark Gardner
Sally Groves
Susan and Zack Hangauer
John Hardesty and Marilyn Macha
Charles and Mary Kay Horner
M. Indellicate
Mr. Michael Kauphusman and Dr. Sandra Archer
John and Ann Kenney
Allan King and Nancy Bean
Drs. Kathy M. Krause and Robert H. Lee
Norman and Margaret Kressmann ◊
Ermalyn Kubart and Clinton Ludeman
Dr. and Mrs. Steven B. Laster
Larry and Marilyn Lewis
Bruce and Priscilla Long
Tim and Martha Madderom
Donna and Rex Martin
Mr. and Mrs. Barry C. Mayhew
Michael and Julie McCann
William McCollum and Diana Hadl
Julia and Dennis Meyer
Pam and Joe Meyer
Sharon Milens
Donald and Linda Milligan
Teresa and James Minton
Gloria Mueller
Linda and George Neill
Dr. Mark Neustrom
Dr. Jayne Opeña Bumgarner
and Mr. Jerry Bumgarner
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Penner
Howard Pitler
Melodie A. Powell and Jerry L. Short
William and Stacy Pratt
Kathryn and James Prevost
Joseph and Kelly Privitera
David Raffel
Philip and Nancy Reicher
Dennis and Palle Rilinger ◊
Constance Roeder ◊
Dr. and Mrs. Steven Romondo
Dr. Thomas Russell
Nelson and Rachael Sabates
Glen and Susan Sands
Jim and Barb Scherer
Janice and Mark Schonwetter
Don W. Shanks ◊
Dr. John Sheets and Dr. Joy Stevenson
Christopher and Lisa Sirridge
Rick and Betsey Solberg ◊
Drs. David E. and Frances G. Sternberg
Connie Stirgus-Marley
Tate Family Foundation
Don and Cathy Thomson
Darrel and Linda Thomssen
Dr. Angela and Mr. Patrick Valadez
Deanna and Larry Van Cleave
Dale E. Walker
Myron and Nicole Wang
Dr. and Mrs. Terrence R. Ward
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Webb
Heinz Wehner and Judith Biggs
Charles and Linda Wells
Sheila Wikas ◊
Mark and Heather Winiarski
Jerry and Tammy Wood
Dr. Michael J. and Cindy S. Wurm
John and Carol Yorke
We are grateful for all donations. We make every effort to list donors accurately. Space limitations, however, don’t allow us to print every gift in the program book. If we have omitted a name, or if you would like to modify your listing, please call 816.218.2624.
Premier Senior Living in the Heart of Kansas City
Foundations and Organizations
The list of foundation and organization contributors includes gifts received during our 2024/25 season.
MAESTRO’S CIRCLE
($100,000 and Above)
City of Kansas City, Missouri
DeBruce Foundation
Hall Family Foundation
Kansas City Symphony Alliance
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation
Bebe and Crosby Kemper Foundation for the Arts, UMB Bank n.a., Trustee
William T. Kemper Foundation — Commerce Bank, Trustee
Missouri Arts Council
Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts — Commerce Bank, Trustee
Symphony League
COMPOSER’S CIRCLE
($50,000 to $99,999)
Kansas City Symphony Guild
Kao Family Foundation
National WWI Museum and Memorial
Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund, City of Kansas City, Missouri
The Seeley Foundation
MUSICIAN’S CIRCLE
($25,000 to $49,999)
Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation
Curry Family Foundation
Arvin Gottlieb Charitable Foundation, Peter W. Brown, Barton J. Cohen, UMB Bank, n.a., Trustees
Michael and Marlys Haverty Family Foundation Fund
Frank and Margaret G. McGee Fund
National Endowment for the Arts
Pemberton Family Charitable Foundation
J.B. Reynolds Foundation
The Sosland Foundation
Mark Edelman Theater Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
BENEFACTOR
($10,000 to $24,999)
Anonymous
The Cross Foundation
The Ronald D. Deffenbaugh Foundation
Elsberry Family Foundation
Fondation Foyer, Julie Kemper Foyer and Jean-Charles Foyer
The Ingram Family Foundation
Kirk Foundation
Oppenstein Brothers Foundation
Victor E. and Caroline E. Schutte Foundation
Ralph L. Smith Illumination Fund
PATRON
($5,000 to $9,999)
Almy Legacy Fund
Gerson Family Foundation
McCown Family Foundation
Bill McGlaughlin Education Fund
Louis and Frances Swinken
Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City
SUSTAINER
($1,000 to $4,999)
The Breidenthal-Snyder Foundation
R.A. Long Foundation
Miller Nichols Charitable Foundation
Henry E. Wurst Family Foundation
Business Alliance Corporate Contributions
The list of corporate contributors includes gifts received during our 2024/25 season.
BUSINESS ALLIANCE
MAESTRO’S CIRCLE
($100,000 and Above)
Bank of America
Hallmark Corporate Foundation
BUSINESS ALLIANCE
COMPOSER’S CIRCLE
($50,000 to $99,999)
Ford Motor Company
Kansas City PBS
Webster House Garage, LLC
BUSINESS ALLIANCE PLATINUM PARTNER
($25,000 to $49,999)
The H & R Block Foundation
Helzberg Diamonds
PNC Foundation
Union Station
BUSINESS ALLIANCE
GOLD PARTNER
($10,000 to $24,999)
AdventHealth
BlueScope Foundation
Cerris
Evergy
JE Dunn Construction Company
KC Parks and Recreation
Kissick Construction Company
McCownGordon Construction
Spencer Fane LLP
BUSINESS ALLIANCE
PRINCIPAL PARTNER
($5,000 to $9,999)
Ash Grove Cement Company
Associated Audiologists, Inc.
Burns & McDonnell
Country Club Bank
Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe
Forvis Mazars
HMXLive
Humana
Kansas City Life Insurance Company
Kansas City University
Mark One Electric Company, Inc.
Optum
Parisi Coffee
Renewal by Andersen
Restless Spirits Distilling
U.S. Engineering Holdings
BUSINESS ALLIANCE PARTNER
($3,000 to $4,999)
Adams Brown Wealth Consultants
Black & McDonald
Brown & Brown
Blue Bird Bistro
CBIZ
EPR Properties
Fannie’s West African Cuisine
Foley Equipment
Fountain City Winery
Global Prairie
Kansas City Bier Co.
KurlCultureKC
J. Rieger & Co.
Lamp RynearsonCivil Engineering & Land Surveying
Polsinelli PC
Price Brothers Management Company
Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
State Street
Straub Construction Company, Inc.
Business Alliance Corporate Contributions (cont.)
BUSINESS FRIEND
($500 to $2,999)
Alice Scooper’s Ice Cream Co.
American Century Investments
AM CPA
Amos Family Funeral Home
Anderson and Associates
Argana Investments
Arterra KC Apartments
Atomic Cowboy
Assured Partners
Bach to Rock
Beer Kitchen
Bizz & Weezy Confections
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City
BRR Architecture
CB Construction Services
Creative Planning
Dillingham Enterprises, Inc.
DL & CL Investments
Excel Constructors
Fairway Creamery
Footprints Heroes Home Gate
Garmin
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
Heavenly Homes Team Real Estate
HFG Architecture
His & Her Fitness
J. Rieger & Co.
Katie Grimes CrossCountry Mortgage
K.C. Strings, Inc.
Lifted Spirits Distillery
Lockton Companies Inc.
Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop
Mariner
McQuaid Brothers Remodeling
Merrill Lynch/David Voysey
Metcalf Auto Plaza
Michelle Deutch DDS
Mission Farms
Mixture
Neon Palm Ice
No Coast Real Estate
Oak & Steel
Payne & Jones, Chartered Foundation
Pulse Design Group
Reliant Financial Services
SageView Advisory - Kansas City
SHS MedTech Consulting
Terrasi Living & Scandia Home
The Homesteader Cafe LLC
Taco Naco KC
TouchBase Chiropractic & Wellness
Walz Tetrick Advertising
Wandering Vine Warriors’ Ascent
West Bottoms Whiskey Co.
Wis-Pak Brands - BUBBL’R
Union Horse Distilling Co.
Union on the Hill
For more information about the Kansas City Symphony Business Alliance, please contact Mark Laverentz, Manager of Corporate Partnerships, at 816.218.2601 or mlaverentz@kcsymphony.org.
CLASSICAL CONCERT BRAHMS’ FOURTH SYMPHONY
Friday, January 9, 2026 | 8 pm
Saturday, January 10, 2026 | 8 pm
Sunday, January 11, 2026 | 2 pm
Roderick Cox, guest conductor
Avery Gagliano, piano (Almy Legacy Fund)
816.471.0400 | kcsymphony.org
Roderick Cox
Emergency Evacuation Procedure
The Kauffman Center is equipped with advanced life-safety early alert systems. Each performance hall is designed with emergency exits in case of an evacuation. In the event of severe weather, shelter in place inside the hall, not in a lobby area, and await further instructions.
In the event of an emergency, the performance will be interrupted. Horns and strobes will sound. Emergency instructions will be delivered from the stage.
Please remain seated as staff use an appropriate amount of investigational time to verify the source of the alarm.* Should an evacuation be necessary, lighted red (Muriel Kauffman Theatre) and green (Helzberg Hall) exit signs will lead patrons to one of eight emergency exit paths.
Patrons who are not able to safely and comfortably navigate stairs should remain in the venue near one of the marked “Emergency Evacuation Assistance” areas. First responders will evacuate those requiring assistance immediately upon their arrival.
Elevators, primary entrances and the Brandmeyer Great Hall staircase are NOT used in the case of an emergency evacuation.
For more information on emergency evacuation procedures, visit kauffmancenter.org/policies.
CLASSICAL CONCERT PINES OF ROME AND BRUCH’S SECOND VIOLIN CONCERTO
*Kauffman Center’s emergency egress plan, which includes an appropriate amount of investigational time to verify the source of an alarm, was developed with the assistance of the Kansas City, MO Fire Marshall’s Office.
Friday, January 16, 2026 | 8 pm (SYMPHONIC PIAZZA)
Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 8 pm
Sunday, January 18, 2026 | 2 pm
Kevin John Edusei, guest conductor
Jun Iwasaki, violin
816.471.0400 | kcsymphony.org
Jun Iwasaki
PARK UNIVERSITY
INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR MUSIC
2025-26 CONCERT SEASON
September 5, 2025, 1900 Building
Molly Carr, Viola and Anna Petrova, Piano
October 3, 2025, Graham Tyler
Memorial Chapel
Park ICM Orchestra Fall Concert
Guest Conductor Timothy Hankewich
October 23, 2025, 1900 Building
Shmuel Ashkenasi, Violin, with ICM Faculty
November 13, 2025, 1900 Building
Stanislav Ioudenitch Piano Studio
December 5, 2025, Graham Tyler
Memorial Chapel
An Intimate Christmas with the ICM Orchestra
Conductor Steven McDonald
January 23, 2026, 1900 Building
Ben Sayevich, Violin and Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, Piano
February 6, 2026, Graham Tyler
Memorial Chapel
Park ICM Orchestra Valentine Concert
Guest Conductor Filippo Ciabatti
March 13, 2026, 1900 Building
ICM String Studios
March 21, 2026, Kauffman Center
Stanislav & Friends Gala
April 17, 2026, Graham Tyler
Memorial Chapel
Park ICM Orchestra Season Finale
Guest Conductor Jason Seber
May 1, 2026, 1900 Building
Behzod Abduraimov, Piano
1900 BUILDING
Mission Woods, KS
KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Kansas City, MO
GRAHAM TYLER
MEMORIAL CHAPEL
Parkville, MO
All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. except for Stanislav & Friends which begins at 7 p.m.
LEAWOOD TOWN CENTER PLAZA • OAK PARK MALL
LIBERTY WILSHIRE PLAZA • 39TH STREET—INDEPENDENCE
SUMMITWOODS CROSSING • ZONA ROSA