Music Organization List

Jazz Sister Cities

A global social-economic responsibility organization bringing communities with diverse backgrounds and experiences together, artistically, culturally, and educationally with Jazz as the bridge and passport. Jazz is the world’s language performed and listened to in every part of the globe. It is the perfect tool for building cross-cultural connections and bringing communities together who might otherwise have not engaged. We do this by: Growing a global network of Jazz connections’. Encouraging and facilitating artists to explore potential partnerships and collaborations, expose their music beyond their local community, and explore new sounds, and techniques. Bridging the art divide for youth with free Jazz music clinics and expose them to different artists from varying cultures and an understanding that we are all citizens of the world. Advocating the importance of Jazz as a tool for social-economic development.

Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City

Art ; Dance ; Education ; Family ; Film ; Literary ; Music ; Non-Profit ; Studio ; Theatre

In all of Kansas City, there’s nothing like The J. It’s the place for you and your family to live up to your goals, your aspirations, your best you. Founded on Jewish values and open to everyone, The J is the metro’s original community of healthy lifestyles. Our Mission: To build a strong, vibrant and inclusive community that enhances wellness, meaning, and joy, based on Jewish values, heritage, and culture. Our Vision: We are a welcoming community that embodies Jewish values in a safe and respectful environment. People of all ages and backgrounds learn and grow at our ‘home away from home.’ The Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City (“The J”), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, opened in 1914 in midtown Kansas City, Missouri, and has grown and adapted to serve the changing needs of Greater Kansas City’s Jewish and secular communities. We’ve continuously offered the finest in recreational, social, and educational services as our facilities have transitioned to Overland Park, Kansas. We’ve recently expanded! With the generosity of our community and donors, our Capital Campaign was a success and we are thrilled to announce the beautiful new expansion is open with more space to play, workout, dance, sculpt, and park!

Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center

Art ; Dance ; Education ; Family ; Gallery ; Government ; Museum ; Music ; Theatre

The Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, managed by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District, is home to Theatre in the Park, the Johnson County Museum, and Fine & Performing Arts programs, exhibitions, and special events.

Johnson County Library

Art ; Education ; Family ; Gallery ; Government ; Literary ; Music ; Non-Profit

Johnson County Library got its start in the 1950s in the homes of neighborhood families. Before they had funding, dedicated community members ran volunteer libraries out of their basements, schoolhouses, a barbershop, a plumbing company, a shopping center and a traveling bookmobile. Their hard work and passion soon led to an official Johnson County Library in Merriam, Kansas. Today, Johnson County Library serves over two million people from 13 library buildings in Northeast Kansas. And one thing hasn’t changed — the Library staff are helped by 900 volunteers who donate over 50,000 hours of their time each year!

Kansas City American Guild of Organists

Music

Our chapter was chartered on January 17, 1938 and is now comprised of over 180 members. We are a diverse group of capable, energetic and enthusiastic persons: organists, choir directors, organ builders, technicians, clergy, students, and others. We represent all levels of playing proficiency, and are also very appreciative of those who simply listen and support organ and choral concerts. From September through May, we hold dinner programs on the third Monday evening of the month. Please see the Events Calendar for exceptions and additions to this schedule. Our newsletter, the Bombarde, also appears monthly and includes details regarding the chapter, future programs, and many additional articles of interest. We adhere to the policies applied at the National office and can be found here: Code of Ethics, Code of Professional Standards, and Discipline. We seek to inspire and nurture a love and understanding of our art. Not just a professional forum for musicians, the Guild offers encouragement through educational programs and workshops to help pass this art on to future generations of musicians.

Kansas City Baroque Consortium

Music ; Non-Profit

The Kansas City Baroque Consortium (KCBC) is dedicated to promoting the performance, understanding, and appreciation of Baroque music as well as music and art forms from other historical periods and genres.

Kansas City Boys Choir

ArtsKC Supported ; Music ; Non-Profit

The Kansas City Boys Choir (KCBC) is a not for profit non-sectarian multicultural performing arts choir. The choir was founded in 1995 by the Executive Director, Ah’Lee Robinson. The choir was formed to provide an avenue for boys to provide music to the general public in all facets. The choir also serves as a catalyst for boys to learn social skills with emphasis on the “whole boy” with music becoming the by-product. Through music and supportive programs, we are able to teach our young men to become successful and productive members of the community. Additionally, KCBC members give back to the community. Each chorister is required to perform 30 hours of community service each year.

Kansas City Chamber Orchestra

Music ; Non-Profit

Bruce Sorrell founded the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra in 1987. The KCCO is the region’s only professional resident chamber orchestra. Over 30 seasons, the KCCO has garnered considerable critical acclaim and a loyal and enthusiastic audience. The term ‘chamber orchestra’ is used to define the size orchestra which was available to such composers as Bach, Mozart, Handel, Vivaldi, Haydn, and Beethoven. The KCCO uses 10 to 33 musicians, depending on the music being performed. A traditional symphony orchestra has 80 to 100 musicians. One of the primary goals of the KCCO has always been to provide additional income and playing opportunities for professional musicians in Kansas City. Our players are members of the Kansas City Symphony, music faculties of the University of Kansas and the Conservatory at UMKC, or free-lance professionals. Frequently, regular members of the KCCO are asked to serve as soloists in concertos, offering them an important outlet for showcasing their amazing skills here in Kansas City. Collaborations have also been an important element of the KCCO’s history. The past season included a major collaboration with the Friends of Chamber Music for a very popular Bach Festival. This season includes a collaboration with Hope Lutheran Church. Past partners have included Paul Mesner Puppets, Owen/Cox Dance, Village Presbyterian Church, UMKC’s Conservatory of Music, and the Kansas City Chorale, to name a few. Education has been a key element of activities, almost since the beginning. Maestro Sorrell has always given a pre-concert talk immediately preceding every concert. Over the past ten years, we have provided free 50-minute educational concerts to students and schools who might not otherwise have access to professional live classical music.

Kansas City Chorale

Music

Since the debut performance in 1982, the Kansas City Chorale has provided audiences with a high caliber of choral artistry, performing a diverse repertoire of new and traditional music. Under Charles Bruffy’s leadership the choir has garnered international recognition for artistic merit, having been praised for its refined sound, phrasing and flawless intonation. As a cornerstone of the Kansas City performing arts community, the Chorale creates concert programs and recordings that educate, engage, provoke, and inspire listeners. The Chorale’s ongoing outreach efforts facilitate the development of local talent, while providing students and their instructors with the opportunity to learn from world-class vocalists. Beyond the traditional season of local concerts, Bruffy has brought the choir’s talent to the global stage. In 2009, Bruffy led the Kansas City and Phoenix Chorales in a moving performance at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. Highlights from the a cappella concert included “Canticum Calamitatis Maritimae” by Jaakko Mantyjarvi and “Drei Geistliche Gesänge” by 19th-century composer Josef Rheinberger. The New York Times review noted that Bruffy “…seemed to be sculpturing in air: carefully molding each finely hued note he coaxed from his choristers,” and “the choirs performed with a buoyant pulse and energetic finesse.” In the same year, the Kansas City Chorale was invited as one of four choral groups—and the only one from the United States—to perform at the prestigious Incheon Choral Festival in South Korea. The group more recently performed at Canada’s Podium 2014, in Halifax, Nova Scotia—once again as the only American ensemble.

Kansas City Civic Orchestra

ArtsKC Supported ; Music ; Non-Profit

The Kansas City Civic Orchestra is a community-based orchestra in the Kansas City metropolitan area. For more than 50 years, our mission has been to bring high quality, free concerts to the local community. Our all-volunteer orchestra is comprised of amateur and professional musicians with one thing in common – a love for music! With more than 80 members of the orchestra, we continue to grow and expand our repertoire. Each season we offer a wide array of music and we are proud to be a part of the diverse music community in Kansas City. As a not-for-profit organization, it is our goal that concerts remain free. We operate through the generous support of area foundations, companies and our dedicated listeners. Click here to learn more about you can support the Kansas City Civic Orchestra.

Kansas City Electronic Music and Arts Alliance

Art ; Film ; Music

The Kansas City Electronic Music and Arts Alliance (KcEMA) was founded in 2007 to encourage and develop understanding and appreciation of electronic music and to create an expansive sense of community for electronic musicians and other artists in the Kansas City Area. KcEMA organizes concerts of electronic music and collaborative projects with generative and performing artists. KcEMA provides a forum for electronic musicians and artists in other media to collaborate, exchange ideas, and grow as an interactive, supportive community.

Kansas City Festival Opera

Music ; Theatre

Kansas City Festival Opera was started in 2023 to provide quality operatic performance to the greater Kansas City area focusing on using the amazing talent found in the region. Inaugural performances of Verdi’s Il Trovatore are happening in June of 2023.

Kansas City Horn Club

Education ; Music ; Non-Profit

The Kansas City Horn Club (501)(c)(3) was co-founded in 2013 by Natalie Higgins and Stacy Lendt. KCHC was created to provide horn players in the area a medium in which to express their musical talent and share their enthusiasm for the horn. The horn is a versatile instrument with an extraordinary range that is rarely heard in band and orchestra music. There is a plethora of literature available for horn choir that does highlight the capabilities of the instrument. OUR MISSION: We exist to enrich the Kansas City fine arts community; support and educate young musicians; increase community awareness of musical styles and the art of horn playing; and connect horn enthusiasts of every career and background. OUR VISION: To provide educational programs and performance opportunities to horn players of all ages and walks of life.

Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra

Education ; Music ; Non-Profit

The Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra was formed to preserve and perpetuate the artforms and traditions of Latin American and Salsa music as it exists in conjunction with the cultural expressions of folkloric and community dance. We accomplish this by advocating for and demonstrating the local and international cultural relevance of these artforms within the historical evolution of jazz through cultural immersion, community engagement, youth education, and performance.

Kansas City Music Teachers Association

Education ; Music ; Non-Profit

Kansas City Music Teachers Association was organized in 1915. Our Missouri State Charter was granted on October 16, 1929. KCMTA advances the value of music study and music-making for our diverse community while supporting the professionalism of music teachers. KCMTA is a non-profit organization of professional music educators from the entire Kansas City area that continually strives to provide extraordinary opportunities for people of all ages: hobbyists, professionals, and listeners.

Kansas City Musical Club

Music ; Non-Profit

The Kansas City Musical Club is a not-for-profit organization — all donations are tax deductible. The club was organized in 1899 and incorporated on November 2, 1911. The group joined with the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC) in 1911. Music is very important to every member of the club. Our educations, expertise levels, and appreciations vary — we are performers, teachers, and listeners. We are amateurs and professionals from many parts of the Kansas City metropolitan area. In addition to listening to and performing music, we actively support the future of high quality (often classical) music — we hold scholarship auditions each spring and award scholarships to music performance students who attend area universities. We gather on the first Monday of each month between October and April for a mid-day concert and a social reception. We sponsor a concert each spring to raise funds for the next year’s scholarships. Each May at our spring luncheon, we honor someone from the local music community for his/her contribution to our region’s cultural arts

Kansas City Power & Light District

Music

The Kansas City Power & Light District is a vibrant nine-block dining, shopping, office, entertainment and lifestyle neighborhood that since opening in 2008, provides world-class dining, award-winning entertainment, and luxurious services to guests, visitors and residents. The $850 million mixed-use district is one of the largest and most exciting development projects in the Midwest, welcoming more than 95 million visitors over the last decade and helping ignite the revitalization of downtown Kansas City.

Kansas City Symphony

ArtsKC Supported ; Music ; Non-Profit

Founded in 1982, the Kansas City Symphony is a major force in the cultural life of the community. Praised for performances of uncompromising standard, the orchestra is the largest in the region, with 80 full-time musicians, and enjoys a national reputation under the artistic leadership of Music Director Michael Stern. Presenting more than 100 concerts annually in a 42-week season, the Symphony also performs for the Kansas City Ballet and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Every season comprises an impressive variety of programs that collectively reach more than 200,000 people, including the Symphony’s annual Bank of America Celebration at the Station concert held each Memorial Day weekend. For more information or tickets, visit kcsymphony.org or call (816) 471-0400. Sound that embraces you, music that inspires you.

Kansas City Wind Symphony

Music

The Kansas City Wind Symphony was founded in November of 1998 as a volunteer ensemble of professional and accomplished amateur musicians selected by competitive audition. Musicians come from throughout the Kansas City region to perform in the organization, which is dedicated to the study and performance of classic band works and transcriptions of orchestral masterworks in a concert setting.

Kansas City Women's Chorus

ArtsKC Supported ; Music ; Non-Profit

The Kansas City Women’s Chorus is Kansas City’s only regional women’s chorus inspiring through performance, embracing diversity, and advocating social justice. Founded in 1999, the Chorus has spanned 18 years, building bridges with local community charities while bringing entertaining and enlightening women’s choral music to Kansas City. What began as a 25 member chorus has grown to a 100+ member nonprofit organization. We are an auditioned chorus comprised of a diverse membership who represent a wide range of ages, ethnicities, sexual orientation and religious backgrounds.

Kansas City Young Audiences

ArtsKC Supported ; Dance ; Education ; Music ; Non-Profit ; Theatre

Kansas City Young Audiences, a non-profit organization, has been at the forefront of arts education since 1961. During our 58 year history, we have used the arts to expand the minds of more than 5 million children in the Kansas City area. KCYA is one of 32 affiliate members of Young Audiences Arts for Learning, a highly respected national network of arts education providers. Our In-School Programs ignite learning in the classroom through the power of the arts. Our professional teaching artists visit schools, libraries and community centers to deliver arts-integrated workshops and performances that are aligned to and enhance academic curriculum. Building upon that, our Arts Partners program adds the resources of 15 premier arts organization and specific school districts to offer arts for learning programs across the school district, ensuring equal access for every student. In our new transformational space, the Community School of the Arts offers children a place to learn, explore, and develop their own creative interests and talents. Classes and camps in music, dance, theatre and visual art are available for all ages and abilities, all year round. While we offer a broad array of programs we are singularly and fiercely focused on our mission to engage all youth in the arts, promote creativity, and inspire success in education.

Kantorei of Kansas City

ArtsKC Supported ; Music ; Non-Profit

To educate audiences, enrich lives, build community and bring vitality to past and present through music of the highest professional quality. Kantorei Choirs of Greater Kansas City, a professional vocal ensemble whose membership consists of music educators, full and part time performers, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, dedicated to educating audiences by performing music selected from the Medieval period through the 21st century. We specialize in concerts that explore the historical links between music of all eras and art, politics, literature and culture, and most importantly, all with an attention to detail and performance practice.

KC Dixieland Band

Family ; Music ; Non-Profit

The KC Dixieland Band has been delighting audiences with this century-old genre throughout the KC area since 2008. Most members are retired from non-musical careers, but a few still have day-time jobs. Their career fields represent many backgrounds: dentistry, psychiatry, preventive medicine, engineering, architecture, business management, accounting, computer science, marketing, military, and a locomotive engineer! Although each member comes to the band with a unique background, a common goal is shared: “To bring the enjoyment of Dixieland style music to audiences of all ages.” Our venues have predominately been senior living facilities, church related events, community functions, concerts and a few night spots. Annually, our band plays at the Westport Fleas Market for “Mardi Gras.”

KC Jazz ALIVE

ArtsKC Supported ; Music ; Non-Profit

Kansas City Jazz ALIVE is a 501(c)3 catalyst group organized in 2013 to implement opportunities for the Greater Kansas City jazz community. The mission of Kansas City Jazz ALIVE is to: Build AWARENESS, serve as a LISTENING body, provide a platform for integrating IDEAS, function as a VOICE, provide EXPOSURE to resources, and unite the Kansas City jazz community. As a catalyst organization – supporting artists, enthusiasts and venue owners, we strive to raise the tide that lifts all jazz boats. As part of this mission, KC Jazz ALIVE hosts the annual Charlie Parker Celebration. This 10-day celebration is jam-packed with education sessions, public programs, and music at the greatest jazz venues in Kansas City. The Charlie Parker Celebration features talented jazz musicians, educators and scholars, alongside Artists in Residence.

Find An Organization