Author: tg4kcco

Dementia360/KAIROS Memory Cafe’ Outreach

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What a beautiful day our KAIROS Memory Cafe’ attendees experienced in October when Jennifer came and played for us! Music is so important for those living with dementia. There are many health benefits of music, including boosting mood, reducing agitation and stress, improving focus, relieving symptoms of depression, stimulating memories, expressing feelings, managing, and easing pain, and even heart-healthy – research shows that blood flows more easily when music is played. As you can see from the pictures, we really enjoyed the music, and we cannot wait to have Jennifer join us again! Thank you, Kansas City Civic Orchestra, for sharing her with us today! You exceeded our expectations!!Christi Crawford, Dementia360 Consulting/KAIROS Memory Cafe'

Corinth Elementary Outreach

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Outreach coordinator Jennifer Mitchell’s visit to Corinth Elementary on October 7 was a big hit! Beautiful weather allowed for a safely distanced outdoor performance.

2019-2020 Chatelain Young Artist Theodore Ohly

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KCCO was honored to be joined by Theodore Ohly, winner of our 2019-2020 Chatelain Young Artist Competition, at our April concert at Yardley Hall. Due to Covid safety precautions, this performance was pre-recorded without a live audience. It is available to view on our YouTube channel. Theodore performed symphonie espagnole (mvt. 1).

Chatelain Concerto Winner Teddy OhlyTheodore Ohly, 14, began studying violin at age 5.  He took Skype lessons with Julian Meyer of Philadelphia, who had been his mother’s teacher for three years.  When the Ohly family moved to the Kansas City area in 2015, he began studies with Noah Geller, concertmaster of the Kansas City Symphony. Currently, he studies with ChiaFei Lin, associate concertmaster of the Kansas City Symphony.  Theodore is a member of the Ohly trio, along with his brother Oscar (cello) and sister Lucy (violin).  He was concertmaster of the Youth Symphony of Kansas City Academy Orchestra during the 2019-2020 season. Theodore also plays soccer, runs, and is on the SMNW tennis team.  He is currently a freshman at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School.

We look forward to resuming our Chatelain Young Artist Competition in our 2021-2022 season.

Current Season

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KCCO’s 63rd Season

We are thrilled to be performing for you live once again! Thank you to those who attended our November performances and Instrument Zoo. Our next concert is coming up on December 10.

“Sounds of the Season”

Friday, December 10 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, December 11 at 2:00 pm
Atonement Lutheran Church

–Program–

Canadian Brass Christmas (Traditional, Arr. C. Custer)

Fantasy on Greensleeves (R. Vaughn Williams)

Sleigh Ride (L. Mozart)

Sleigh Ride (L. Anderson)

INTERMISSION

A Christmas Festival (L. Anderson)

Waltz of the Flowers (P. Tchaikovsky)

Sing-a-Long (Traditional)
    O’ Come All Ye Faithful
   The First Nowell
   Hark! The Herald Angels

Winter Wonderland (Traditional, Arr. C. Custer)

“Vayner Conducts Schubert & Tchaikovsky”

Saturday, March 5 at 7:30 pm (pre-concert talk at 6:45)
Atonement Lutheran Church

“An Epic Finale”

Sunday, May 15 at 3:00 pm
Helzberg Hall

Jennifer Mitchell

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Jennifer Mitchell is a former strings teacher, long-time member of KCCO,
and outreach program rockstar!

A love that began in kindergarten…

My love for the violin began in Kindergarten after hearing a 1st grader perform “Twinkle, Twinkle”.  We lived in Clay Center, Ks at the time, and were lucky to find a wonderful Suzuki teacher right away.

When my family moved to Kansas City in 1969, I began taking lessons from Tiberius Klausner and became a member of the KC Youth Symphony, eventually becoming the Concert Mistress.

In 1975, the Kansas City Civic Orchestra gave me a full scholarship to attend the UMKC Conservatory and I have been a member of KCCO ever since, minus a couple years when my kids were born.

Upon graduation from UMKC, I became an elementary strings teacher in Shawnee Mission East Area for 36 years.  Following my retirement, I helped create the KCCO Outreach program.  It has been an AMAZING experience as part of the elementary Outreach team playing for over 13,00 students on both sides of the state line.  I also enjoy playing 50-minute programs each month for seniors at six different assisted and memory centers who are no longer able to attend live performances. 

Then came COVID 19.

While I REALLY missed playing for elementary students this year, I was able to move my outreach program OUTSIDE and continue playing for seniors during spring, summer and fall.  Being part of KCCO’s “Civic in the City” was another amazing opportunity to perform in front of live audiences who were as excited to hear live music as I was to share it with them.

Currently I continue to perform for seniors via Facebook Messenger and am looking forward to more opportunities to play this spring as the weather warms up.

LIVE Online Performance February 15

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In Partnership with the Prairie Village Arts Council, KCCO Outreach coordinator Jennifer Mitchell will present a live online 50-minute program at 10:30 a.m. on February 15th in honor of Presidents’ Day and Valentine’s Day.

A familiar face to local audiences and former Shawnee Mission students, local violinist and retired SMSD strings teacher Jennifer Mitchell will perform for you on violin with accompaniment. Jennifer has performed for over 13,500 students and seniors through her musical outreach program with the Kansas City Civic Orchestra.

The coronavirus has created new opportunities for KCCO outreach. Jennifer and others from the orchestra have taken their performances to small audiences through live driveway/neighborhood concerts, outdoor performances to senior facilities, and now online through Facebook.

Register early to get a reminder and join us live on February 15th at 10:30 a.m.!

Program of American Favorites
America the Beautiful
Anchors Away
The Caissons Go Rolling Along
The Marine’s Hymn
You’re A Grand Old Flag
Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me)
I Only Have Eyes For You/The More I See You
Oh! Susanna
Cindy
Kiss Waltz
When She Loved Me
If I Didn’t Have You
Lover, Come Back To Me
I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You
What a Wonderful World
Over the Rainbow
Let There Be Peace on Earth

Virtual Concert

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A Private Performance Just for You!

Enjoy the sounds of the Kansas City Civic Orchestra strings as they perform repertoire that is inspiring, traditional, and exciting!

Music Director Christopher Kelts and 26 KCCO strings players gathered over a period of a few weeks to rehearse and record this video for your listening and viewing pleasure. The performance features works by Mozart, Dvorak, and Tchaikovsky.

Our sincerest appreciation goes to Atonement Lutheran Church, Keith Stanfield (audio/video), and all the musicians involved in this project.

Be sure to sign up for e-mail updates. You may also donate to the Kansas City Civic Orchestra to help us continue to offer performances like these.

Please view and share this as much as you like. Together we will let music carry us through!


Holiday Video Available

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While we are not able to hold our annual holiday concert this year, you can still enjoy music of the season played by Kansas City Civic Orchestra members of the strings, brass, and woodwinds sections!

Original arrangements of favorite holiday tunes can be yours to enjoy in the comfort of your own home – or to share with others as a season’s greeting!  For a minimum donation of $20.20, you will receive links to download our holiday video via email between November 20 and December 31, 2020.  You may save and share the video as many times as you like. Spread some joy and make the season special with this unique video greeting! Use the button below to donate.




For additional information please contact us.

Fall Senior Outreach

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Appropriately distanced outreach programs continue!

Thanks to some days of unseasonably nice weather this fall, our senior outreach team has been able to continue offering limited performances to senior living facilities! Although the format is different – sometimes a recording from home, sometimes on-site but at a distance – residents have still been able to enjoy some live music during this challenging time.