A group of talented student performers from the UMKC Conservatory left their hearts on stage at the Kauffman Performing Arts Center during a one-hour performance in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Crescendo.
UMKC and a host of community members, friends and alumni joined together to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Friends of the Conservatory's Crescendo Benefit Gala. Crescendo 2021 featured artistic performances led by the talented students and internationally acclaimed faculty of the UMKC Conservatory. From music to dance to theatre, the ensemble flowed together in uninterrupted succession throughout different locations around the concert hall creating a beautiful and visually stimulating atmosphere.
It was the Conservatory’s first in-person gala in two years, due to COVID.
“What we are celebrating, more than anything else, is commitment. The commitment to persevere through the time of dark theatres and empty seats,” said Mauli Agrawal, chancellor. “We arrived at this moment because of the commitment of the performers who continued to study and practice, the instructors who continued to teach and inspire, the donors who kept the faith that their ongoing generosity would pay off when the lights came up again.”
Held at the stunning Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, one of the premier art venues in Kansas City, the one-hour performance followed a dinner and cocktail hour.
The event raised more than $815,000 to support student scholarships, which are essential to the Conservatory’s success and a critical part of recruiting and retaining top talent. Thanks to the generosity of donors who chose to add a “silver lining” and increase their sponsorship donation by 25 percent in recognition of the gala’s 25th year anniversary, a special Crescendo Silver Anniversary Scholarship endowment was established to assist performing arts students with the cost of tuition while studying at the UMKC Conservatory.
The UMKC Conservatory is home to the university’s Music, Dance and Theatre programs and has been recognized for its artistic excellence and innovation for more than 115 years.