Park University’s International Center for Music announces blockbuster 2024-25 season

Park University’s International Center for Music is a powerhouse of musical talent. The school’s 2024-2025 season features mostly their own faculty and students, but it is as packed with as much talent as any world-class series.

From illustrious competition winners like Behzod Abduraimov and Maria Ioudenitch to first chair musicians for some of the greatest orchestras in the world, the season is one blockbuster after another.

Abduraimov, London International Piano Competition winner and Park ICM artist-in-residence, will start off the season at the Folly Theater with he Park ICM Orchestra and the NAVO Chamber Orchestra conducted by Shah Sadikov, also an ICM graduate.

Stanislav Ioudenitch, a Van Cliburn International Piano Competition gold medalist, founded ICM in 2003. Abduraimov was one of his first students to become an international success, and he’s been cranking out piano superstars ever since. On Oct. 24 at the 1900 Building, “Stanislav Ioudenitch Piano Studio in Recital” will give you a chance to hear his latest batch of competition winners.

The string players at ICM are just as strong as the pianists. They’ll have a chance to strut their stuff Nov. 14 when “Park ICM Presents the String Studios in Recital” at the 1900 Building.

Of course, one of the reasons the string players are so good is that their teachers are the cream of the crop. Two of those teachers, violinist Ben Sayevich and cellist Daniel Veis, along with pianist Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, make up the Park Trio. They’re giving a recital Jan. 24 at the 1900 Building.

One of the great success stories of the ICM string program is violinist David Radzynski, the current concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra. Radzynski, who studied under Sayevich at Park, will return to Kansas City to give a recital with Lisovskaya-Sayevich March 14 at the 1900 Building.

Oboists don’t get the spotlight often enough, but on April 11, one of the best in the world, Hansjörg Schellenberger, will give a recital with Lisovskaya-Sayevich at the 1900 Building. Schellenberger has served as the principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under conductors like Herbert von Karajan, Riccardo Muti and Claudio Abbado.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Maria Ioudenitch, daughter of Stanislav and Tatiana Ioudenitch, is one of the greatest violinists of her generation. And that is no exaggeration. She’s won first prize in three of the world’s most prestigious violin competitions, the Ysaÿe, Tibor Varga and Joseph Joachim International. She also has a recording contract with Warner Classics.

Ioudenitch will be coming home to perform a recital with her father May 7 at the 1900 Building. It should be a memorable grand finale to an extraordinary season.

For more information, icm.park.edu.

7:30 p.m. Sept. 20. Behzod Abduraimov, piano, and the Park ICM Orchestra and the NAVO Chamber Orchestra conducted by Shah Sadikov. Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St.

7:30 p.m. Oct. 24. Stanislav Ioudenitch Piano Studio in Recital. 1900 Building, 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway.

7:30 p.m. Nov. 1. Park ICM Orchestra Fall Concert. Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel, 8701 N.W. River Park Drive.

7:30 p.m. Nov. 14. Park ICM Presents the String Studios in Recital. 1900 Building.

7:30 p.m. Dec. 7. Park ICM Orchestra Holiday Concert, Steven McDonald, conductor. Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel

7:30p.m. Jan. 24. Park Trio in Concert with Daniel Veis, cello, Lolita-Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano and Ben Sayevich, violin 1900 Building.

7:30 p.m. Feb. 7. Park ICM Orchestra Valentine’s Concert. Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel.

7 p.m. March 1. Stanislav & Friends 2025. Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

7:30 p.m. March 14. David Radzynski, violin, and Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano. 1900 Building.

7:30 p.m. April 11. Hansjörg Schellenberger, oboe, and Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano. 1900 Building.

7:30 p.m. April 25. Park ICM Orchestra Season Finale, Barbara Yahr conductor. Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel.

7:30 p.m. May 7. Stanislav Ioudenitch, piano, Maria Ioudenitch, violin. 1900 Building.

Kansas City Symphony — Sci-Fi Spectacular

Beam me up, Scotty. The Kansas City Symphony will explore strange new worlds with Sci-Fi Spectacular May 17 to 19 at Helzberg Hall. Guest conductor Jack Everly will lead the orchestra in a program of spacey classics, including music from “2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Star Trek,” “E.T.” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”

Soprano Sarah Tannehill Anderson and the Kansas City Symphony Chorus directed by Charles Bruffy will also perform. Laser lights and haze are included at no extra charge.

8 p.m. May 17 and 18, 2 p.m. May 19. Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. $45-$100. 816-471-0400 or kcsymphony.org.

Midwest Trust Center — Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles

The Midwest Trust Center presents Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles and Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar May 17 at the Midwest Trust Center. The program, “¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva America!,” will feature Mexican American classics from traditional mariachi to Disney tunes.

8 p.m. May 17. Yardley Hall, Midwest Trust Center, Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park. $25-$45. 913-469-4445 or jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center.

Prairie Classical — Riders on the Storm: A Quartet Rodeo

Destiny rides again! Prairie Classical presents violinist Destiny Mermagen and her posse of gifted young musicians in “Riders on the Storm: A Quartet Rodeo” May 19 at Old Mission United Methodist Church. Mermagen, aka the “Classical Cowgirl,” has corralled a program that includes Haydn’s String Quartet Op. 74 No., 3 ”Reiterquarett” (The Horseman), “Hoedown” from Copland’s “Rodeo” and Debussy’s String Quartet.

Joining the Prairie Classical Youth Quartet will be some rootin’ tootin’ musicians: violinist Véronique Mathieu, violist Shah Sadikov and cellist Michael Mermagen.

3 p.m. May 19. Old Mission United Methodist Church, 5519 State Park Road. Free with reservation. prairieclassical.org.

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra — ‘This Is Kansas City’

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra will conclude its season, “Conversations in Jazz,” with “This Is Kansas City” May 17 at the Folly Theater. The concert will feature two Kansas City jazz stars, vocalist Deborah Brown and saxophonist Bobby Watson.

Brown has performed with countless greats, like Clark Terry, Harry “Sweets” Edison and Toots Thielemans. She might be better known in Europe than she is in her hometown, which is a crying shame.

Watson, born in Lawrence, spent most of his professional career in New York, where, in addition to performing, he taught at the Manhattan School of Music. Watson moved back home in 2000, and taught at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Conservatory of Music and Dance until 2020, when he retired. He still tours, and every one of his performances is a rare treat.

8 p.m. May 17. Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St. $20-$100. 816-225-4949 or kcjo.org.

St. Paul’s Choir ‘Music of English Choral Composers’

Lovers of great sacred music know that St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has one of the best music programs in town. The St. Paul’s Choir conducted by Sam Anderson with organist Kurt Knecht will present “Music of English Choral Composers” May 15 at the church. The program features music by Mendelssohn, Hubert Parry and John Ireland. Although it’s an English concert, they’re also slipping in a piece by American composer Amy Beach.

The church is billing the event as a “Short Concert, Long Reception,” with what are being described as “Episcopalian foods and beverages” after the concert.

7 p.m. May 15. St. Paul’s Episcopal, 11 E. 40th St. Free. stpaulskcmo.org.

You can reach Patrick Neas at patrickneas@kcartsbeat.com and follow his Facebook page, KC Arts Beat, at www.facebook.com/kcartsbeat.