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The Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City has appointed Travis Jürgens its conductor and music director-designate, effective at the conclusion of the Philharmonia's current season this summer.

The not-for-profit community orchestra, sponsored in part by Park University, is comprised of students, adult volunteers, music instructors and professional musicians from the Kansas City metropolitan area

Current conductor and music director Andrés Franco, announced last fall that his new duties as associate conductor of the Fort Worth (Texas) Symphony Orchestra would mean the end of his six-year tenure with The Philharmonia. A search committee narrowed the search to three finalists, and each finalist performed as a guest conductor at The Philharmonia's annual Free Family Concert in March.

Currently the founding music director of the United Orchestra of Urbana (Ill.), Jürgens holds a master's degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Illinois. He earned his undergraduate degree in piano performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where he received the Dean's Award and the Faculty Award.

In addition to his duties with the United Orchestra, Jürgens served as a conducting instructor with the Illinois Summer Youth Music program and assistant conductor for the University of Illinois Opera Theatre. Previously, he was a guest conductor for the University of Illinois New Music Ensemble, the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, the Illini Orchestra and the IES Vienna Chamber Orchestra in Vienna, Austria

When asked about his goals in approaching his new professional opportunity, Jürgens said, "Music comforts, heals, nourishes and energizes; therefore, it is my passion to share it with the greater community and motivate others through it. My vision is to lead The Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City to the next level of artistry and stature."

"The search committee did a tremendous job of identifying three remarkably strong candidates from the large number of applicants," said Philharmonia President Gene Jacobs. "It would appear that Travis Jürgens emerged from this group as the favorite of the committee, the orchestra and the audience at the Free Family Concert. We feel extraordinarily fortunate to gain both his musical talents and his administrative experience at this time in The Philharmonia's history."

Jürgens and his wife, Kristen, hope to relocate to the Kansas City area soon. In addition, he hopes to find an opportunity with a local church or similar organization as its music director.

The final performance of The Philharmonia under the baton of Franco will be the Season Finale Concert, set for 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 2, in the Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the campus of Park University. Franco's wife, Victoria Luperi, principal clarinetist with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, will be the featured soloist.

For more information about The Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City, contact Jacobs at (816) 588-8033 or visit www.kcphilharmonia.org

Established in 1875, Park University is a national leader in higher education and is distinguished by its innovative adult-degree completion programs. The University has 24,157 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs at 43 campuses located in 21 states and online. www.park.edu

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