Community Resources

Music Advocacy

Music Advocacy


DISCOVER A BREAKTHROUGH ADVOCACY FOR MUSIC PROGRAMS IN U.S. EDUCATION


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Local Workshops

Drunken Fiddles


Drunken Fiddles is a group class for adults who would like to learn how to play the fiddle, or cello. During the 4 week workshop participants will learn a new fiddle tune each week in a relaxed group environment. We drink wine, we laugh, we have fun and, most importantly, we fiddle!

Learn more: www.fiddlelife.com

KC Bass Workshop


If you're a bassist (all ages and all levels) you must know about Johnny Hamil and his annual KC Bass Workshop, KC Bassfest, and Bassmass!

Learn more: www.kcbassworkshop.com

Fiddle Club


Fiddle Club is fun for students and teachers alike.

String students: you will find new ways to explore the sounds your instrument can make, have fun learning fiddle tunes and creative ways to play, plus come back to school ahead of the game with bowing skills and left hand agility you can only get from fiddling.

Music teachers: recharge and reconnect with your love of music. Spend some time refueling your own playing in a fun and creative way, while also gaining new skills and ideas you can use in the classroom.

With your membership:

-24/7 on-demand access to a library of videos you will drool over.
-Tutorials for countless fiddle tunes (beginner, intermediate, and advanced)
-Mini lessons on theory and musical skills
-Fiddling Secrets that will change the way you play!
-Sheet music (for violin, viola, cello, mandolin, full score + chords) for all tunes that you can download and keep.
-Practice Tracks you can download at multiple tempos.
-Weekly emails with new tutorials, exercises, and creative practice ideas to keep you motivated.
-Monthly Jam Session!

All for $29.99/ month ! (Less than the cost of one lesson)

Join now and get a free intro lesson to get you started with personalized recommendations.

Social Scales & Studies for the Violin

Local String Concerts

March 2023


Musical Theater Heritage
R&H: Unplugged
Kansas City, MO
March 1st - 5th

YSKC & Opus 76 Quartet
Chamber Concert
Friday, March 3rd at 7:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Overland Park Orch
estra
Carmen
Overland Park, KS
Saturday, March 4th at 3:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Olathe Youth Symphony
OYS Rock-In Concert with Mark Wood & Band!
Olathe, KS
Saturday, March 4th at 7:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Heritage Philharmonic
Celebrating Opera
Blue Spring, MO
Saturday, March 4th at 7:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Olathe Community Orchestra
"British Invasion"
Olathe, KS
Sunday, March 5th at 3:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Westwood Ensemble
Bach To The Future: WE Season Five
Sunday, March 5th at 3:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Kansas City Classic Orchestra and Band Festival
Free Afternoon/Evening Festival
Kansas City, MO
Tuesday, March 7th starting at 1:00 PM
 
Kansas City Civic Orchestra
“Beethoven 7!”
Overland Park, KS
Saturday, March 11th at 7:30 PM
Click Here for More Information

Opus 76
MTC Series Finale: Tchaikovsky & Schumann
Overland Park, KS
Sunday, March 12th at 2:00 PM

Kansas City Symphony
Symphony's Wild Adventure
Kansas City, MO
Sunday, March 12th at 2:00 PM

Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City
Music & Nature Concert
Kansas City, MO
Sunday, March 12th at 4:00 PM

Krista Kopper with No Treble
Performing Pieces for Double Bass
Merriam, KS
Saturday, March 18th at 7:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Hot Club KC
Market at Meadowbrook
Prairie Village, KS
Friday, March 24th at 4:00 PM

MAPPA
Schubert and Brahms Quintets
Lawrence & Prairie Village, KS
March 24th / March 25th
Click Here for More Information

NAVO Arts
Cello Extravaganza
Overland Park, KS
Saturday, March 25th at 7:30 PM
Click Here for More Information

Shakedown Strings
Mike Kelly's Westsider
Kansas City, MO
Wednesday, March 29th at 7:30 PM
Click Here for More Information

Harriman-Jewell Series
Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott
Kansas City, MO
Friday, March 31st at 7:00 PM
 
Do you know of any local string concert to add to this or next month's list?
Please let us know by e-mailing the information to: info@kcstrings.com

February 2023


Northland Symphony Youth Ensembles

Winter Concert
Liberty, MO
Sunday, Feb. 4th at 4:00 PM
 
Shakedown Strings
Live Music at 9th & State
West Bottoms, Kansas City
Saturday, Feb. 4th at 7:30 PM
Click Here for More Information
 
Hot Club KC
Live Music at the French Market
Prairie Village, KS
Thursday, Feb. 8th at 5:30 PM
Click Here for More Information

Opus 76

Valentine's Day Special: Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Brahms & More
Kansas City, MO
Friday, Feb. 10th at 6:30 & 8:45 PM
Click Here for More Information

Trio Barn Burners
(Destiny Ann Mermagen, Michael Mermagen and Hyunsoon Whang)
Prairie Village, KS
Friday, Feb. 10th at 7:30 PM
Click Here for More Information

Kansas City Symphony
Inside Music Series: Masterclasses
Kansas City, MO
Saturday, Feb. 11th at 11:00 AM
Click Here for More Information

The Wires
"The Marriage of Music and Art - Concert 4"
Kansas City, MO
Saturday, Feb. 11th at 7:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Fountain City Quartet
In Tune With Love
Kansas City, MO
Saturday, Feb. 11th at 7:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Northland Symphony Orchestra
Strings and Friends
Kansas City, MO
Saturday, Feb. 11th at 7:30 PM
Click Here for More Information

KC Chamber Orchestra
For the Love of Music (Dinner / Concert)
Kansas City, MO
Tuesday, Feb. 14th at 6:30 PM
Click Here for More Information

Possum
Trot String Quartet
Westport, KCMO
Friday, Feb. 17th at 12:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

St. Petersburg String Quartet and Piano Quartet
Post-Valentine Concert
Overland Park, KS
Saturday, Feb. 18th at 6:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Medical Arts Symphony
Works of Cook & Brewer
Lawrence, KS
Saturday, Feb. 18th at 7:30 PM
Click Here for More Information

Harriman Jewell Series
Filharmonie Brno with Dennis Russell Davies & Laurie Anderson
Kansas City, MO
Saturday, Feb. 18th at 7:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Youth Symphony of Kansas City
Middle School Classic Festival
Overland Park, KS
Saturday, Feb. 25th
Click Here for More Information

Do you know of any local string concert to add to this or next month's list?
Please let us know by e-mailing the information to: info@kcstrings.com

January 2023

 
This month we're excited to share more about the live music scene in Kansas City!
Some of our favorite restaurants & venues who have nightly or weekly live music include:
 
 
LOCAL MUSIC FEATURING STRINGS:

The Mengel Brothers Duo
Live Music at Chaz
The Plaza, KCMO
Sunday, Jan. 1st from 6:00-10:00 PM

Hot Club KC
Live Music at the French Market
Prairie Village, KS
Thursday, Jan. 5th from 5:30-8:00 PM

Tyrone Clark & Charles Gatschet
Live Music at the Black Dolphin
Downtown, KC
Friday, Jan. 6th from 6:30-9:30 PM

Made In France Band
Live Music at the French Market
Prairie Village, KS
Thursday, Jan. 12th from 5:30-8:00 PM

Opus 76
Vivaldi's Four Seasons & Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Thursday, Jan 19th at 6:30 PM
Downtown, KC

Mire Pral
Live Music at the Market at Meadowbrook
Prairie Village, KS
Friday, Jan 20th from 4:00-6:30 PM
Click Here for More Information & Performances

Kansas City Symphony
Wagner's "Flying Dutchman" and The Barber Violin Concerto
Downtown, KC
January 20-22nd

Mandolin Orchestra of Kansas City
Winter Concert
Kansas City, MO
Saturday, Jan. 21st at 7:00 PM
Click Here for More Information & Performances
 
The Wires
In the Music Room at Deva Audio
Leawood, KS
Wednesday, Jan. 25th at 6:30 PM
Click Here for More Information & Performances

St. Petersburg String Quartet
Concert
Pilgrims Chapel
Friday, Jan. 27th at 7:30 PM

Do you know of any local string concert to add to this or next month's list?
Please let us know by e-mailing the information to: info@kcstrings.com

December 2022

 
Coleen Dieker & Beau Bledsoe
Winter Residency at Tannin
Wednesday, Dec. 1st, 15th, and 29th

Destiny Ann Mermagen & Tatiana Tessman
Christmas Favorites
Friday, Dec. 2nd at 7:30 PM
 
Park International Center of Music
Holiday Concert
Saturday, Dec. 3rd at 7:30 PM
 
Westwood Ensemble
Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and Rossini
Sunday, Dec. 4th at 3:00 PM

Olathe Youth Symphony
Winter Concert
Sunday, Dec. 4th at 3:30 PM

Kansas City Civic Orchestra
Sounds of the Season
Dec. 9th-10th
 
Ensemble Ibérica
Tango Argentino with Hector del Curto
Saturday, Dec. 10th at 7:00 PM

Medical Arts Symphony
Brahms - Symphony #1 in C minor, Op. 68
Saturday, Dec. 10th at 7:30 PM

Northland Symphony Orchestra
Holidays in the Northland
Sunday, Dec. 11th at 2:30 PM & 4:30 PM
 
Fountain City String Quartet
Holiday Favorites
Friday, Dec. 11th at 7:30 PM
 
Kansas City Symphony
Christmas Festival

The Wires
The Marriage of Music and Art - Concert 3
Friday, Dec. 16th at 7:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Lee's Summit Symphony
Sounds of the Season
Saturday, Dec. 17th at 3:00 PM

Heritage Philharmonic
Celebration of Christmas
Saturday, Dec. 17th at 7:00 PM
 
St. Joseph Symphony
“Holiday Cheer” with Guest Dancer, Tommy Wasiuta
Saturday, Dec. 17th at 7:00 PM
 
Overland Park Orchestra
Holiday Concert and Sing-Along!
Saturday, Dec. 17th at 7:30 PM
 
Spire Chamber Ensemble
Handel's Messiah
Monday, Dec. 19th at 7:00 PM

Bassmass
Calling All Bassists to Recordbar!
Thursday, Dec. 22nd at 5:00 PM
 
Shakedown Strings
Concert at Knuckleheads
Thursday, Dec. 29th at 7:30 PM
 
Adam Galblum
Market at Meadowbrook
Friday, Dec. 30th at 4:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Made in France Band
Live Music at the French Market
Saturday, Dec. 31st from 5:00-8:30 PM
Click Here for More Information

Nate Nall Jazz Trio
New Year's Eve W/Comedy and Jazz
Saturday, Dec. 31st at 5:30 & 9:15 PM
Click Here for More Information
Do you know of any local string concert to add to this or next month's list?
Please let us know by emailing the information to: info@kcstrings.com
 

November 2022

 
Rewound String Trio
Weekly at Ca Va
Thursdays at 9:00 - 11:00 pm

Sax and Violins
Performance at Westport Coffeehouse
Wednesday, Nov. 2nd at 6:30 PM
Musical Odyssey
Friday, Nov. 4th at 7:00 PM
Click Here for More Info

Heritage Philharmonic
Dynamic Dances in Celebration
Saturday, Nov. 5th at 7:00 PM

Hot Club KC
Music at French Market
Thursday, Nov. 10th from 5:30 - 8:00 PM

Opus 76
Mozart's Requiem & More
Friday, Nov. 11th at 6:30 & 9:30 PM
Click Here for More Info

KC Civic Orchestra
"Civic University"
Friday, Nov. 11th at 7:30 PM
Saturday, Nov. 12th at 2:00 PM (family version)
(preceded by Instrument Zoo for children at 1:00pm)
Northland Symphony
MYO/MYS Anniversary Concert
Sunday, Nov. 13th at 4:00 PM

St. Petersburg String Quartet
Playing Shostakovich, Ravel and Montgomery
Friday, Nov. 18th at 7:30 PM

Shakedown Strings
Music at Mike Kelly's
Nov. 19th & 30th from 7:00 - 10:00 PM
Click Here for More Info

Olathe Orchestra
"Mythic Masterpieces"
Sunday, Nov. 20 at 3:00 PM
Click Here for More Info

Do you know of any local string concert to add to this or next month's list?
Please let us know by emailing the information to: info@kcstrings.com

October 2022


Lee's Summit Symphony
Macabre
Saturday, Oct. 1st at 7:00 PM
Click Here for More Information

Mid-America Performing Arts Alliance:
Destiny Mermagen, Mike Mermagen, and Tatiana Tessman
German Masterworks
Saturday, Oct. 1st at 7:00 PM
 
Olathe Community Orchestra
Fall Classics
Sunday, Oct. 2nd at 3:00 PM
Bel Canto Duo
Performance at K.C. Strings
Saturday, Oct. 8th at 7:00 PM
The Wires
The Marriage of Music and Art
Saturday, Oct. 8th at 7:00 PM
 
Kansas City Symphony
Inside Music Series: Masterclasses
Saturday, Oct. 8th at 11:00 AM

Westwood Ensemble
Bach To The Future: WE Season Five
Sunday, Oct. 9th at 3:00 PM
Kansas City Civic Orchestra
“The Bold and the Beautiful”
Saturday, Oct. 15th at 7:30 PM
 
Medical Arts Symphony
Dvorak & Gershwin
Saturday, Oct. 15th at 7:30 PM
Click Here for More Information
 
Northland Symphony
In Nature's Realm
Sunday, Oct. 16th at 3:00 PM
 
Opus 76
Vivaldi's Four Seasons & Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Thursday, Oct. 20th at 7:30 & 9:30 PM
 
String Sprouts
Stringfest: A benefit for String Sprouts
Saturday, Oct. 22nd at 5:30 PM
Click Here for More Information
 
Overland Park Orchestra
Fall Concert
Sunday, Oct. 23rd at 2:00 PM
 
Hot Club KC
Johnnie's Jazz Bar and Grille (Liberty)
Friday, Oct. 28th at 6:30 PM
Click Here for More Information

Shakedown Strings
9th and State
Saturday, Oct. 29th at 7:30 PM
Click Here for More Information

Do you know of any local string concert to add to this or next month's list?
Please let us know by emailing the information to: info@kcstrings.com

Local Community Orchestras

Heritage Philharmonic


The mission of the Heritage Philharmonic is to provide the Jackson County community with excellent, affordable and convenient orchestral music programs by using both professional and volunteer musicians. We celebrate life-long musical skills development for all levels of players.

Rehearsal Location: Blue Springs, MO
Learn More: www.heritagephilharmonic.org

Iola Area Orchestra

 

The Bowlus Fine Arts Center proudly presents the Iola Area Symphony Orchestra as one of their programs starting in the 2018-19 season. However, it has been a part of our community since 1965. The Orchestra will be performing one concert this year. Rehearsals are held Monday evenings from 7-9 PM in the large rehearsal hall here at the Bowlus. The orchestra is happy to welcome new musicians! If you are interested in joining or would like more information about the orchestra please contact us!

Rehearsal Location: Iola, KS
Learn More: Click Here

Kansas City Civic Orchestra

 

The Kansas City Civic Orchestra is a community-based orchestra in the Kansas City metropolitan area. For 60 years, our mission has been to bring high quality, free concerts to the local community. Our all-volunteer orchestra is comprised of amateur and professional musicians with one thing in common – a love for music!

Rehearsal Location: Overland Park, KS
Learn More: www.kccivic.org

Kansas City Kansas Community Orchestra


The mission of the Kansas City Kansas Community Orchestra is to provide the opportunity for volunteer musicians to enhance their musical talents by sharing their love of music with the community. The goal of the Orchestra is to cultivate the next generation of musicians while offering the community an outlet to express their talents.

Rehearsal Location: Kansas City, KS
Learn More: www.kckorchestra.com

Lees's Summit Symphony


Since 2003, the Lee’s Summit Symphony has become an integral part of Eastern Jackson County’s cultural landscape, enriching the community through a quality, passionate Symphony. Each year, the Symphony entertains thousands, including families with school-aged children. Members of the Lee’s Summit Symphony must be high school graduates.

Rehearsal Location: Lee’s Summit, MO
Learn More: www.lssymphony.org

Lenexa Community Orchestra


The Lenexa Community Orchestra performs free concerts for the community each summer. The orchestra, which began in 2017 as a program of the Lenexa Arts Council, is made up of volunteer musicians and is led by conductor Richard Ryan.

Rehearsal Location: Lenexa, KS
Learn more: Click Here

Mandolin Orchestra of Kansas City


The Mandolin Orchestra of Kansas City, MOOKC, was formed to provide cultural enrichment, create public interest and encourage participation in the greater Kansas City community by presenting musical performances with an emphasis on the Mandolin family of instruments and their history.

Rehearsal Location: Kansas City, MO
Learn More: www.mookc.com

Medical Arts Symphony


The Medical Arts Symphony began in 1959 when Eleanor Sharp and some of her colleagues at the University of Kansas Medical Center decided to share their avocation of symphonic music with their professions in healthcare. Since its founding, the Symphony has not wavered from its dual mission of providing an opportunity for amateur musicians to perform great works of Western music and enriching the cultural life of Kansas City by presenting free concerts, including premier performances of works by local composers. For thirty years, the orchestra was conducted by Leopold Shopmaker, who was succeeded by Dr. Merton Shatzkin in 1989. John Bell assumed the reins in 2013. Steve Lewis is the current Music Director. Today, the orchestra includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, healthcare students, as well as other musicians from the Kansas City area.

Rehearsal Location: Lawrence, KS
Learn More: www.kcmasymphony.org

Northland Symphony Orchestra


Our organization includes a professional/student/community symphony orchestra that perform five concerts per season, as well as two youth ensembles - The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and Metropolitan Youth Sinfonia - that perform three concerts per season. We play a wide variety of quality classic symphonic literature for every music-lover. Our concerts are informal, family friendly and always without charge.

Rehearsal Location: North Kansas City, MO
Learn more: www.northlandsymphony.org

Olathe Community Orchestra


Olathe Community Orchestra is comprised of a diverse group of musicians, amateur and professional, brought together by their love of music and desire to play their instruments. Adult musicians do not need to audition. Students under 18 who wish to play with the orchestra must audition for the conductor.

Rehearsal Location: Olathe, KS
Learn More: www.olatheorchestra.org

Omni Ensemble


The Omni Ensemble is UMKC’s community string orchestra, offering playing and performance opportunities for all members of the UMKC community and the greater Kansas City community. The ensemble is open to non-music majors, members of the community, or music majors playing a secondary instrument. Anyone with at least two years experience playing violin, viola, cello, or bass is eligible to participate.

Rehearsal Location: TBA
Learn More: https://info.umkc.edu/cmda-omni/

Overland Park Community Orchestra


The Overland Park Orchestra is a volunteer orchestra sponsored in part by the City of Overland Park. Since its inception in 1973, it has played for both children and adults at a variety of venues and performs a regular Halloween concert with a costume parade for children. In recent years, the orchestra has provided music for the American Youth Ballet’s annual production of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet and has been a part of the Overland Park Fall Festival and events at the Overland Park Arboretum.


Rehearsal Location: Overland Park, KS
Learn More: www.oporchestra.org

Saint Joseph Symphony


The Saint Joseph Symphony celebrated its birth as a community orchestra on November 30, 1959 with its debut performance at St. Joseph’s fabulous Electric Theater. The orchestra, which now performs in the historic Missouri Theater, evolved into a professional orchestra in the mid 1980s and hosts musicians from St. Joseph, Maryville, Atchison, Kansas City, Lawrence and Leavenworth.

Rehearsal Location: St. Joseph, MO
Learn More: www.saintjosephsymphony.org

Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City


The Mission of the Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City is to engage communities by entertaining and educating through music. The Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City performs four concerts a year, all designed to raise awareness and appreciation of well played music. The March concert is always a family concert. This year continues a 30 year history of annual family concerts for The Philharmonia.

Rehearsal Location:
Learn More: www.kcphilharmonia.org

Social Symphony KC


The Social Symphony is a KC-based, community-driven orchestra that started in 2018. We play various events and concerts year-round. While we welcome all walks of life into our symphony we are also simultaneously helping people reconnect with music and community. The SSKC provides a place for us to come together and play again, while making new friends at the same time. We not only play music together, we have several social nights out as well. It’s really all in the name: The Social Symphony.

Rehearsal Location: Downtown Kansas City, MO
Learn More:www.socialsymphonykc.org

Westwood Ensemble


Westwood Ensemble is presently a full orchestra of more than 30 musicians and is continually growing. The ensemble is unique in two regards: 1) We play literature rarely performed by other ensembles. 2) The group is comprised of: youth, adult amateurs, and top professional players. The professionals aid in working with the ensemble members. Many of the members are present or past students of these professionals. There is a $20 audition fee but no other membership fees to play.

Rehearsal Location: Westwood, KS
Learn More: www.westwoodensemble.com

Local Youth Orchestras

Kansas City Young Chamber Musicians


Learn more: www.kcycm.org

Northland Symphony Youth Orchestra


Learn more: www.myokc.org

Olathe Youth Symphony

Youth Symphony of Kansas City

Private Music Lessons

For information about private music lessons, please visit our Lessons page or email info@kcstrings.com. We have excellent teachers who teach in the K.C. Strings Conservatory and a list of teachers who we can personally recommend in the surrounding area.


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