ABOUT THE FRIENDS

Since 1975, The Friends of Chamber Music has presented the world’s finest chamber musicians to Kansas City’s audiences. With an annual season of more than 20 performances featuring internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles, The Friends provides the highest of quality artistic experiences for music lovers in the community.

The season comprises four outstanding series: The International Chamber Music Series, The Master Pianists Series, The Early Music Series, and the “What Makes It Great?” educational series. A wide variety of instrumentation is represented including string quartets, piano recitalists, chamber orchestras, early music ensembles, and vocal music, with a broad and dynamic repertoire ranging from the medieval period through the present day.

The Friends’ presentation of chamber music is unrivaled in the area, and The Master Pianists Series is considered one of the nation’s leading piano series. The Friends’ Early Music Series provides audiences a unique opportunity to hear a variety of music written from the medieval period through the Baroque period (c. 800–1750).

The Friends’ acclaimed educational series, “What Makes It Great?,” provides several free performances featuring composer and National Public Radio personality Rob Kapilow, held at a variety of venues around the metropolitan area. This series explores the innermost secrets of some of the world’s greatest music and is well-loved by music fans of all ages.

In recognition of three decades of excellence, The Friends of Chamber Music received the first ever Acclaim Award from Chamber Music America in March 2006. The Friends prides itself on 33 remarkable years of presenting “the intimate voice of classical music” to Kansas City’s audiences.