Youth Orchestra in Kansas City

Our Orchestras

Hear the future now

Hear the future now

Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductors – Michelle Davis & Amanda Kremer

Our Philharmonic Orchestra is a full orchestra and the graduating ensemble of our Junior School. Philharmonic Orchestra performs original compositions and arrangements of symphonic music. It expands upon young musicians’ prior experiences to continue honing their skills and ensuring excellence in musicality.

 

Michelle Davis and Amanda Kremer are the current conductors of our Philharmonic Orchestra in Kansas City. Students will rehearse every Sunday as part of their program, and we do encourage students to keep taking private lessons throughout the season. We look forward to seeing your student join the ranks of our ensemble!

Highlights

Creativity takes Community

Grow together

Meet Michelle Davis

Michelle Davis has been a string orchestra educator for 30 years in Illinois, Michigan and Missouri. She has taught strings/orchestra at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Currently, she is the conductor of the Liberty High School Orchestras in Liberty, Missouri. In addition, she teaches private lessons to aspiring violin and viola students. Previously, she taught beginning strings and junior high orchestra in Oak Park, Illinois, and middle school orchestra in Farmington Hills, Michigan. She just finished a two-year tenure as Orchestra Vice President of the Missouri Music Educators’ Association.

Learn More About Michelle

Meet Amanda Kremer

Amanda Kremer is originally from Springfield, Mo. She graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. Amanda played horn with the Minnesota Symphonic Winds and completed her master’s degree in educational leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Learn More About Amanda

Upcoming Performances

Youth Symphony of Kansas City’s 65th Anniversary Season Finale Concerts – Afternoon Session

Youth Symphony of Kansas City’s 65th Anniversary Season Finale Concerts – Evening Session

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Ready to join YSKC? 

View our 2024/2025 audition information to learn more about joining our Philharmonic Orchestra in Kansas City!

Audition Information

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.

History & Mission