Kauffman Center To Host Free Pipe Organ Concert On Mother's Day

This Mother's Day, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and Premier Partner Saint Luke's Health System will present "Music from the Heart," a special concert and free community event. The concert takes place Sunday, May 12 at 4 p.m. in Helzberg Hall and features the Kauffman Center's spectacular pipe organ.

The one-hour performance will kick off with The Beatles' hit, "All You Need is Love." Jan Kraybill, organ conservator for the Kauffman Center, has curated a program that illustrates many shades of love. Compositions from Bach to The Beatles touch on love of family, country, romance and peace. Kraybill will perform on the Julia Irene Kauffman Casavant Organ, Opus 3875, one of the finest concert hall organs in the nation.

The free concert is a Mother's Day gift to the community in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Heart Center. Prior to the performance, Saint Luke's will present Julia Irene Kauffman, Chairman of the Board for the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, with the Visionary Award in recognition of her leadership, dedication and support to advance women's heart health in Kansas City by creating a resource that is a center of excellence for the community over its 25 year history.

"Over the years, Julia Irene Kauffman has touched the hearts of many people in our community. This concert celebrates several of them," said Kauffman Center President & CEO Paul Schofer.

"As a mother, Julia encouraged her children to participate in the arts. As a daughter, she carried her mother's vision to build this performing arts center. As an arts lover herself, she donated the pipe organ that Jan Kraybill will play at this concert. And, as a philanthropist, she continues to make significant contributions to both the Kauffman Center and the Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Heart Center. This Mother's Day concert is a special way to recognize Julia, her mother and the ongoing legacy they have created," Schofer said.

Tickets for this event are free but reservations are required. Free tickets will be available to the public at 10 a.m. Friday, April 5 through the Kauffman Center Box Office at (816) 994-7222 and online at kauffmancenter.org.

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