We have recently updated our safety policies regarding vaccines and mask requirements. Learn More here.

100th Anniversary Campaign
KSO Announces $8.8M Campaign

Bold fundraising initiative to secure the future of arts and culture in Kalamazoo

The KSO is announcing the Music Connects Us fundraising campaign for its milestone 100th anniversary. This important campaign is an $8.8 million community effort to ensure a vibrant future for the KSO’s next 100 years.

This bold initiative will enhance the symphony’s artistic excellence, community engagement, and financial sustainability; and, it will contribute directly to the future of outstanding musical experiences for Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan.

The Music Connects Us campaign also will assist the symphony in its essential work for enhanced accessibility, expanded educational opportunities, and in furthering its committed growth in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

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Masking and Vaccination Mandates
Sharing Music Safely This Season

New safety policies enhance the concert experience!

At the KSO, we care very much about sharing music in safe environments that honor the health and safety of everyone who works and interacts with us. To attend indoor KSO events this season, masks covering the nose and mouth are required, as is proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. We are not requiring masks or proof of vaccination for our outdoor summer concerts.

To learn about the safety policies in place for our upcoming season, please visit our safety page.

To make verification easier, consider downloading the Bindle app, setting up your account, and uploading your vaccination certification in advance of the event. Bindle is a secure wallet for your health records and an easy way to share your COVID health status privately with others.

SAFETY PAGE

BINDLE APP

  • KSO Artists in Residence
    KSO Artists in Residence

    In 1995, as part of the 75th anniversary celebration of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, a commitment was made to develop four full-time positions that would both enable the orchestra to create community service and education programs and strengthen the orchestra ensemble.

    To this end, the Artists in Residence program began with the KSO's Burdick-Thorne String Quartet. Since that time, the Artists in Residence program has grown to eight positions; including oboe, clarinet, trombone, and timpani, along with the original strings. As a result, the artistic level of the orchestra has soared, and the KSO's education and community programs have expanded to reach more than 26,000 students and their teachers annually with 20+ programs in more than 100 schools throughout Southwest Michigan.

    Our current Artists in Residence are:

    Julia Neckermann, Violin I
    Lisa A. Williams, Violin II
    Nicholas Jeffrey, Viola (not pictured)
    Igor Cetkovic, Cello
    Gabriel Renteria, Oboe
    Georgiy Borisov, Clarinet
    Edward "Kip" Hickman, Trombone
    Mark Guthrie, Timpani

  • Get to Know the Orchestra
    Get to Know the Orchestra

    Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra musicians are the heart of our organization.

    Learn more about our talented musicians; KSO's Music Director, Julian Kuerti; Resident Conductor, Daniel Brier; and our Music Director Emeritus, Raymond Harvey.

  • KSO in your community
    KSO in your Community

    We LOVE our community. You will find your KSO musicians peforming free public concerts in venues such as Bronson's Garden Atrium, Borgess' Atrium Lobby, First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo, Sarkozy Bakery, and Kalamazoo Public Library...and that is just to name a few!

    We also are excited to bring our beloved Instrument Petting Zoo to many local events throughout the year. Fun for kids of all ages!

    Check out our Community Events Calendar for a complete calendar of events.  

  • KSO On The Go
    KSO On The Go

    Through education programs and partnerships, KSO has unique and exciting opportunities to support school music programs through “KSO On The Go” and other in-school programs.

    We bring live performances, classroom visits, artist residencies, and symphony field trips, accompanied by great curriculum materials, to provide formative learning experiences for students of all ages.

Discover the KSO


Experience the Symphony

Celebrate the healing power of music and create shared, live musical experiences with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra during our 2021-22 concert season. 

KSO100 
Our 101st concert season celebrates community and the healing power of experiencing music together. We explore music from well-known and new composers as we continue our 100th anniversary celebration and enjoy coming together for in-person concerts once again.

This season includes some of the most joyous moments in symphonic music, with works from Copland, Dvořák, Mozart, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Ravel, and many other well-known composers. KSO Music Director Emeritus Raymond Harvey returns to the podium in November, and during the season we will present two newly commissioned works.

We're excited to share the immense talents from world-renowned guest pianist Richard Goode, violinist James Ehnes, bass-baritone Derrick Parker, and in a rare moment, TWO Stulberg gold medal winners joining together to perform the Bach Double Concerto in an exciting performance experience.

Of course, no season would be complete without our annual favorites. Our Spooky Symphony family concert Halloween tradition returns; the Sounds of the Season holiday presentation now offers two performances; and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, our live film with orchestra, will play at last. The KSO also will announce chamber music performances throughout the season and the return of outdoor park concerts in 2022. 

Music, now more than ever, can lift our souls and spirits. Join us as we begin a new century of sharing lifelong musical experiences and learning throughout our diverse community. 

 

THANK YOU, SEASON SPONSORS 

Season presented by Zhang Financial
Season sponsored by Stryker

Season Sponsors Zhang Financial and Stryker and Greenleaf Trust