March 2026 Performances, Kansas City Symphony 2025-2026 Season by TheIndependentMagazinePA

The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John

PAGE 26

Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra Final Symphony: Music From Final Fantasy

PAGE 12

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Helzberg Hall

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Secure your seats today!

Where Art AudienceMeets

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

Adrienne Dopf, Director of Marketing

Ross Lowinske, Creative Director

Hannah Goodwin, Manager of Digital Channels

Gabrielle Guignon, Marketing Coordinator

Box Office

Stephen Borodkin, Manager of Ticketing Services

Sarah Martin, Assistant Manager of Ticketing Services

Virginia Reed, Receptionist and Office Coordinator

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

KC Symphony Orchestra Roster

MATTHIAS PINTSCHER, MUSIC DIRECTOR

MICHAEL STERN, MUSIC DIRECTOR LAUREATE

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

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

Philharmonia Fantastique:

The Making of the Orchestra

Music by Mason Bates

Written by Mason Bates & Gary Rydstrom

Directed by Gary Rydstrom

Animation Direction by Jim Capobianco

Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 2 p.m.

Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Luke Poeppel, David T. Beals III Assistant Conductor

The 2025/26 season is generously sponsored by SHIRLEY and BARNETT C. HELZBERG, JR.

The Family Series is sponsored by

Additional support provided by

W.A. Mozart

Sergei Prokofiev

Ludwig van Beethoven

Lin-Manuel Miranda (arr. Sean O’Loughlin)

Various (arr. Paul Murtha)

Mason Bates

Overture to Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), K. 492

Suite No. 2 from Romeo and Juliet, op. 64ter

I. Montagues and Capulets

Suite No. 1 from Romeo and Juliet, op. 64bis

V. Masks

Incidental Music to Egmont, op. 84

IX. Melodrama: Poco sostenuto

Selections from Encanto

“Golden” from “K-Pop Demon Hunters”

Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra

LUKE POEPPEL

DAVID T. BEALS III ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

merican German conductor and pianist Luke Poeppel is currently the David T. Beals III Assistant Conductor of the Kansas City Symphony. He recently served as associate conductor for Cerrone and Fleischmann’s opera In a Grove at the 2025 Prototype Festival, stepping in to conduct the full run of performances, which received critical acclaim from such outlets as the New York Times, The Observer and The Financial Times. In the summer of 2025, Poeppel conducted In a Grove with Opera Saratoga, as well as served as the assistant conductor for Tosca and Sunday in the Park with George at the Glimmerglass Festival.

With the Kansas City Symphony, in the 2024/25 season he conducted performances featuring Cody Fry and PROJECT Trio, a series of KinderKonzerts co-hosted by KMBC’s Bryan Busby and a “Back to the 80s” pops concert. Other recent engagements include the Reno Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Modern (in Frankfurt, Germany), Orchestra of the League of Composers, Washington Square New Music Ensemble, Exceptet Ensemble and Rochester Summer Opera. Poeppel has served as a cover conductor for orchestras and ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Tokyo Symphony, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Signal and Contemporaneous. In the 2025/26 season, Poeppel makes his debut with the Grossman Ensemble in Chicago.

Based in New York City, Poeppel is a 2024 graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he received his master’s degree in conducting. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from New York University. He is the recipient of a 2025 Career Assistance Award from The Solti Foundation U.S.

Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra

MASON BATES

COMPOSER

omposer of the bestselling The Amazing Adventure of Kavalier & Clay for the Metropolitan Opera, Mason Bates is imaginatively transforming the way classical music is created and experienced as a composer, DJ and curator. With electroacoustic works such as Mothership and multimedia projects such as the animated film Philharmonia Fantastique, Bates has become a visible advocate for the modern orchestra and imaginatively integrates it into contemporary culture.

Championed by legendary conductors from Riccardo Muti to Michael Tilson Thomas, Marin Alsop and Leonard Slaktin, his symphonic music is the first to receive widespread acceptance for its unique integration of electronic sounds.

Named as the most-performed composer of his generation, Bates has also composed for feature film, including Gus Van Sant’s “The Sea of Trees” starring Matthew McConaughey and Naomi Watts. He is also a passionate advocate impacting the next generation through classical/club shows produced by Mercury Soul and his educational ecosystem Sprite’s World, which reaches hundreds of thousands of students and teachers across the country.

Continuing to delight audiences of all ages is “Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra,” for animated film and live orchestra. The work has become Bates’ most-performed work, with hundreds of performances in the past several years. A collaboration with multiOscar®-winning Gary Rydstrom of Lucasfilm and Jim Capobianco of Aerial Contrivance, the work features a magical Sprite, who flies through instruments as they are played. The huge numbers of children it reaches every year make it one of the most impactful pieces of classical music ever created for young people.

Bates’ other vehicle for music outreach is Mercury Soul, a classical club show that has packed clubs around the country. Its home series in San Francisco this season continues the organization’s celebration of spectacular spaces, with events at Grace Cathedral, Asian Art Museum, The Battery and other exciting venues. The show integrates classical sets into an evening of DJing and immersive production.

A diverse artist exploring the ways classical music integrates into contemporary culture, Bates serves on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

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

Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra

About Philharmonia Fantastique

Philharmonia Fantastique: The Making of the Orchestra is a 25-minute concerto for orchestra and animated film that flies through the instruments of the orchestra to explore the age-old connection of creativity and technology. Philharmonia Fantastique is a collaboration between composer and DJ Mason Bates, Oscar®-winning director and sound designer Gary Rydstrom and animation director Jim Capobianco.

Guided by a magical Sprite, we see violin strings vibrate, brass valves slice air and drum heads resonate. Imaginatively blending traditional and modern animation styles, it is a kinetic and cutting edge guide to the orchestra. By the film’s end, the orchestra overcomes its differences to demonstrate “from many, to one” in a spectacular finale.

Since its premiere in 2021, the work has been heard in more than 100 concerts across the U.S. and Europe on every concert format — subscription, family, education and film. More than 136,000 youngsters at education and family concerts who have experienced the piece in live concerts have subsequently been supported by Sprite’s World, an educational ecosystem based on the film. Please visit Sprite’s World to explore this beloved touchstone of classical music education.

The film is now available on Apple Music and Apple TV and the Grammy®-nominated soundtrack is available on Sony Classical.

For more information, please visit www.spritesworld.org.

Final Symphony: Music from Final Fantasy

Wednesday and Thursday, March 25-26, 2026 at 7 p.m.

Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Jason Seber, Guest Conductor

Thomas Böcker, Executive Producer

Stephen Beus, Piano

The 2025/26 season is generously sponsored by SHIRLEY and BARNETT C. HELZBERG, JR.

Additional support provided by

Nobuo Uematsu / arr. Jonne Valtonen

Nobuo Uematsu / arr. Roger Wanamo

Nobuo Uematsu and Masashi Hamauzu / arr. Masashi Hamauzu and Roger Wanamo

Opening Fanfare

“Final Fantasy VI” — Born with the Gift of Magic (Terra’s Theme | Kefka | Esper World | Battle etc.)

“Final Fantasy X” — Piano Concerto (Besaid | Hum of the Fayth | Thunder Plains | Assault etc.)

I. Zanarkand

II. Inori

III. Kessen Stephen Beus, piano

Intermission

Nobuo Uematsu / arr. Jonne Valtonen

“Final Fantasy VII” — Symphony in Three Movements (Main Theme of FINAL FANTASY VII | J-E-N-O-V-A | Tifa’s Theme | The Great Warrior etc.)

I. Nibelheim Incident

II. Words Drowned by Fireworks

III. The Planet’s Crisis

Final Symphony: Music from Final Fantasy

JASON SEBER

GUEST CONDUCTOR

ason Seber is known for his inviting and engaging approach on and off the podium. A strong believer in the eclectic experiences which today’s symphony orchestras offer their communities, he strives to make music of many genres and styles accessible, relevant and meaningful to diverse audiences across the country.

Seber has conducted many leading American orchestras, including the Baltimore, Colorado, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Nashville, National, North Carolina, Phoenix, San Diego and St. Louis symphonies, the Louisville and Minnesota orchestras, the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Cincinnati Pops, among others. Upcoming performances include debuts with the Oregon Symphony and the Dallas Symphony. Seber has conducted over 25 full feature films and has had the pleasure of performing with a wide range of artists including Patti Austin, Mason Bates, Andrew Bird, Boyz II Men, Ashley Brown, Melissa Etheridge, Ben Folds, Cody Fry, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Indigo Girls, Wynonna Judd, Lyle Lovett, Katharine McPhee, Natalie Merchant, Brian Stokes Mitchell, My Morning Jacket, Leslie Odom Jr., Aoife O’Donovan, Pink Martini, Ben Rector, Stephen Schwartz, Doc Severinsen, Lindsey Stirling, Violent Femmes and Bobby Watson.

Seber served as associate conductor of the Kansas City Symphony from 2016 to 2022. In this position he led the Symphony in over 300 performances on the Classical, Pops, Classics Uncorked, Family, Film+ Live Orchestra, Education and Christmas Festival series. He also served as co-host for the Symphony’s podcast “Beethoven Walks into a Bar.” Prior to Kansas City, Seber was the education and outreach conductor at the Louisville Orchestra from 2013 to 2016 and music director of the Louisville Youth Orchestra from 2005 to 2016.

A passionate advocate for music education, Seber has led the Honors Performance Series Orchestra in concert at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House and Royal Festival Hall in London. He is a frequent guest conductor of the National Repertory Orchestra each summer and he has served as the All-State Orchestra conductor for Georgia, Kansas, Missouri and Pennsylvania.

Final Symphony: Music from Final Fantasy

STEPHEN BEUS

PIANO

trikingly original ... an interpretive voice all his own” (Fanfare Magazine). In the space of four months, American pianist Stephen Beus won first prize in the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, first place in the Vendome Prize International Competition (Lisbon) and the Max I. Allen Fellowship of the American Pianists Association (Indianapolis).

As a result of winning the Juilliard School Concerto Competition, Beus made his Carnegie Hall debut with the Juilliard Orchestra and James DePreist, playing Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. He has also performed as guest soloist with the Gulbenkian Symphony (Lisbon), Oxford Philomusica, Tivoli Symphony (Copenhagen), Tbilisi National Opera Orchestra, Northwest Sinfonietta (Seattle), Royal Philharmonic of Morocco (Casablanca) and Vaasa Symphony Orchestra (Finland) as well as with the Hamburg, Indianapolis, Nashville, Santa Fe, Utah, Fort Worth, Tucson, Yakima, Bellevue, Salt Lake, Eastern Sierra, Corvallis, Jacksonville, Texarkana and Walla Walla Symphonies.

Equally active as a soloist, Beus has given recitals across the United States as well as in Kazakhstan, Russia, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, Georgia, China, France, Italy, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Morocco.

Born and raised on a farm in eastern Washington, Beus began lessons at age 5 and made his orchestral debut four years later. He went on to win numerous national and international competitions throughout his youth, capturing the attention of both audiences and critics. Commenting on Beus’ competition success, Fanfare magazine writes: “In some ways Beus doesn’t fit the mold of the typical competition winner. His playing is strikingly original and, despite his youth, he has an interpretive voice all his own … Above all, his playing is so natural as to seem effortless and the sound he produces has extraordinary richness and depth, not quite like anyone else’s.”

Beus holds degrees from Whitman College, the Juilliard School and Stony Brook University, and his teachers have included Leonard Richter, Robert McDonald, Gilbert Kalish, Christina Dahl and Paulette Richards. He has recorded on the Endeavor Classics, Harmonia Mundi and Centaur Records labels. Stephen Beus is a Steinway Artist and currently teaches at Brigham Young University. For more details, visit www.stephenbeuspiano.com.

YOUR EVENT VISIONS

Versatile indoor and outdoor spaces for intimate conversations or large-scale events, within an inclusive and accessible environment. Explore our trails, gardens, fountains, and labyrinth. Stay at our full-service hotel, with free parking and a scenic 9-hole golf course.

At Unity Village, we’re committed to helping you host unforgettable events.

Ask about the new R.D. Goppert Event Center

The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John

Friday and Saturday, March 27-28, 2026 at 8 p.m.

Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 2 p.m.

Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Jason Seber, Guest Conductor

Michael Cavanaugh, Piano and Vocals

Johnny Fedevich, Drums

Billy Venditti, Bass

Jamie Hosmer, Keyboards

Dennis DelGaudio, Guitar

John Scarpulla, Saxophone

Greg Peters, Tour/Business Manager

Jim Guthrie, Production Manager

For more information on guest conductor Jason Seber, please see page 23.

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.

Additional support provided by

The concert weekend is sponsored by

Friday’s performance is sponsored by

Guest conductor Jason Seber is sponsored by Suzanne Frisse

Guest artist Michael Cavanaugh is sponsored by Tom and Madeline Johnson

and Marlys Haverty

Michael

Connie Walker

The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John

MICHAEL CAVANAUGH

PIANO AND VOCALS

ichael Cavanaugh is the new voice of the American Rock & Roll Songbook and a charismatic performer and musician made famous for his piano/lead vocals in the Broadway musical Movin’ Out. Handpicked by Billy Joel to star in Movin’ Out, Cavanaugh evokes a style rivaling the Piano Man. He appeared in the show for three years with over 1,200 performances and received multiple accolades.

Michael began playing at age 7, when his parents bought their first piano. Encouraged by family and friends, and inspired by his hero Billy Joel, Michael formed his first band at age 10 and began playing local functions, fine-tuning the craft that would become his chosen career. His first full-time gig as a musician was an extended engagement in Orlando, Florida, at a piano bar called Blazing Pianos. In January of 1999, Michael received an offer that would unknowingly change his life: an opportunity to play Las Vegas at the famed New York, New York Hotel and Casino. It was there that Billy Joel spotted Michael and joined him on stage one fateful night in February 2001. It only took two songs before Billy was convinced that he had found his new Piano Man: Michael Cavanaugh. Michael closed up shop at New York, New York and moved to New York City to work alongside Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp to shape the Broadway Musical that would be called Movin’ Out. In the lead role, he received Grammy® and Tony® award nominations.

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†

Gary C. Robb and Anita Porte Robb

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

Warren and Jenny Erdman

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 ◊

Dr. Ron and Donna Patton ◊

George and Wendy Powell ◊

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

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

Sue and Ken 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

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

George and Beverley Wilson

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 ◊

Steve and Sally Burk

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

Norman and Margaret Kressmann ◊

Dr. and Mrs. Steven B. Laster

Dr. Barbara Lukert and Estate of Mary Stoskopf

Martha, Greg, and Terri Maddux

Pete and Michelle Mirakian

Linda and George Neill

Pam and Jim Nolan

Edward and Chris Null

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

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

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

Shirley Gaufin and Tim Jackson

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

Ermalyn Kubart and Clinton Ludeman

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

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

Jack and Errett Schmid ◊

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. ◊ Sempre Society † In memoriam

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

The Jewel Ball

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

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 Rynearson - Civil Engineering & Land

Surveying

MC Realty Group, LLC

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) SUPPORTERS

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

KC Strings

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.

CONCERT

DREAM

Friday, April 10 at 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 11 at 8 p.m.

Sunday, April 12 at 2 p.m.

Matthias Pintscher, music director and conductor

Hare & Tortoise photo by Brian Slater 2025

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.

*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.