Kansas City Symphony

Kansas City Symphony performs music for everyone

The Kansas City Symphony is the region’s only full-time professional symphony orchestra setting the standard for artistic excellence. Led by Music Director Michael Stern since 2005, the Symphony has experienced steady growth and acclaim. Previously Michael Stern has conducted the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra among many others. He also appears regularly at the Aspen Music Festival, and has served on the faculty of the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen.

The orchestra's 80 full-time musicians are area residents and perform during a 42-week season. The Symphony season includes 13 programs on its Classical Series, a Pops Series, Family Series, and a variety of subscription, educational, touring and outreach concerts.

The Classical Masterworks Series

Music Director Michael Stern crafts strong seasons filled with audience favorites—Beethoven, Mozart, Tchkaikovsky, Brahms, Dvorak, Bach, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Vivaldi, Sibelius—as well as introducing new works by living American and international composers. The Kansas City Symphony also performs choral works such as requiems by Mozart and Verdi with the Kansas City Symphony Chorus, under the artistic direction of Arnold Epley. The Classical Masterworks Series brings big-name stars and bright newcomers. In recent years, the Symphony has presented such luminary guest soloists as Yo Yo Ma, Itzak Perlman, Jane Eaglen, Emmanuel Ax, Joshua Bell, Yefim Bronfman, Midori and many more.

The Pops Series

Extraordinary guest artists and the entire Kansas City Symphony provide a truly unforgettable season of entertainment. Four Pops concerts are presented each season featuring guests artists such as legendary singer/songwriter Neil Sedaka, Linda Ronstadt, Pink Martini, The Beatles tribute Classical Mystery Tour, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Doobie Brothers, Steve Lippia's Simply Sinatra revue, The von Trapp Children, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Marvin Hamlisch and many more over the years.

The Family Series

The Symphony's Family Series is an affordable way to capture children's imagination and get kids excited about the world of classical music. These 70-minute concerts are performed without intermission and are perfect for adults and children ages 4 and up. A good example of “family” music was Paul Mesner and his award-winning puppets bringing a unique and entertaining twist to Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice—a delightful work immortalized in animated film and song—played by the full Kansas City Symphony. Three more family hits include Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage, Beethoven Lives Upstairs, and Tchaikovsky Discovers America.

Listen to Michael Stern talk about the Kauffman Center in several videos.