Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts Announces New
Premier Partner Sponsorship with Saint Luke’s Health System
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts President and CEO Paul Schofer today announced a three-year premier sponsorship with Saint Luke’s Health System. The partnership with the 10-hospital health system is intended to further develop both organizations’ efforts to serve and enhance the lives of people in Kansas City.
Named the Premier Partner of the Kauffman Center, the support of Saint Luke’s Health System will help to connect and engage visitors of the Kauffman Center in new and creative ways far beyond sponsorship branding. The partnership will support Kauffman Center programs and develop new opportunities for community engagement with the arts. “The Kauffman Center is committed to providing quality performing arts experiences for all and we are excited to work with such an established and respected Kansas City organization” said President and CEO Paul J. Schofer. “Saint Luke’s Health System has an impeccable reputation for service, excellence, and improving the quality of life in our community which perfectly aligns with the level of commitment and service the Kauffman Center works to provide.”
Saint Luke’s Heath System has provided health care and health-related services in a caring environment for more than 150 years. “Saint Luke’s and Kauffman Center each strive to improve the lives of everyone in our community,” said President and CEO Melinda L. Estes, M.D., “The sponsorship is a natural alignment of two iconic organizations with an undeniable commitment to Kansas City – each with a focus on quality, excellence, service, and improving the lives of the people who we serve.”
The Kauffman family and Saint Luke’s Health System have invested in the Kansas City community for many years. The nationally recognized Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center focuses on issues unique to women’s heart health and led to the establishment of the Women’s Heart Center in 1994. The same year, Muriel Kauffman, civic leader and philanthropist, shared her vision for the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts with her family and the community. After her death, her daughter and chairman of the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, Julia Irene Kauffman, helped make the vision of a performing arts center a reality.
About Saint Luke’s Health System
Saint Luke’s Health System consists of 10 area hospitals and several primary and specialty care practices, and provides a range of inpatient, outpatient, and home care services. Founded as a faith-based, not-for-profit organization, our mission includes a commitment to the highest levels of excellence in health care and the advancement of medical research and education. The health system is an aligned organization in which the physicians and hospitals assume responsibility for enhancing the physical, mental, and spiritual health of people in the metropolitan Kansas City area and the surrounding region.
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Black Violin Announce Unity Tour
Thursday, Nov. 17 | 7:30 PM
Muriel Kauffman Theatre
Wilner “Wil B” Baptiste (viola) and Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester (violin) are Black Violin – an exhilarating violin/viola hip-hop duo that performs for audiences of all ages. Classically trained musicians, the two musicians met as high school orchestra nerds; today they play genre-bending music, radically fusing hip-hop and pop with classical to create a kaleidoscope of sounds uniquely their own. The group is on a perception-changing, stereotype-shattering mission with their unique take on classical music. Named one of the hottest bands at South by Southwest, they have opened for such diverse names in music as Kanye West, 50 Cent, Aerosmith, and Tom Petty, and creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Linkin Park, Wyclef Jean, and Alicia Keys. Their major label debut, Stereotypes, was released last year to critical acclaim and incorporates their many musical influences from classical, R&B, soul, rock, and beyond. The pair creates a distinctive, peerless sound that continues to resonate with a broad variety of music lovers.
The duo announced their unity tour this past August with the tour’s goal being to “encourage and empower people of all ages, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds to find what connects us, rather than shine a light on what divides us.” Black Violin combines powerful voiceovers with hip-hop style violin/viola in their song Stereotypes, a piece which seeks to define what a stereotype is and how it negatively impacts those who are on the receiving end of prejudice.
This introspective duo joins pioneer Lindsey Sterling (electronic classical crossover dubstep artist) in making classical music more approachable for the next generation. Wilner Baptiste and Kevin Sylvester have played in front of nearly 100,000 students this past year, in the hopes that their music will spread an impactful message to young people about embracing their identity and rising above labels.
When asked about how the duo has experienced stereotypes themselves, Kevin Sylvester tells a story about an encounter with a woman in an elevator. Her assumption that he, as “a 6-foot-2-inch, 260- pound black man”, wasn’t a classically trained violinist based solely on his appearance was an eye-opening moment for Sylvester. He acknowledges that while “she didn’t mean it maliciously…I hope she gets to see us in concert and we can change her perception.” The exchange inspired the name Stereotypes for their latest album. Their music video for the song paints a picture of how the performing arts unite everyone (no matter the skin color) under a shared passion for creative expression. See it here:
The duo hopes that their classical/hip-hop crossover style will bring together diverse groups and keep classical music alive for the next generation. Join us for an inspiring night with Black Violin on Nov. 17 at the Kauffman Center.
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KANSAS
Saturday, October 22nd | 7:30 PM
Muriel Kauffman Theatre
America’s preeminent progressive rock band KANSAS presents their six-time multi-platinum album Leftoverture, performed in its entirety for the very first time. The band will showcase classic KANSAS music including hit songs “Dust in the Wind,” “Hold On,” and “Point of Know Return” and will feature new songs from their upcoming album The Prelude Implicit. The band, which is currently comprised of original drummer Phil Ehart, bassist/vocalist Billy Greer, keyboardist David Manion, vocalist/keyboardist Ronnie Platt, violinist/guitarist David Ragsdale and original guitarist Richard Williams, continues to perform in front of large and enthusiastic audiences around the world. KANSAS continues to remain a fixture of classic rock radio and has reached a whole new audience through their unmistakable presence in popular video games, including Rock Band and Guitar Hero, recent television shows, and films.
Throughout the 70s and 80s, KANSAS played for sold-out arenas in North America, Japan, and Europe. They spent 200 weeks on the Billboard charts, and their popularity remained steady with their song “Carry on Wayward Son”, which played as the #1 track on classic rock stations in 1995.They are a group that takes pride in their unique sound and image; and with forty years of experience to back them up, this group of Kansas natives knows how to work their unique qualities to their advantage.
From their humble origins as a garage band in 1974, the band has gone on to produce eight gold albums, three sextuple-Platinum albums, one platinum live album, and a million-selling gold single, “Dust in the Wind.” Perhaps most notable though is their Collegiate Symphony Tour (2010-2012) which raised funds and awareness for collegiate music programs by incorporating college and university symphonies across the US into their performances. During the tour in 2011, the group performed at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. in collaboration with the US Army Orchestra to honor America’s veterans on Veteran’s Day. Here’s a quick look at the Collegiate Symphony Tour:
KANSAS was inducted into the Kansas Hall of Fame coinciding with their 40th anniversary and still performs around the country today. A documentary that follows the group’s journey from small town origins to superstardom, Miracles out of Nowhere, can be purchased online. The Kauffman Center is excited to host KANSAS on October 22nd for what is sure to be an unforgettable night.
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George Winston
Sunday, Oct. 16 | 7:00 PM
Helzberg Hall
GRAMMY Award-winning pianist with over 15 albums to his name, George Winston brings his stunning brand of solo piano to the Kauffman Center. Inspired by the seasons and topographies, George Winston’s concerts feature a variety of styles including melodic folk piano, New Orleans R&B piano and stride piano. He performs songs from his seasonal albums Autumn, December, Winter Into Spring, and Summer, as well as Peanuts pieces from his Vince Guaraldi tribute albums Linus and Lucy and Love Will Come.
Montana native George Winston grew up listening to instrumental rock and R&B greats like Floyd Cramer, the Ventures, Booker T & The MG’s, The Doors, and Jimmy Smith. These iconic musicians (and the overall sound of R&B, jazz, blues, and rock) inspired Winston to begin playing the organ in 1967. After hearing pianists from the 1920s and 1930s like Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller and Teddy Wilson, he decided to try his hand at acoustic piano. At the same time, Winston designed his own style called folk piano. Winston drew inspiration from his Eastern Montana upbringing while creating many of his solo piano albums, including Plains (1999) and Montana – A Love Story (2004). In addition, Winston says he draws inspiration from Chinese music, which he calls “some of the deepest and longest running traditional music on the planet.” In 2001, Winston released Remembrance—A Memorial Benefit for those affected by the events of 9/11. This six-song album incorporates piano, guitar and harmonica solos to create a masterful example of how musicians can use their talents to better the world.
Winston has also worked with the late George Levenson of Informed Democracy on three projects and performed the solo piano soundtrack for the children’s story The Velveteen Rabbit for Rabbit Ears Production.
Winston is currently focusing on live performances and will be performing at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts on October 16. Come out and enjoy an unforgettable night with one of the greatest musicians of our time.
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Cake Whimzy / Laughing Place Bakery’s Cake
The Kauffman Center celebrated its 5th anniversary at BravoKC, a free community event that took place on September 2nd from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Over 10,000 visitors joined the celebration, which featured free live performances from local performers on three stages, lawn games provided by KC Crew, birthday cake and a fireworks display to end the night.
As part of the interactive activities taking place during BravoKC, Kauffman Center hosted a cake decorating contest. Culinary artists joined in the fun and used the Kauffman Center and Kansas City performing arts as the theme and inspiration to create cakes and confections for the contest. Entries were displayed in Brandmeyer Great Hall during BravoKC and attendees had the opportunity to vote by text for their favorite cake creation. Local bakeries and culinary artists submitted cake entries, including 3 Women and an Oven, Bonterra Catering, Brooklyn Shumate, Cake Whimzy / The Laughing Place Bakery, Cami’s Cake & Coffee and Sasha’s Bakery.
Competition was fierce, as all entries provided beautiful and unique Kauffman Center inspired cakes. After a tally of votes, we are pleased to congratulate Cake Whimzy / The Laughing Place Bakery located in Gladstone, MO for providing the winning cake creation!
Many thanks to all participants and to those who attended BravoKC and voted for their favorite cake!
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