of Greater Kansas City

September 2009

Dear Friends of the Philharmonia:

The excitement surrounding The Philharmonia’s 2009-2010 season is tempered slightly by the announcement that it will be Andrés Franco’s final as conductor and music director. He has been appointed associate conductor of the Fort Worth Symphony and principal conductor of Caminos del Inka Ensemble, a newly created chamber ensemble. These new appointments combined with his growing guest conducting schedule will not allow time to commute back to Kansas City for rehearsals and performances after this season.

The season opener is right around the corner on Sunday, October 4, and will feature familiar pieces composed by Tchaikovsky, Brahms and Dvorak.

Again this year, the young ladies from The Kansas City Ballet School will perform their Nutcracker in a Nutshell as a prime feature in the Christmas on the River concert on Saturday, December 5. The Free Family Concert will include guest conductors who are finalists in the search for Franco’s replacement.

Andrés Franco’s final concert, the Season Finale, will feature a very special soloist. Victoria Luperi, the extraordinarily talented principal clarinetist for the Fort Worth Symphony, and wife of The Philharmonia’s music director, will perform.

All performances listed below take place at the Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the campus of Park University, and these dates need to be marked on your calendar today.

Sunday, October 4, 2009, 3 p.m. – Season Opening Concert

Saturday, December 5, 2009, 3 p.m. – Christmas on the River – The Nutcracker in a Nutshell

Sunday, March 7, 2010, 3 p.m. – Free Family Concert

Sunday, May 2, 2010, 3 p.m. – Season Finale – featuring Victoria Luperi, Clarinetist

The level of excellence that has come to be expected from The Philharmonia is the product of exceptional talent emanating from the baton and exhibited throughout the entire performing company. The tremendous enthusiasm from audience after audience that regularly rise to their feet at each concert’s conclusion is ample reward to those of us who endeavor to meet audience expectations. Those efforts are freely given, but there are a great many aspects of keeping this classical treasure available for the enjoyment of all who attend that, frankly, require funds.

Grants and support from Park University, as well as organizations such as the Missouri Arts Council and Platte County Parks and Recreation have been slightly reduced or frozen with budget constraints that are being felt by all organizations. As has been the case for many years, even with full funding, these do not cover all expenses. I urge all of you to look over the enclosed subscription sheet to find a level of support you can afford and to send your check in the enclosed envelope today. These contributions are the lifeline of The Philharmonia.

I look forward to seeing you at this season’s concerts. Please take time to say hello.

Best regards,

C. Eugene Jacobs, President