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November 19, 2024

A World-Class Symphony Inspires KCKPS Students at Special Concert

A full orchestra performs on stage, led by a conductor standing in the center.

A special concert took place at Wyandotte High School with the hopes of inspiring students, while also giving them a big boost.

The Kansas City Symphony performed a benefit concert at the school on Thursday, November 14. Community members, KCKPS students, and district leadership attended the musical extravaganza. 

A full orchestra performs on stage, led by a conductor standing in the center.

The event was part of the KC Symphony’s Support School Music Program, which is an outreach initiative that highlights the value and importance of school music. 

Since its inception in 2003, the Symphony’s Support School Music Program has raised more than $18,000 for 16 area school districts in Kansas and Missouri.

Ticket sales from the concert at Wyandotte High School raised money for the orchestra program at Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. The concert was also a chance to get students excited about music.

A woman speaks at a microphone on a stage with a person standing beside her and an orchestra seated behind them.

“I believe it’s important for students to recognize that they, too, can become members of a symphony with hard work and determination,” said KCKPS Strings Teacher Angela Diaw. 

The concert featured a wide range of genres including Mozart’s Magic Flute, Georges Bizet’s Carmen, Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. KCKPS students took an active role in the concert. They introduced each musical number.

Two young performers stand on stage before an audience, ready to speak or sing.

“They spoke with such poise and elegance, truly owning the moment. I provided them with an outline to guide their preparation, and they took it a step further by creating detailed program notes and adding their own unique flair. It was incredibly rewarding to see their hard work and creativity,” added Diaw. 

As part of the benefit concert, the orchestra rehearsed at Wyandotte High School earlier in the day. Students from Wyandotte High School, Central, and Carl B. Bruce Middle Schools sat in on the rehearsal.  

An orchestra performs on stage in a grand auditorium filled with seated audience members.

“During the Q&A session with the symphony, the students asked insightful questions like, ‘What steps do I need to take to get where you are?’ and ‘How do you stay motivated to work on your craft every day?’ It was inspiring to see them seriously considering a future in music,” said Diaw. 

Students also served as host and welcomed guests as they arrived.

A large audience fills the rows of seats in a grand auditorium or lecture hall.

“I’m incredibly grateful that the symphony was able to perform for our Wyandotte community. It was a wonderful evening that brought people together through the power of music. One of my favorite moments was seeing two children in the front row dancing and enthusiastically conducting along with the pieces. It was a reminder of how music can inspire joy and spark creativity in all generations,” added Diaw.