UMKC’s Arts and Culture Roundup

Every week, the University of Missouri-Kansas City offers an array of on-campus activities. It’s nothing new. UMKC has a long legacy of hosting countless culturally enriching events. These activities are part of what has made UMKC an arts and culture powerhouse. The influence of UMKC-based and UMKC-trained artists extends well beyond the campus’ edge, so their activities are listed here as well.

Featured Event: Kids Club

This weekend, children can enjoy some of their favorite music, and a few soon-to-be-favorites, performed by the Roeland Park New Horizons band.

Saturday’s concert, entitled “To Infinity and Beyond,” will include well-known music from Pixar Movies and classic westerns, as well as a live version of the score to a short film about the Hubble Space Telescope.

Ideal for children ages 3-8, each of the Conservatory of Music and Dance’s Kids Club concerts feature activities that encourage children to appreciate, and engage in, music and dance.

“This season opener will combine music and motion in formative ways that reach many generations. It’s interactive, so it really draws on kids’ natural desire to want to move while they’re listening,” Mara Gibson, program director, said.

The concert is tailored to a child’s imagination. Lindsey Williams, music director for the Roeland Park New Horizons band, said that the band focused on music that tells a story. In some cases, it’s a familiar story.

“When a child hears “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” they’re going to see Woody and Buzz. They’re going to be able to close their eyes and see the movie again,” Williams said.

But it isn’t just about the music. The concert will allow multiple generations to interact with one another, and hopefully, inspire children to make music for the rest of their lives. The New Horizons band, after all, is made up of performers ages 50 and over.

“What they’re going to see are people the ages of their grandparents and great grandparents, making music. What I hope they’ll understand is that they can make music their entire lives,” Williams said.

An “Instrument Petting Zoo,” during which children will have a chance to get hands-on with musical instruments, will begin at 9 a.m.

What:Kids Club: “To Infinity and Beyond.”Join the New Horizons band in a program featuring well-known soundtrack music from Pixar Movies and classic westerns. New Horizons will also perform a live version of the score to a short film about the Hubble Space Telescope.

Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo
When: Saturday, October 13, 10-11 a.m.
Get more details.

Friday, October 12 – Thursday, October 18

 What:Hall/Higdon Duo.The Hall/Higdon Duo will feature alumnus James Hall on flute and faculty Patricia Higdon on piano.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Friday, October 12, 7:30 p.m.
It’s free. Get more details.

What:Robert Weirich, piano Faculty Recital featuring Robert Weirich, piano.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Saturday, October 13, 7:30 p.m.
It’s free. Get more details.

What:Conservatory Singers.The Conservatory Singers and the University Singers perform directed by Robert Bode and graduate conductors Gabriel Lewis-O’Connor and David Figuracion; guest choir Olathe East HS Madrigal Singers directed by Dustin Cates; pianists Lee D. Thompson, Sora Park, and Melissa Loehnig; and organist Dale Morehouse.
Where: Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, Ks.
When: Sunday, October 14, 3 p.m.
It’s free. Get more details.

 What: 11th Annual Jazz & BBQ.Jazz Friends, the UMKC Conservatory, and Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors present the 11th Annual Jazz & BBQ, a benefit for UMKC jazz student scholarships and support. Featuring Bobby Watson and Dan Thomas directing the Conservatory Concert Jazz Band and 11 O’Clock Jazz Band, respectively. This year’s Jazz & BBQ honors the life and musical legacy of Gerald Wilson.
Where: UMKC Student Union, 5100 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Sunday, October 14, 6 p.m.
Get more details.

What: Conservatory Orchestra.Directed by Robert Olson. Program includes David Ott’s Concerto for Two Cellos and Orchestra with faculty cellist Carter Enyeart and guest cellist Wesley Baldwin.
Where: White Recital Hall, James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Thursday, October 18, 7:30 p.m.
Get more details.

What: Nick Yarsulik, Forgotten Pieces and Broken Memories. MA Thesis Show of digital artist Nick Yarsulik. Yarsulik’s current work explores the complexity of human relationships, the distortion and intangibility of memory, and the translation of these concepts into computer simulations and animations.
Where: The UMKC Gallery of Art, Room 203 of the Fine Arts Building, 5015 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through November 2.
It’s free. Get more details.
What: KCXX October Showcase 2012, will feature ten acts and ten artists.Studio Art students from UMKC’s Art and Art History Department will show their work. They are Amy DeSitter, Stephanie Bloss, and Sasha Santillan.
Where: 2100 Grand Pop Up Art Gallery, 2100 Grand 64108 Kansas City, MO, US.
When: October 14, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Get more details.

 What:“Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson.” This is an edgy rock musical about our nation’s seventh president.
Where: Unicorn Theatre, 3828 Main Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through Nov. 4
UMKC Connection: Co-production with UMKC Theatre. Many of the actors and designers are UMKC graduate students.
Get more details.

What: The Blue Gallery presents Bernal Koehrsen’s “Landscapes from the Spirit” and D. Ross’ “Everlasting.”
Where: The Blue Gallery, 118 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Exhibition runs through October 27.
UMKC Connection: Kelly Kuhn, co-owner of the Blue Gallery, is a UMKC graduate.
Get more details.

What: The New Theatre Restaurant’s “Social Security,” features Barbara Eden, best known for her role in “I Dream of Jeannie.”
Where: The New Theatre Restaurant, 9299 Foster, Overland Park, Ks.
When: Now through Nov. 4.
UMKC Connection: Co-owners Dennis Hennessy and Richard Carrothers are both UMKC graduates and both were presented this year with honorary doctorates by the UMKC College of Arts and Sciences.
Get more details.

What: The Coterie Theatre presents “The Presidents Tour,” which tours schools this fall. Students will learn about 44 presidents in 45 minutes.
Where: Call the Coterie Theatre to schedule a performance.
When: Performances began Oct. 4.
UMKC Connection: Two UMKC graduate theatre students founded the Coterie.
Get more details.

What: The American Heartland Theatre’s “Making God Laugh” is a play about God and family.
Where: American Heartland Theatre, 2450 Grand Boulevard, Suite 314, Kansas City, Mo.
When: Now through October 21.
UMKC Connection: The theatre’s founder, Jim Assad, was a UMKC graduate.
Get more details.

What: Happy Hour Chamber Music in Helzberg Hall. Kansas City Symphony is pleased to announce the first program of the new Free Happy Hour Chamber Music Series in Helzberg Hall on Wednesday, October 17 at 6 p.m. Musicians of the Kansas City Symphony will perform Britten’s Phantasy Quartet for Oboe and Strings and Brahms’ String Sextet No. 2 in G major.
When: Wednesday, October 17, 6 p.m.
Where: Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.
UMKC Connection: The Kansas City Symphony was founded by faculty member Karl Krueger in 1933.
It’s free. Get more details.