Bob and Marlese Gourley
Marlese and Bob Gourley provided start-up funding to help start the Lee’s Summit Symphony in the early 2000’s when the Kauffman Center was still on the drawing boards. Now the couple has enjoyed two Lee’s Summit Symphony concerts in Helzberg Hall. As Kauffman Center Spotlight Premier members, this dovetailing of the arts and their community interests is important to the couple.
“We definitely want to support this world-class arts facility that brings positive attention to Kansas City. But it also matters to us that the Kauffman Center reaches out across the community to engage all kinds of people,” said Bob. “At one point during the most recent Lee’s Summit Symphony concert, high school students played side-by-side with the professional musicians, which was great.”
Bob and Marlese also appreciate that the Kauffman Center covers a broad spectrum of the arts. “Marlese and I tend to pick and choose different types performances to attend, as opposed to having a particular focus. We appreciate that the Kauffman Center covers all areas of the arts, from classical music to ballet to Willie Nelson,” Bob says.
The contributions of Kauffman Center Spotlight Premier members like those of the Gourley’s provide critical, ongoing operational support for the Kauffman Center and help to present the finest performing arts possible.
To learn how you can become a member of the Spotlight Premier program, contact Trisha Drape, Vice President of Development, at 816.994.7220 or tdrape@kauffmancenter.org.
