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Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

Kansas City Symphony
Pops in the Park
Saturday, September 4 at 7 p.m.
Shawnee Mission Park
7900 Renner Road, Mission, KS
Admission is free.  For information visit see www.kcsymphony.org

First out of the box among classical music performing organizations in Kansas City is the Kansas City Symphony with its traditional Labor Day pops concert at Shawnee Mission Park on Saturday, September 4.  The orchestra’s lively associate conductor Steven Jarvi will conduct the performance, as usual. Your reporter, performing some serious sleuthing, has discovered that the as-yet-unannounced program (at least, as of this writing) will include a variety of popular American tunes for the orchestra to perform that evening, from The Sound of Music to Spiderman.

For serious lovers of classical music this probably won’t be the highlight of the season, but if enjoying the sounds of the Symphony while munching on watermelon and popcorn is your thing, this is it.  And you can’t beat the price (although be prepared for Symphony-related beggars).  Arrive early to get a good seat, and bring along a folding chair and blanket, if you like.  A picnic supper is pretty well mandatory unless you intend to spend some time listening to your stomach grumble while others around you devour various picnic-type delicacies (but if you’re not good at food preparation they do sell food on the grounds).  Don’t forget the sunglasses and cap, useful until the sun goes down.


Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey
Ailey II
Thursday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, September 10 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 11 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Folly Theater
11^th and Central, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-931-8933 or online at www.kcballet.org

The Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey bring their young dancers in the Ailey II group to the Folly Theater for a weekend of athletic performances including one piece new to the Ailey II group and two premieres. The new number is Shards by Donald Byrd, set to music by Mio Morales. The premieres are Doscongio by Robert Moses, which dates from 1998 and set to two movements by Chopin, and The Corner by Kyle Abraham.

The September 11 performance is a benefit for the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, so the price is higher but it includes a tax deductible contribution to this worthy group.


The Performing Arts Series at JCCC
Takacs String Quartet
Friday, September 10 at 8:00 p.m.
Yardley Hall at Carlsen Center
12345 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS
For tickets call 913-469-4445 or online at www.jccc.edu/performing-arts-series

On September 10, the Performing Arts Series at JCCC, which features an eclectic mixture of performing groups throughout the year, is presenting the first of its classical concerts with the Takacs String Quartet, one of the world’s finest chamber music ensembles.

Longtime classical music fans in Kansas City are familiar with the Takacs, as the quartet  has appeared here several times with The Friends of Chamber Music, as well as on the JCCC series.  The players richly deserve their reputation as being among the best in the business.  They will bring us their special mix of sounds in the music of Haydn, Shostakovich and Schubert.


newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble
Between tides
Saturday, September 11 at 8:00 p.m.
All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church
4501 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-235-6222 or online at www.tickets.cto.umkc.edu/

newEar, the city’s best claim to being a friendly environment for contemporary music, opens its fall season on September 11 with music of Bonnie Miksch, Edward Jacobs and Roderik de Man. The concert also features a work by the student winner of the first newEar Composers’ Competition, Yuan Peiying, playing 5 Elements. 

The centerpiece of the evening will be a composition by Toru Takemitsu, Between Tides for piano trio. It is one of the classics of contemporary music.

Ruel Joyce Concert Series
Fedele Trio
Monday, September 13 at 12:00 noon
Recital Hall, Carlsen Center at JCCC
12345 College Boulevard, Overland Park, KS
Free admission. For more information visit www.jccc.edu/home/depts.php/1113/site/recitals

The Ruel Joyce concert series has brought outstanding noontime concerts by local artists and performing arts groups for several years now.  This free concert series has deservedly attracted a loyal audience following, and is known among aficionados for excellent performances.  The series opens its season with the Fedele Trio consisting of local performers David Fedele on the flute, Matthew Herren paying cello, and Dan Velicer at the piano.  The selections have not been announced as of press time for this column.


UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance Conservatory Artist Series
Conservatory Orchestra Concert
Thursday, September 16 at 7:30 p.m.
White Recital Hall, UMKC Campus
4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, MO
For tickets call 816-235-6222 or online at www.conservatory.umkc.edu

The Conservatory of Music’s Conservatory Artist Series, formerly known as the Signature Series, opens its season with guest conductor Michael Stern, the music director of the Kansas City Symphony, conducting at the Conservatory for the first time.

The program will include James Mobberley's Grand jete, commissioned by Sarah and Landon Rowland at the 2008 Crescendo! gala in honor of Todd Bolender, late artistic director of the Kansas City Ballet.

By Don Dagenais

City Classics Music and Dance Columnist; Classical Contributor

A lifelong classical music fan, Don Dagenais is a frequent preview speaker for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and has taught classical music and opera courses at several Kansas City venues. He has served on the boards of directors of a number of performing arts organizations including the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the Lyric Opera Guild, UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, Opera Volunteers International, the Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City, Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony, Octarium, and the Friends of the Symphony.  He has been the past president of most of these organizations and is current the president of the Friends of the Symphony. 

Dagenais co-authored a history of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, published on the occasion of its 50th anniversary (2007) and has written books on the histories of both the Lyric Opera Guild and Opera Volunteers International, as well as an introductory book for opera novices (Your Passport to the Opera).  He has received several local and national awards for outstanding volunteer work for the arts, including a lifetime achievement award from The Coterie Theatre in 2000, the Kansas City Musical Club's annual award in 2001, a Partners in Excellence Award from Opera Volunteers International in 2002, a Bravo Award from Opera Volunteers International in 2004 and a community service award from the Daughter of the American Revolution in 2008 honoring him for his community service to the arts.

In addition to his music interests, Don is president of the board of directors for the Metropolitan Ensemble Theater and has served on the boards of The Coterie Theatre and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, serving as president of each organization.  He publishes newsletters for seven arts organizations.  When not involved in the performing arts, Don is a senior real estate attorney with Lathrop & Gage LLP in Kansas City, Missouri, where he has practiced law since 1976 after graduating from the Cornell Law School.