Friday, Feb. 22 2013 7:44AM
Symphony celebrates 10th year
By Toriano Porter
tporter@lsjournal.comtporter@lsjournal.com
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ReprintThis year has been an eventful one for the Lee’s Summit Symphony, which is celebrating its 10th season in grand style by hosting a “Celebration at the Kauffman” event in June at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City.
Upcoming performances include the fifth annual family concert “Family Pops Spectacular” March 9 at Lee’s Summit High School’s performing arts center. “Family Pops” will include a hands-on art activity by Summit Art, an instrument petting zoo sponsored by Heartland Music Academy and a demonstration by KC Strings on how string instruments are made.
The concert will also feature many popular musical theater and movie theme songs including musical highlights from “Annie,” “Wicked,” “Les Miserable” and the motion picture “Titanic.” Special guest artist Mike Metheny will also entertain with a “One Note Samba” jazz piece.
Other upcoming events include April’s “Flights of Fancy” Run/Walk, a benefit for Friends of the Lee’s Summit Symphony in partnership with Kids with Courage and New Longview Foundation and Booms and Blooms in July at Powell Gardens in Kingsville.
The symphony is lead by Russ Berlin, who is in his ninth season as conductor of the Lee’s Summit Symphony. Berlin presently serves as the music director and conductor of the Academy Orchestra Youth Symphony of Kansas City. Previously he spent 30 years teaching instrumental music in the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District and is credited with building a national reputation for the Lee’s Summit Orchestral Program.
Berlin, a recipient of many awards recognizing his musical, educational and civic accomplishments, received his BME from Kansas State University and his MME from the University of Kansas. Berlin also has completed advanced orchestral training at the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary season, 10-year-olds are admitted free with one paid adult admission to Lee’s Summit Symphony productions.
