Michael Stern News

No matter if you like rock or Bach, the Kansas City Symphony's packed 2016-17 season includes a wide array of concerts to satisfy a variety of tastes.

The 14th Street Y's 2016 Gala took place at The 14th Street Y Rooftop and Theater on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 and raised more than $140,000 and counting to support 14th Street Y programs.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History will host its second annual Smithsonian Food History Weekend, a celebration and exploration of American food history, Oct. 2729. To connect with the museum's 2016 theme of America Participates, a yearlong investigation of how Americans contribute to their democracy, the weekend will look at "Politics on Your Plate" and the relationship between food, politics and people.

Van Cliburn Competition Gold Medalist Stanislav Iodenitch, a piano virtuoso hailed for playing with "laserlike clarity" (The Boston Globe), performs Tchaikovsky's iconic Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Young Artists Symphony Orchestra, led by Artistic Director Alexander Treger, in a free concert capping the orchestra's highly successful inaugural season on Sunday, May 1, 2016, 6 pm, at UCLA's Royce Hall.  The all-Russian program also includes Tchaikovsky's enthralling Suite from Swan Lake and Lyadov's Kikimora, a tone poem about a malicious spirit from Russian folklore.  Additionally, to celebrate the conclusion of its first season, YASO is hosting a separate ticketed post-concert soiree, featuring a buffet dinner and jazz performances by Nigel Armstrong, former concertmaster under Treger, Julian Zheng, YASO principal horn, and other YASO artists.

The Kansas City Symphony, led by Music Director Michael Stern, has once again been invited to perform the national anthem for the Kansas City Royals as part of their 'Opening Day' festivities, as well as the highly anticipated World Series ring ceremony. Sunday night's game will be against the NY Mets.

The Kansas City Symphony, led by Music Director Michael Stern, has once again been invited to perform the national anthem for the Kansas City Royals as part of their 'Opening Day' festivities, as well as the highly anticipated World Series ring ceremony. Sunday night's game will be against the NY Mets.

The Crested Butte Music Festival (CBMF) announced its 20th Season today. To celebrate the anniversary, the CBMF will debut a new venue, the Mt. Crested Butte Mirror Palace. One of only four such structures in the continental United States, this “Spiegeltent” will be nestled in the majestic mountains of Mt. Crested Butte. Audience members from around the world will be able to experience world-class music, educational programming, and exceptional food & beverage in this magical venue. 

Beloved and brilliant violinist Midori will be joining IRIS Orchestra, under the baton of Michael Stern, on stage at GPAC tonight, January 23, and at the new Sunday matinee tomorrow, January 24, sponsored by Pinnacle Financial Partners. A violin powerhouse since her teenage years, Midori reunites with Michael Stern and IRIS to perform Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. IRIS will also be performing Georges Bizet's Symphony in C and American composer, Elliot Carter's Symphony No. 1.

The Kansas City Symphony has unveiled its 2016-17 season, including Classical, Pops and Family Series plus special and holiday concerts. The Symphony also revealed individual seats will replace bench seating in the Helzberg Hall Choral Loft at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts prior to the start of the 2016-17 season.

Beloved and brilliant violinist Midori will be joining IRIS Orchestra, under the baton of Michael Stern, on stage at GPAC January 23 and at the new Sunday matinee onJanuary 24, sponsored by Pinnacle Financial Partners. A violin powerhouse since her teenage years, Midori reunites with Michael Stern and IRIS to perform Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto. IRIS will also be performing Georges Bizet's Symphony in C and American composer, Elliot Carter's Symphony No. 1.

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Youth Orchestras (CSOYO) open their 2015/16 season on November 9 at 7:30pm at Ringgold High School with a concert performed by the Symphony Orchestra with Gary Wilkes conducting. Also featured in the program is CSOYO alumna Dr. Shannon Thomas (Professor of Violin at Florida State University), and 2nd place winner of the 2015 Concerto Competition, Sasha Hitachi-Kizziah. Other selections to be performed by the Symphony include the final movement of Dvorak's 8th Symphony and the Suite No. 2 from Carmen.

Premium TV network EPIX announced today that Academy Award and Golden Globe -nominee Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) has been cast in a recurring role on Graves

Premium TV network EPIX announced today that the Golden Globe and two-time Emmy award-winning actress Sela Ward has been cast to star with Nick Nolte in Graves, a single-camera half-hour political satire produced by Lionsgate. Ward will play Margaret Graves, the wife of former U.S. President Richard Graves (Nolte), who decides to follow her own political ambitions just as her husband embarks on a Don Quixote-like journey to right the wrongs of his administration. Ms. Ward replaces Susan Sarandon who departed the series due to artistic differences. Production has commenced in New Mexico.

Award-winning singer, actress and musical theater star Kristin Chenoweth will appear with the Kansas City Symphony at 8 p.m. on October 3 in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts as a benefit concert.

Skylar Astin (Pitch Perfect, Pitch Perfect 2), Chris Lowell (The Help, “Veronica Mars”) and Angélica María (“Qué Bonito Amor,” Sea of Dreams) have been cast alongside Nick Nolte and Susan Sarandon in the EPIX Original Series Graves

Emmy-nominated writer-producer Keith Eisner (“The Good Wife,” “Law & Order”) has signed a multi-year overall television agreement with Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a premier next generation global content leader

The North Carolina Symphony, led by guest conductor Karina Canellakis, will perform a two-night Russian Festival that features two different programs of some of classical music's greatest works at the 2015 Rex Healthcare Summerfest Series today, June 12 and Saturday June 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Cary's Booth Amphitheatre. Gates open for the concert series at 5:30 p.m. Children 12 and under are free on the lawn.

The North Carolina Symphony, led by guest conductor Karina Canellakis, will perform a two-night Russian Festival that features two different programs of some of classical music's greatest works at the 2015 Rex Healthcare Summerfest Series on Friday, June 12 and Saturday June 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Cary's Booth Amphitheatre. Gates open for the concert series at 5:30 p.m. Children 12 and under are free on the lawn.

Award-winning singer, actress and musical theater star Kristin Chenoweth will appear with the Kansas City Symphony at 8 p.m. on October 3 in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts as a benefit concert.

This weekend, January 17 and 18, twin sisters Christina and Michelle Naughton share the Jones Hall stage to perform Mozart's Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in their Houston Symphony debut.