South Kansas Symphony Returns for 2021-22 Season
Winfield, Kan., July 20, 2021 — The South Kansas Symphony (SKS) at
Southwestern College is planning to be back for the 2021-2022 season.
Additional instrumentalists are invited to join.
The orchestra typically is a combination of collegiate players,
community members, and high school students. Many musicians come from the
Winfield and Arkansas City area, but others also come from as far as Wichita.
Amber Peterson, South Kansas Symphony conductor, is looking forward to
the upcoming season.
“We have an exciting season planned, with featured soloists Sophie Deng
(2021 SKS Concerto Competition Junior Division winner), Joshua Robinson
(assistant professor of musical theatre at Southwestern), Chelley Graves
(strings professor at Butler County Community College), and Elizabeth Kuefler
Wallace (Wichita-area Suzuki Violin/Viola teacher), as well as collaborations
with Butler County Community College, El Dorado High School Orchestra, and
other area high school programs,” Peterson says.
Also new this season is a collaboration between the symphony and
Southwestern College’s Community Music School. Peterson will be teaching four
pre-college string ensembles: eStyles (8th-12th grade), Camerata (9th-12th
grade), String Builders (4th-7th grade beginners), and Williams String Quartet,
Jr (9th-12th grade). High school band and orchestra students can also play with
the symphony by auditioning for the new SKS Apprentices program. Membership in
these ensembles includes free attendance at workshops, tickets to SKS concerts,
and discounts for the college’s Honor Orchestra Festival and Summer Music
Festival.
“The South Kansas Symphony strives to provide musical memories for
our audience with a variety of music for all ages,” Peterson says.
“However, in order to accomplish this, we rely on ticket sales and donations.
Individual and business donors at any level are appreciated and recognized
throughout the season. Donations at the Virtuoso, Maestro, and Concert Sponsor
level receive 1-2 season tickets. Business donors can also have advertisements
of varying sizes in the season’s concert programs when at the Concert Master,
Virtuoso, Maestro, and Concert Sponsor level.
Performances scheduled for the upcoming season include:
• String
Builders Debut – Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in Messenger Recital Hall
• La
Celebración (Halloween Pops Concert) – Oct. 24, at 3 p.m., in Richardson
Performing Arts Center (RPAC)
•
Kaleidoscope (SC Homecoming Fine Arts Showcase) – Oct. 29, at 7:30 p.m., in
RPAC
• Winterfest
– Dec. 5, at 3 p.m., in RPAC
• Pre-College
String Ensembles Winter Concert – Dec. 12, at 3 p.m., in RPAC
• Honor
Orchestra Festival – Jan. 24, at 6 p.m., in RPAC
• Femme
Musicale - March 6, at 3 p.m., in RPAC
• Chamber
Gala - March 27 at 3 p.m., at The Barns at Timber Creek
• Belated -
April 24, at 3 p.m., in RPAC
• Pre-College
String Ensembles Spring Concert - May 1, at 3 p.m., in RPAC
Season tickets will be on sale this fall for patrons who wish to purchase
tickets at a discount and have reserved seating for most symphony and
pre-college string ensemble concerts ($35/adults and $15/children (5-18). Most
South Kansas Symphony concerts are $10 for adults and $5 for children, with the
exception of free concerts and the Chamber Gala fundraising event ($40 per
person). The two main pre-college string ensemble concerts are $5 for adults
and $2 for children (5-18). To reserve season tickets, call the Southwestern
College performing arts office (620) 229-6272 after August 19 or return the
season ticket form that will be available in September.
For more information about the SKS, Community Music School, donations, or
the four pre-college string ensembles, contact Amber Peterson by email at amber.peterson@sckans.edu or the
Community Music School email, cms@sckans.edu.
