YSKC provides a full orchestra experience to students throughout the greater Kansas City Metropolitan area, as a high-functioning youth symphony at multiple grade and ability levels. Our students report that their time in the program has enhanced their overall musicianship for public, private, and homeschool music programs.

Students perform distinctive concerts throughout Kansas City in formal and informal settings at venues such as Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and Yardley Hall at Johnson County Community College.

Student participants and their families get inside access to the arts in Kansas City and routinely receive offers for discounted tickets to concerts and additional experiences from community partners. Area arts organizations recognize the value in engaging with YSKC, as our students are the future audience members, patrons and performers essential to long-term sustainability of the arts.

Many of the school music programs within underserved communities are minimal or non-existent, highlighting a need for after-school music enrichment programs such as YSKC. We address inclusivity by providing music program access and tuition support within underserved schools.

Tuition support is also an important strategy in our desire to provide program access to students. Recently, Youth Symphony budgeted and awarded a high number of families in need who qualified for need-based tuition support exceeding $43,000. Specifically, the areas of support this season break down as follows:

• General Financial Assistance from YSKC: 36 students – $21,800
• Community Partner (Harmony Project/Musical Bridges) Waivers from YSKC: 14 students – $11,400
• Fee Waiver (exchange for regular season parent volunteers): 12 students – $10,140

Total – $43,340