Musica Vocale

04/03/2026

Congratulations to Ryan Olsen, one of Musica Vocale's Artistic Directors, for his efforts to make music education more inclusive at Olathe West High School.

Thanks to KSHB 41’s Taylor Hemness KSHB for this heartwarming article.

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/olathe-west-creates-choir-class-for-special-needs-students Ryan Olsen

Recently a KSHB 41 viewer tagged me in a Facebook video from Olathe Public Schools, showcasing a new choir class created specifically for students with special needs.

03/28/2026

Some quick shots from today’s Purcellian dress rehearsal of at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral with our friends from the Kansas City Baroque Consortium, led by Trilla Ray-Carter.

Join us tomorrow for (we believe!) the Kansas City premiere of Purcell’s grandest ode, Hail! Bright Cecilia: A Purcellian Feast alongside two of Purcell’s shorter works, "I was glad when they said unto me" and "Rejoice in the Lord, Alway"

with soloists Victoria Olson, Zachary Cope, Jay Carter, Jakson Pennington, Douglas Maag, and Alex Smith

and special guests Kris Kwapis & Melissa Rodgers Woodrow, baroque trumpets; Daniel Lee & Dawn Posey, violins; Jennifer Kirby, oboe; Ashley Mania, bassoon; Joe Harris, theorbo

Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 3:00 PM, reception to follow!

03/25/2026

Baritone Alex Smith, joins Musica Vocale and the Kansas City Baroque Consortium on Sunday for Hail! Bright Cecilia: A Purcellian Feast

A native of Kalamazoo, Alex is a graduate of both the Oberlin Conservatory and the Yale School of Music. This season he is a Lyric Opera of Kansas City resident artist and currently appearing in “Langston Hughes: A Lyrical Life.” This summer he joins the Glimmerglass Festival as a resident artist.

In addition to his work with the KC Lyric, Alex is also a staff singer at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City.

03/24/2026

We are thrilled to welcome violinist Dawn Posey to Kansas City later this week for Hail! Bright Cecilia: A Purcellian Feast. Dawn is joining our friends at Kansas City Baroque Consortium for the first time.

Dawn is a Seattle based artist, but is no stranger to Kansas City. She is a native of Liberty, and has been a featured soloist with Liberty Symphony Orchestra, and Northland Symphony Orchestra, among others.

She is an avid soloist and chamber musician, appearing frequently across North America with Chatham Baroque, and the Kassia Ensmble.

03/21/2026

Musica Vocale is delighted to welcome Melissa Rodgers (baroque trumpet) to Kansas City for next week's Hail! Bright Cecilia: A Purcellian Feast.

"I’m really excited to participate in the Purcell concert; to play the music of one of my favorite composers, in a new place, with great musicians I already know and others I’m looking forward to meeting! Aside from that, I wish I’d be able to stay in Kansas City longer to do all the other things of interest such as visiting a number of museums, gardens, farmers market, the Parkville nature sanctuary, and perhaps do some local cycling and mountain biking."

This season Melissa appears with the Corona Del Mar Baroque Festival, and Opera Neo in works by Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel. This week she is performing Bach's B minor mass with Collegium San Diego and MV's own Jay Carter, countertenor

(photo by Gary Payne)

Kansas City Baroque Consortium, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral Collegium San Diego, Baroque Music Festival, Corona del Mar,

03/20/2026

Musica Vocale and Kansas City Baroque Consortium are delighted to welcome oboist for next weekend's concert of Purcell's Hail, Bright Cecilia! and other works.

Later this season, Jenni is especially excited to perform J.S. Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 4 with Bach Collegium Fort Wayne. Earlier this season she was a featured English Horn soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in the Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez with legendary guitarist Sharon Isbin.

We asked Jenni about their Kansas City connections "Many of my teachers, family, and friends live in and around Kansas City and it was the "big city" when I was growing up – so I always consider going back like being home. I'm really excited to get to play for friends and family who haven't had the change to hear me perform in more than a decade.”

We’re excited to bring Jenni home, and to give her a chance to go to to her favorite Kansas City BBQ spot, Holy Smoke.

03/18/2026

Musica Vocale is thrilled to welcome back Zachary Cope, countertenor as another of our guest artists for Hail! Bright Cecilia: A Purcellian Feast in a few days.

Zachary lives in Topeka and is the associate choirmaster at Grace Cathedral, Topeka though he is often in the metro. "...the desire for great cuisine and beautiful art has kept me coming."

Zach also sings with Te Deum and will be appearing with them in their upcoming concert "Remembrance and Comfort"

03/12/2026

We're pleased to welcome back Victoria Olson as our soprano soloist for "Hail, Bright Cecilia!" later this month!

Victoria an Omaha native who came to Kansas City as a student and quickly became a part of our thriving community of musicians who are both soloists and skilled ensemble singers. Later this season she'll be appearing with re:sound ensemble in their April program "Unraveling" and recording with Astra Ensemble.

learn more about Victoria at http://victoriamariesoprano.com/

03/10/2026

We're featuring guest artists for Hail! Bright Cecilia: A Purcellian Feast later this month. Up first is Kris Kwapis, one of America's most virtuosic baroque trumpet players. Originally from a small town in Michigan, Kris is a Seattle-based artist who also teaches at Indiana University's Historical Performance Institute.

Highlights of this season include Bach's Christmas Oratorio with Seattle Bach Festival, and a concert of music by Biber and Vejvanovsky with Bojan Čičić with the Minneapolis-based ensemble Lyra Baroque.

We asked Kris what she's most excited to do while here for our concert and she answered exactly as we'd hope..."One word with three letters: B-B-Q!"

She'll fit right in!!!!!

for more about Kris please visit https://kriskwapis.com

02/26/2026

Thank you to Patrick Neas at KC Arts Beat for this article and podcast about our upcoming concert: Hail! Bright Cecilia: A Purcellian Feast, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, March 29, 3:00 PM. We'll be joined by our friends from Kansas City Baroque Consortium and other guests for this rare opportunity to hear some of Purcell's grandest music.

Article: https://kcartsbeat.substack.com/p/restoration-radiance-musica-vocale

Podcast: https://youtu.be/NwuxcQVMitQ

Henry Purcell stands as one of the most remarkable figures in English music, a composer whose work seems to hold an entire era inside it.

02/11/2026

Congratulations to our friends at Kansas City Baroque Consortium for receiving a grant from Early Music America! Hear them, along with Musica Vocale and guests, in next month's concert of Purcell at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral