Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet
Debut Orchestra
Debut Winter/Spring 2025-26 Chair Audition MusicDebut Orchestra
Winter/Spring 2026 Chair Order
| Violin I | Violin 2 | Viola | Cello | Double Bass |
| Shine An | Angeline Tignon | Kaiser Willmoth | Lorelai Strickland | Hannah Kremer |
| Hugo Hess | Harmony Nagy | Ellana Barnhart | Flynn Wallingford | Sophia Wehner |
| Arnav Shah | Kellan Collado | Bennett Beahm | Luke Molitor | Mia Menking |
| Nolan Niemerg | Elliot Williams | Ethan Lonesk | Fiona Scott | |
| Bida Cai | Ezra Johnson | Gia Gabriele | Harper Cranford | |
| Shakira Huang | Isabel Castro | Phoenix Paralkar | ||
| Samantha Tang | Aranea Horn | |||
| Rylan Smith | Kendall Smead | |||
| Lainy Pierce | Rory Stanfield | |||
| Eleanor Haberland | Layla Busche | |||
| Madelyn Alamillo Handwork | Madison Reilly | |||
| Lawson Pierce | Adeline DavLight | |||
| Rivka Haligheri | Heath Miller | |||
| Michael Li | Alyssa Aguirre | |||
| Flute | Oboe | Clarinet | ||
| Noa Kramer | Anne Whitacre | Natalie DeThorne | ||
| Brayden Lafargue |
Debut Orchestra Classes in Kansas City
The Beginning Steps
Our Debut Orchestra is a preparatory string orchestra made up of students from our Junior School who play their instruments at a level equivalent to Suzuki books 2 & 3. Debut Orchestra performs arrangements of symphonic literature and original compositions. It provides the foundations for exemplary performance and musicality, developing students’ skills as they continue their foray into instrumental study.
This orchestra is an ideal first step for students who have taken prior lessons and wish to train outside of the classroom. In addition, our Debut Orchestra in Kansas City accommodates homeschool programs as a way for students to perform alongside their peers from around the Kansas City area.
Highlights
Junior School: 4th-8th Grade
See Tuition page for more information
Debut Orchestra performs arrangements of symphonic literature and original compositions. Recently performed works include Handel’s “Lascia ch’io Pianga” & Jenkins’ “Palladio,” excerpts from Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” and Spata’s “Zydeco Two Step.”
Debut Orchestra rehearses on Sunday afternoons.
In 2025-2026, rehearsals will take place from 1-2 p.m.*
*please note that times, locations and durations are subject to change
60
Creativity takes Community
Grow together
Meet the Conductor
Originally from Lawrence, Kansas, Anna Cook is a music educator and cellist in the Kansas City area. She holds cello performance and music education degrees from Bethel College and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Fort Hays State University. Anna began her teaching career in Wilson, Kansas, and is currently the orchestra director at Shawnee Mission North High School in Overland Park, KS, where she has been since 2015. Anna is married to her husband Ryan and enjoys photography, traveling, and playing with her twin toddlers, Andy and Hal.
Meet the Assistant Conductor
Andrew Book began his orchestra teaching career in 2010 in Salina, KS. Since 2016, he has been the director of orchestras at Blue Valley West HS, Pleasant Ridge MS, and Cedar Hills Elementary.
Mr. Book graduated from Wichita State University in 2010 with a degree in Music Education (Instrumental Emphasis) and Double Bass Performance. In the Summer or 2021 he completed his Master of Music Education Degree (Emphasis in String Pedagogy) from the University of Kansas. Professional organizations are very important to the advancement of the music teaching profession and Mr. Bookis a proud member of the Kansas Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, Blue Valley Education Association, and the International Society of Bassists.
Mr. Book is a very busy performer on the double bass. You can find him performing in the Blue Valley musicals, with the St. Joseph Symphony, the Topeka Symphony, and subbing in the Kansas City area. Mr. Book has an 8-year-old daughter that he is very proud of, and he loves to golf, swim, cook, and cheer for the KC Chiefs!
Upcoming Performances
YSKC Presents: Chamber Showcase Winter
6401 Wornall Terrace, Kansas City MO 64113
Feb 19
Thu,
7:00 PM
2026
Growth Through Music Classical Festival
1601 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
Mar 09
Mon,
6:30 PM
2026
YSKC Presents: Solo Showcase Spring
6401 Wornall Terrace, Kansas City MO 64113
Mar 12
Thu,
7:00 PM
2026
YSKC Presents: Spring Concert – Debut & Philharmonic Orchestras
1601 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
May 02
Sat,
2:00 PM
2026
Ready to join YSKC?
View our 2025/2026 audition information to learn more about joining our Debut Orchestra in Kansas City!
About YSKC
YSKC was founded as The Youth Symphony of the Heart of America by Leo Scheer consisting of an orchestra of 80 musicians, 22 and younger. Incorporated in 1958, YSKC has enjoyed a vibrant history as the musical home to students in Kansas City. Today, the Youth Symphony of Kansas City serves more than 400 musicians in grades 5-12 and is comprised of four full orchestras, a preparatory strings ensemble, multiple ancillary programs, the Opus 76 Quartet Residency, and our new YSKC Academy program. Throughout its 65 years of programming, YSKC has built an alumni class of more than 10,000, completed international tours to Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, and performed at numerous prestigious festivals and conferences nationwide.
