Upcoming events.
Sioux City Symphony - A Hero’s Life
The season closes in grand, cinematic fashion with music that celebrates courage, resilience, and the human spirit. Local favorite Jay Evans, now principal trombone of the Alabama Symphony, returns home to perform Martin Kennedy’s dynamic Pull Pin and Throw, a concerto brimming with fire and lyricism. Carlos Simon’s Fate Now Conquers sets the stage with urgent power, leading to the sweeping drama of Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life), a towering tone poem of love, conflict, and triumph. It’s the perfect finale to the Symphony’s milestone 110th season: bold, emotional, and unforgettable.
South Dakota Symphony Orchestra - Mozart & Bartók
Delta David Gier, conductor
Alessio Bax, piano
Mozart / The Abduction from the Seraglio
Motevaseli / Darkoob (world premiere)
Mozart / Piano Concerto No. 21
(repertoire change as of 8/22/25)
Bartok / Concerto for Orchestra
SDSO ends the season with Mozart's beautiful and brilliant Piano Concerto No. 21, followed by Bela Bartok's vibrant Concerto for Orchestra, highlighting the talent and beauty of the orchestral sound. Plus a world premiere by Iranian composer Alireza Motevaseli.
"I cannot conceive of music that expresses absolutely nothing."- Bela Bartok
UMKC Conservatory Symphony - Finale
Join the UMKC Conservatory Symphony Orchestra in their finale performance of the academic year. This concert will provide an evening of music revolving around everyone’s favorite star-crossed lovers, culminating in Prokofiev’s dynamic and highly emotional Romeo & Juliet Suite No. 2, Op. 64b *ticket link*
UMKC Crescendo in Concert
Please join the UMKC Conservatory for our finale event of the year! The culmination of our combined efforts in music, dance, and theatre, Crescendo in Concert is an hour of no-pause no-applause performances showcasing our talented students and faculty.
Plaza Winds Spring Recital
The Plaza Winds, UMKC’s Fellowship Woodwind Quintet, presents their spring recital.
Program TBD
Dane Frandsen, flute
Sagar Anupindi, oboe
Jonathan Cosme Sanchez, clarinet
Evan Short, bassoon
Jeremy Ulm, horn
UMKC Conservatory Symphony Orchestra - Concerto/Aria for the Win
This annual concert features the student winners of the Conservatory’s Concerto/Aria competition. Selected students will perform movements from concerti and arias with the Conservatory Symphony Orchestra. The concert will conclude with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, featuring soloists from within the orchestration. You don’t want to miss this full team effort! *ticket link*
Sioux City Symphony - For the Love of Shakespeare
The worlds of music and theatre collide in this imaginative tribute to Shakespeare’s timeless stories. From the romance of Romeo and Juliet to the mischief of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the dark intrigue of Macbeth, these tales unfold through a seamless blend of orchestral music, live narration, actors, and whimsical puppetry. With works by Purcell, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and contemporary composer Anna Clyne, the program sweeps from Baroque elegance to bold modern drama. The Orpheum stage becomes a storybook come to life in an evening that’s as rich for classical fans as it is magical for theatre lovers.
“Beautiful, Bold, Brass” - UMKC Conservatory Combined Orchestras
The Conservatory Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonic Orchestra present “Beautiful, Bold, Brass” a special combined concert featuring the wonderfully romantic Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 43 by Jean Sibelius *ticket link*
Plaza Winds Fall Recital
The Plaza Winds, UMKC’s Fellowship Woodwind Quintet, presents their fall recital.
Program TBD
Dane Frandsen, flute
Sagar Anupindi, oboe
Jonathan Cosme Sanchez, clarinet
Evan Short, bassoon
Jackson Jobe, horn
Rachmaninoff Celebration - Kansas City Symphony
“Feel the triumph of creativity in this first of two concerts celebrating the great Russian Romantic composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. Pianist extraordinaire George Li returns to Kansas City to perform Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, a work born out of struggles with writer’s block and depression that has become a favorite with performers and audiences alike. Paired with the concerto is his haunting choral symphony The Bells, one of his own favorite compositions.”
Sagar will be playing 3rd Oboe on The Bells.
Rachmaninoff Celebration - Kansas City Symphony
“Feel the triumph of creativity in this first of two concerts celebrating the great Russian Romantic composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. Pianist extraordinaire George Li returns to Kansas City to perform Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, a work born out of struggles with writer’s block and depression that has become a favorite with performers and audiences alike. Paired with the concerto is his haunting choral symphony The Bells, one of his own favorite compositions.”
Sagar will be playing 3rd Oboe on The Bells.
Rachmaninoff Celebration - Kansas City Symphony
“Feel the triumph of creativity in this first of two concerts celebrating the great Russian Romantic composer Sergei Rachmaninoff. Pianist extraordinaire George Li returns to Kansas City to perform Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto, a work born out of struggles with writer’s block and depression that has become a favorite with performers and audiences alike. Paired with the concerto is his haunting choral symphony The Bells, one of his own favorite compositions.”
Sagar will be playing 3rd Oboe on The Bells.
“Symphonic Finales” - UMKC Conservatory Symphony Orchestra
The Conservatory Symphony Orchestra performs in concert at the Folly Theater, featuring the final symphonic works of two great composers: Mozart’s crown jewel, Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K.551 “Jupiter” and Haydn’s triumphant Symphony No. 104 in D Major, H. 1/104 “London”
DMA Recital #2
Presenting my second doctoral recital!
with Dan Velicer, piano
STILL - Incantation & Dance
TELEMANN - Fantasia No. 6 in D minor, TWV 40:7
C. SCHUMANN - Drei Romanzen, Op. 22
DRANISHNIKOVA - Poem
MARAIS - Les Folies d’Espagne
J.S. BACH - Oboe d’Amore Concerto in A Major BWV 1055R
IDRS Virtual Event - Competition Strategies with Fernand Gillet-Hugo Fox International Competition Winners
Join me with 2025 Gillet-Fox winner Sigurd Greve and past bassoon winners Nanci Belmont & Laure Thomas in discussion about competition strategies. Hosted by IDRS Vice President Leigh Muñoz.
Virtual event for IDRS members only: https://idrs.org
Sioux City Symphony Orchestra - “OPENING NIGHT: AN EVENING WITH TIME FOR THREE”
Kick off the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra’s 110th season with a landmark evening of innovation and inspiration. Featuring the Grammy Award-winning trio Time for Three, this unforgettable concert blends classical, jazz, pop, and bluegrass in a genre-defying experience. At the heart of the night is the world premiere of a thrilling new triple concerto by Grammy-winning composer Mason Bates, co-commissioned by the SCSO. Celebrate 110 years of musical excellence with a night that bridges tradition and bold new vision—perfect for music lovers of all genres. Rediscover the magic of live music in Sioux City.
UMKC Conservatory Symphony Orchestra - “Remembering Shostakovich”
Featuring Conservatory student Concerto / Aria winners from Spring 2025. The concert will conclude with Shostakovich’s monumental Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47 *ticket link*
PROGRAM
MEDTNER, Nikolai - Piano Concerto No. 2, Mvt. 1
HANDEL, G.F.
KHACHATURIAN, Aram - Flute Concerto, Mvt. 1
SHOSTAKOVICH, Dmitri - Symphony No. 5
Mid-America Performing Arts Alliance Chamber Music Festival - Symphony Concert
PROGRAM
Igor Stravinsky - The Firebird Suite
Mid-America Performing Arts Alliance Chamber Music Festival - Chamber Music Concert
Mid-America Performing Arts Alliance Chamber Music Festival Student Chamber Music Festival.
I’lol be performing Paquito D’Rivera’s Aires Tropicales for woodwind quintet with Anthony Kandilaroff (flute), Luke Vasilakaros (clarinet), Evan Short (bassoon), and Rosie Rojas (horn).