The Kauffman Center of the Performing Arts is proud to host Ladysmith Black Mambazo for a high energy night of music on Wednesday, Feb. 8. More information and tickets are available here.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a premiere Grammy award winning a cappella group, hailing from South Africa. Over the past 50 years, the group has toured all over the world, captivating audiences with the intricate rhythms and harmonies derived from their native South African musical tradition.
The group was first assembled in the early 1960s by Joseph Shambalala, a young farmer turned factory worker who gave the group its unique name. Ladysmith is the name of Joseph’s hometown; Black is a reference to the oxen, the strongest of all farm animals; and Mambazo is the Zulu word for chopping axe, a symbol for the group’s ability to “chop down” any singing rival who might challenge them.
The group borrows heavily from a traditional music called isicathamiya (is-cot-a-ME-Ya), which developed in the mines of South Africa. Poorly housed and paid worse, the mine workers would entertain themselves after a six-day week by singing songs into the wee hours of the morning. When the miners returned to the homelands, this musical tradition returned with them.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s latest tour features songs from their newest Grammy nominated album, Walking in the Footsteps of Our Fathers, as well as many classic favorites.
Below, watch Ladysmith Black Mambazo perform their song “Homeless” at the KEXP studios in Seattle.
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Art Garfunkel: In Close-Up
Saturday, March 4 | 8:00 PM
Helzberg Hall
Art Garfunkel began his ascent into the music community at the age of four. His father bought him one of the first wire recorders, allowing him to finally preserve and share the songs he sang.
Seven years later, Art partnered up with Paul Simon (a friend from his neighborhood in Queens, NY) to deliver a rendition of an Everly Brothers song at a school talent show. Though the two sang together throughout high school (even appearing on American Bandstand their senior year), they parted ways when Art chose to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree at Columbia. The two met back up again in 1962 and decided to form a duo, right before the folk music boom peaked in 1963. Within a year, they were signed to Columbia Records and on their way to becoming the icons we know and love today.
As a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, six-time GRAMMY award winner, actor, and writer, Garfunkel has made his mark in the history books as one of the most influential artists of our time. Simon & Garfunkel are best known for their hits like “The Sound Of Silence,” “Mrs. Robinson,” “I Only Have Eyes for You,” and “America.” Garfunkel the solo artist is known for his vulnerable performances and ability to make personal connections with the audience.
Decades after recording “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” he continues to bring some of the best music in folk, rock and pop. Art Garfunkel released his 12th solo album, Some Enchanted Evening in 2007 following a Simon & Garfunkel worldwide reunion tour in 2004.
Aside from his artistic achievements, Art has found comfort and solace in walking. He has crossed the United States and Japan on foot, and is currently working on tackling Europe one country at a time. He is also an avid reader, and has chronicled every book he’s read since June 1968 on his website – 1,227 in all.
Join us on March 4, 2016 for an evening of lyrical melodies and poetic storytelling from this musical giant that will uplift and soothe your spirit.
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Black Violin Reaches KC Community Students
On Nov. 17, the Kauffman Center hosted Black Violin for a student matinee in Muriel Kauffman Theatre. With approximately 1,500 students from 26 schools, the Kauffman Center filled the theatre with an equal mix of classical and hip-hop enthusiasm! The show had all ages up on their feet, from kindergarteners to seniors in high school. Even better, the Kauffman Center was able to bring in students from all across the KC metro area for this exciting and inspiring performance.
Named one of the hottest bands at South by Southwest, Black Violin has opened for such diverse names in music as Kanye West, 50 Cent, Aerosmith, and Tom Petty. Black Violin has creatively collaborated with the likes of Wu-Tang Clan, Linkin Park, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys.
The duo’s UNITY tour “encourages people of all ages, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds to find what connects us, rather than shine a light on what divides us”. Black Violin has played in front of nearly 100,000 students this past year alone, encouraging young people to rise above labels and embrace their identity. At one point in the show, they encourage the audience to make their interests and hobbies cool, even if they are not ‘traditionally cool’ interests (such as playing an instrument). With such an empowering message, the Kauffman Center hopes that the students left with more than just an awesome beat stuck in their head.
If you can’t tell from this photo, the kids had a great time and truly embraced the spirit of the performance. We think the teachers may have had just as much fun as the kids!
These student matinees are made possible by our Open Doors program, which is just one way the Kauffman Center provides access to high quality arts programs for youth throughout the metropolitan area. Through the Open Doors Transportation Fund and the Open Doors Community Tickets program, the Kauffman Center is continuing to impact the lives of Kanas City youth. Those interested in learning more about the Open Doors program or making a donation can click here.
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Save the Date: June 25, 2017
4th Annual Future Stages Festival
FREE EVENT
Kauffman Center is excited to announce the 4th Annual Future Stages Festival!
Bringing together nearly 800 youth artists in 2016, the 3rd Annual Future Stages Festival featured youth performers on three stages: Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Helzberg Hall, and an additional outdoor stage and welcomed 28 community performance groups and more than 5,000 attendees at this FREE annual event. To see images highlighting the 2016 festival, click here.
As an extension of the Kauffman Center’s Open Doors Spotlight on Youth program, this one-day festival invites youth and community arts organizations to perform and experience the Kauffman Center. Now in its fourth year, Future Stages Festival showcases Kansas City’s diversity, bringing together people from all over the metro area to enjoy interactive activities and performances by young people.
In between performances, festival guests can enjoy FREE interactive activities provided by community partners, including: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the American Institute of Architects Kansas City, Heart of American Shakespeare Festival, the Kansas City Symphony, the Kansas City Ballet, and many more!
Register now to receive festival updates, and find out when performance groups are selected for the 4th annual Future Stages Festival. All registrants will automatically be entered in a drawing to win TWO FREE TICKETS to an upcoming performance at the Kauffman Center.
Check out the video below that highlights all there is to see and do at Future Stages Festival!
Future Stages Festival is presented by our Premier Partner:
Additional funding provided by:
Support provided by:
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Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts Announces New
Premier Partner Sponsorship with Saint Luke’s Health System
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts President and CEO Paul Schofer today announced a three-year premier sponsorship with Saint Luke’s Health System. The partnership with the 10-hospital health system is intended to further develop both organizations’ efforts to serve and enhance the lives of people in Kansas City.
Named the Premier Partner of the Kauffman Center, the support of Saint Luke’s Health System will help to connect and engage visitors of the Kauffman Center in new and creative ways far beyond sponsorship branding. The partnership will support Kauffman Center programs and develop new opportunities for community engagement with the arts. “The Kauffman Center is committed to providing quality performing arts experiences for all and we are excited to work with such an established and respected Kansas City organization” said President and CEO Paul J. Schofer. “Saint Luke’s Health System has an impeccable reputation for service, excellence, and improving the quality of life in our community which perfectly aligns with the level of commitment and service the Kauffman Center works to provide.”
Saint Luke’s Heath System has provided health care and health-related services in a caring environment for more than 150 years. “Saint Luke’s and Kauffman Center each strive to improve the lives of everyone in our community,” said President and CEO Melinda L. Estes, M.D., “The sponsorship is a natural alignment of two iconic organizations with an undeniable commitment to Kansas City – each with a focus on quality, excellence, service, and improving the lives of the people who we serve.”
The Kauffman family and Saint Luke’s Health System have invested in the Kansas City community for many years. The nationally recognized Muriel I. Kauffman Women’s Heart Center focuses on issues unique to women’s heart health and led to the establishment of the Women’s Heart Center in 1994. The same year, Muriel Kauffman, civic leader and philanthropist, shared her vision for the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts with her family and the community. After her death, her daughter and chairman of the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation, Julia Irene Kauffman, helped make the vision of a performing arts center a reality.
About Saint Luke’s Health System
Saint Luke’s Health System consists of 10 area hospitals and several primary and specialty care practices, and provides a range of inpatient, outpatient, and home care services. Founded as a faith-based, not-for-profit organization, our mission includes a commitment to the highest levels of excellence in health care and the advancement of medical research and education. The health system is an aligned organization in which the physicians and hospitals assume responsibility for enhancing the physical, mental, and spiritual health of people in the metropolitan Kansas City area and the surrounding region.
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