UMatters

[The following was provided by the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance.]

The UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance is has announced its 2011-2012 concert series, comprised of the Conservatory Artist Series and Music Alliance, its partnership with Friends of Chamber Music. Conservatory ensembles will perform at the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, giving more than 300 of our students from dance, jazz, winds, choral, and orchestra the opportunity to perform in the Center’s inaugural year and to experience this state- of-the-art concert hall.

The Conservatory Artist Series, which focuses on collaboration, will continue our commitment to great performances while celebrating our bonds with leading national and Kansas City arts organizations.  Performances by PRISM Quartet, performing William Bolcom’s Concerto Grosso, a PRISM commission, the Conservatory’s own Concert Jazz Band, performing Bobby Watson’s The Gates BBQ Suite, and Conservatory Wind Symphony, which performs Corigliano’s Circus Maximus will dramatize the Conservatory’s innovative strengths.

Conservatory dancers will collaborate with the Conservatory choirs and Wind Symphony to perform the dazzling Carmina Burana, while the season will wrap up with the stellar Conservatory Orchestra, under the direction of Robert Olson performing Chen Yi’s beautiful Chinese Myths, which also includes the Conservatory’s dancers and choir in addition to four Chinese traditional instrumentalists.

Music Alliance, our partnership with the Friends of Chamber Music, presents three concerts in its second year, including pianist Konstantin Lifschitz, the Morgenstern Trio from Germany, and violinist Jennifer Koh with pianist Shai Wosner.  All of these artists will give master classes at the Conservatory.

For a complete lineup of this season’s performances and prices, visit the Conservatory’s website.