Review: The Kansas City Wind Symphony at Village Presbyterian Church

Allow me to escort the elephant out of the room.  The Kansas City Wind Symphony doesn't perform at the same level as the Kansas City Symphony.  A "volunteer ensemble of professional and accomplished amateur musicians selected by competitive audition," the Wind Symphony plays a different repertoire and has an entirely different sensibility than Kansas City's best known classical institution. 

Over 300 people- including plenty of friends and family of the musicians- attended Sunday's free season-opening performance at Village Presbyterian Church.  Titled "Something Old: Favorites from our Past," the repertoire showcased during the 90-minute concert was pleasant but conservative.  Dr. Phillip Posey, the ensemble's conductor, made a telling comment as he surveyed the forthcoming season. 

"I promise not to play any of that weird stuff I played last year," Posey said.

My thoughts about that unfortunate attitude are posted here.

The concert opened with Paul Dukas' brief but charming "Fanfare pour Preceder La Peri."  The forced festiveness of Felix Mendelssohn's "Overture for Band" almost sent me scurrying for the exit.  I simply couldn't abide the constant chime of what I assume was a triangle.  Although some of it was a bit hazy, Percy Grainger's nostalgic "Lincolnshire Posy" showcased the entire ensemble.  Dr. Maria Harman's beautiful flute feature on Kent Kennan's "Night Soliloquy" provided the concert's most intriguing moments.  Pieces by Julie Giroux and James Barnes were less compelling. 

I'm thrilled that the Kansas City Symphony is performing to huge audiences in its second season at Helzberg Hall.  Lovers of symphonic music would be doing themselves a favor by also familiarizing themselves with the noble efforts of the Kansas City Wind Symphony.



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I reviewed a concert by Kansas, King's X and That I Guy.

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I chose the Kansas City Wind Symphony over a free Delfonics' concert on Sunday.  Based on this fan footage, I made the right call.

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Antibalas is featured in a new Tiny Desk Concert.

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Modern bluesman Nick Curran has died.

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Who needs Psy when there's Riff Raff?

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The Tord Gustavsen Quartet continues to put its spell on me.

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Kansas City Click: Say Anything, one of my favorite emo bands, plays the Beaumont on Tuesday.

Bob Log III will do bad things at Davey's on Wednesday.

Fado Novato will make its debut performance Thursday at Grunauer.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)