NMKSO announces the 2023-24 Season “Horizons”! Fall Classics Concert “Mountain Vistas” Sunday Oct. 8, 2023 Winter Classics Concert “Arctic Pastoral” Sunday Jan. 28, 2024 Spring Classics Concert “Unfinished Journeys” Sunday April 21, 2024 Summer Chamber Music “Summer Settings” Sunday June 9, 2024
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From the music director…
I’m excited to share with you the exciting programs that we’ve curated for my first season as music director of the NMKSO. I hope you’ll join us for each special concert in our 66th Season!
We open the season with a special collaboration with Opera Kansas—we’re excited to present a concert version of Mozart’s classic fairytale, The Magic Flute. From a giant serpent to magical bells and flutes, an evil queen, a mysterious priest, and a great love story, there’s something for everyone in this program. Bring the whole family to “The Magic Flute IN Concert” on Oct. 16 at 4:00 p.m. at the Newton High School Auditorium.
We return in January to celebrate local young artists and to remember the victims of the current conflict in Ukraine. This program is very special to me—we are pairing Karel Husa’s Music for Prague 1968 with Smetana’s Tabor from My Country. Husa’s powerful work reflects on the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968 and draws musical themes from the earlier work by Smetana. The concert once again features winners of the Dwight Beckham Young Soloists Competition. Please join us for “Chimes of Freedom,” at 4:00 p.m. on Jan. 29 in Memorial Hall at Bethel College.
The Summer Chamber Music Concert on June 11, at 3:00 p.m., features chamber works with James Jones and NMKSO musicians.
With appreciation of your support through the years, I encourage you to renew your season tickets and contributions.
Dr. Chris David Westover-Muñoz Music Director
65th Anniversary Season
Celebrate 65 years with the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra!
NMKSO is excited to begin its 65th year of symphonic music! Last year found us reimagining our format and delivery, and we hope you enjoyed the virtual concert performances of our smaller ensembles.
The full orchestra was back on July 8, 2021, for an outdoor Pops concert at the Sand Creek Summer Daze Festival. Conductors from the orchestra led NMKSO on pops favorites highlighted by our trumpet section on “Bugle’s Holiday.”
We welcome conductor candidate Elliot Moore of Longmont, Colorado, for the Fall Classics Concert October 24, 2021 at 4:00p.m. The program explores the river scenes of The Moldau by Smetana, and an artist’s gallery in Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky. Bethel College piano professor Christina Liu will be featured on Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 12.
The Dwight Beckham Young Soloists will perform their concerto selections with the orchestra during the Winter Classics Concert on February 13, 2022 at 4:00p.m. The complete program and special guest conductor will be announced at a later date.
The Summer Music Concert on June 5, 2022, at 3:00p.m., polishes off the season with chamber music played by James Jones, NMKSO musicians and friends.
NMKSO is proud to be your community orchestra, and we want to celebrate with you! Your season ticket purchase and donations support the season and the future.
Visit our website at www.nmkso.org for season updates, ticket information, and links to virtual concerts.
Join us for this sparkling “Sapphire” anniversary season, as we reflect and move forward.
– Jill Gatz, General Manager
Joyous Journeys!
Join the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra for their 63rd Season. Join us this year for Joyous Journeys…leading the way!
NMKSO to Host Berta Rojas
NMKSO, together with Hesston Bethel Performing Arts and the Kansas Paraguay Partners, will bring Latin Grammy winning guitarist Berta Rojas to North Newton for a concert on April 8 at 4 p.m. in Bethel College’s Memorial Hall.
Rojas will be featured on the “Concierto de Aranjuez” by Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo and on two works by Paraguayan composers: “Renacer” by Oscar Cardozo Ocampo, and her own arrangement of “La Balada del Indio” by Ismael Ledesma.
NMKSO Presents 61st Season: Musical Passports
Join the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra for our 61st season “Musical Passports.” Our Fall Classics Concert, “Voyage through the United Kingdom,” will be held at 4 p.m., Sunday October 1, in Bethel College Memorial Hall. Featured will be music by Händel, Mendelssohn and Elgar. Tickets $6-$15, available at Faith & Life Bookstore, 606 N. Main, Newton, or online at www.nmkso.org.
Spring Concert: Facets of Memory
NMKSO will present its Spring Concert “Facets of Memory” at 4:00 P.M., Sunday, March 19, at Bethel College Memorial Hall. The program includes “The Reef” by guest composer Michael Knopf, plus music on remembering and western themes.
The concert is presented as an event of the Newton Area Arts Council’s third annual Spring Into the Arts Festival and in collaboration with the Kauffman Museum’s Spring Gala, which immediately follows at the museum.
9th Annual Young Soloist Winner Announced
The Young Soloist Competition auditions were held Nov. 19, 2016, at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church. First place winner in the college division was Andrew Thiesen, trombone, representing Bethel College. The runner-up was Billie Selichnow, trombone, also of Bethel. Also auditioning was Kento Aizawa, clarinet, representing McPherson College. There were no applicants in the high school division this year. Judges for the competition were James Jones and Nicholas Smith, both of Wichita.
Thiesen will perform with NMKSO at the Winter Classics Concert on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2016 at 4 pm in the Newton High School Auditorium, playing the “Trombone Concerto No. 4, mvt. II, III” by Ferdinand David.
Young Soloists Competition
Auditions are quickly approaching for the 9th Annual Young Soloists Competition
Auditions are quickly approaching for the 9th Annual Young Soloists Competition
Applicants should be prepared to perform one movement of a standard concerto or concert piece that they expect to perform at the final concert. The selection should not exceed 12 minutes in length for the audition including all solo parts to be performed during the concert, and no more than 15 min. for the concert, including orchestral exposition. Piano soloists should have their pieces memorized. Students will provide their own audition accompanist.
Auditions will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016; individual times and location TBA.
Application deadline is Oct. 28, 2016. All applications must include a $20 application fee, which is non-refundable. Please make checks payable to the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra or NMKSO.
Diamond Opus
Celebrate 60 years with the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra!
The Fall Alumni Concert invites alumni players to join the orchestra on Handel’s extraordinary Royal Fireworks, then features alumna Kathryn Steely, violist on Suite Hébraïque by Ernest Bloch, and the full orchestra playing Dvorak’s New World Symphony.
The Winter Classics Concert highlights brilliant musicians and composers – featuring Fanfare Sixty by NMKSO alumnus and composer Dwight Beckham and Mozart’s famed Haffner Symphony, plus the winners of the 9th Annual Young Soloist Competition.
The Spring Pops Concert showcases new jewels of contemporary music, with works by former Newtonian, composer Michael Knopf. The season comes to a close with the clarity of Summer Chamber Music.
Community support brings us to this historic point. Please help us move into the future by purchasing your season packages and individual advance tickets today. Your additional gifts are also welcome throughout the season and are greatly appreciated.
We invite you to experience the brilliance of the NMKSO!