About the Friends
In its 38 years, The Friends of Chamber Music has developed a reputation of excellence in its presentation of chamber music that has made it unrivaled in the region and one of the finest series in the country. Introducing new artists, new art forms, and new literature has been an integral part of our history, as well as our commitment to our future. Through The Friends, Kansas Citians have been introduced to world-acclaimed artists, many of whom had never before been heard in our community.
Throughout the years, The Friends has grown to comprise three series: The International Chamber Music Series, The Master Pianists Series, and The Early Music Series. The Master Pianists Series is considered by many in the industry to be one of the nation’s leading series of its kind. The Friends serves as the region’s primary presenter of early music. The Friends promotes accessibility through affordable ticket prices, representative of a fraction of the cost of tickets for the same artists on other major concert series across the country. We take seriously our commitment that this is where “the intimate voice of classical music becomes the conversation”.
The Friends’ programs are accessible and inventive, reaching beyond the boundaries of traditional chamber music and the confines of a concert hall. In addition to concert presentations, The Friends has presented over 720 performances through its Music Connection program, over 100 performances with Rob Kapilow on the “What Makes It Great?” series, and hundreds of other activities including master classes, lectures, panels, and films totaling well over 1,000 outreach presentations since The Friends’ founding.
In 2010-11, The Friends proudly launched the Music Alliance Series, a partnership with the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. This series brings great artists to the UMKC campus to share their gifts and insights through concerts, master classes, and discussions on the music industry. These activities greatly enhance Conservatory students’ professional development, while also providing wonderful opportunities for chamber music audiences.
