Kansas City Symphony

Founded by R. Crosby Kemper, Jr., in 1982, the Kansas City Symphony has established itself as a major force in the cultural life of the community. Praised for performances of uncompromising standard, the orchestra is the largest in the region and enjoys a national reputation under the artistic leadership of Music Director Michael Stern.

The Kansas City Symphony also experienced impressive artistic growth through its history and under the batons of Russell Patterson (1982-1986), William McGlaughlin (1986-1997) and Anne Manson (1998-2003). Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Associate Conductor, conducts Family and Pops Series concerts plus holiday and special presentation performances. Charles Bruffy is the Symphony Chorus director.

The Kansas City Symphony serves a metropolitan population of 2.1 million people. The orchestra’s 80 full-time musicians are area residents and vital contributors to the artistic life of Kansas City. During its 42-week season, the Symphony performs a wide variety of subscription, educational and outreach concerts. In addition, the Kansas City Symphony performs with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and the Kansas City Ballet.

The Symphony has released nine recordings on the Reference Recordings label: “Shakespeare’s Tempest,” the Grammy® Award-winning “Britten’s Orchestra,” an Elgar/Vaughan Williams project, “Miraculous Metamorphoses,” an all-Saint-Saëns CD featuring the magnificent “Organ” Symphony, the music of contemporary American composer Adam Schoenberg (nominated for two Grammy Awards), Holst’s The Planets, a Jonathan Leshnoff project featuring pianist Joyce Yang, and the latest, One Movement Symphonies of Barber, Sibelius and Scriabin. Additional projects have been recorded and slated for future release, including an album of Brahms transcriptions. The Symphony’s concerts with internationally celebrated mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato were featured on the national PBS Summer Arts Series in July 2012.