The Kinnor Philharmonic Orchestra will be partnering with Jewish Family Services to warm both body and the soul this New Year’s Day. The annual Kinnor New Year’s concert will be held at 3 p.m. on Jan. 1 at Congregation Beth Torah. All participants are encouraged to bring cans of soup to be donated to the JFS Food Pantry, so those in need in our community can have a warm meal this winter.
The performance will be the seventh concert since Kinnor was formed in 2011 to bring the rich history of Jewish music to the broader Kansas City community. There are only three other Jewish orchestras in the country, including groups in Los Angeles, Portland and Boston. Kinnor is the only Jewish orchestra in the Midwest.
In addition to their semi-annual concerts in January and June, which have attracted more than 2,000 attendees in the past four years, Kinnor has provided smaller ensemble groups to offer music at important Jewish community events including KosherFest, the Jewish Arts Festival, and the community memorial service following the April 2014 shootings at the Jewish Community Center. Kinnor will also be teaming up with the Park University International Center for Music to perform a concert with their students this coming April.
Kinnor’s 2015 New Year’s Day concert will feature music by Hammerstein, Rameau, Smetana and, of course, the Strauss Family. Led by Music Director Christopher Kelts, the program promises to be both inspiring and entertaining. A light reception will follow the concert.
“We are very excited to continue the tradition of bringing music and fellowship to the Kansas City community,” said Robin Onikul, Kinnor co-founder and board president. “And our new partnership with JFS highlights our belief that music can inspire people to great acts of inspiration and kindness.”
“Hunger and food insecurity is on the rise in our community, and food drives hosted by organizations like Kinnor make it possible for JFS to meet our neighbors’ food needs,” said Don Goldman, JFS executive director. “While we are celebrating the New Year with a concert, what a great way to also feed the hungry in greater Kansas City.”
Tickets for the Jan. 1 Kinnor concert are available in advance at www.KinnorPhil.org or by calling 816-510-4056. Advance reserve seats are $30; advance general admission seats are $20. General admission tickets will also be available at the door for $25.
For more information on the JFS Food Pantry, or to host a Food Drive with your organization or place of business, contact Jo Hickey, Food Pantry director, at 913-327-8257 or .