with assistance from the HARRIMAN-JEWELL SERIES BOARD OF ADVISORS

Dr. Irene Bettinger Mr. Scott Francis and Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Kemper Suzanne Shank and Patricia Chasnoff Ms. Susan Gordon Philip and Renae Krause Martin Smoler Charles and Virginia Clark Christy and Bill Gautreaux Ms. Mira Mdivani Mrs. Estelle Sosland Dr. and Mrs. David A. Cooley Paget and Tom Higgins John and Jackie Middelkamp Mr. and Mrs. Bunni and Paul Copaken Mrs. Beth Ingram Mr. Edward P. Milbank Charles A. Spaulding III Mr. and Mrs. William H. Curry Gretchen and Ms. Sherrill Mulhern Gaye McCarty Stevick and Pat and Don Dagenais Dr. Larry Jacobson Phyllis and Ronald Nolan Gary Foutch Mark and Diane Davidner Marcia S. Karbank Michelle and Chuck Ritter Nancy and Michael Thiessen Sharon Johnson and Bob Dona Mr. Neil D. Karbank Anita and Gary Robb Elizabeth and Mr. Richard Durwood Steven and Jeannette Karbank Sarah Rowland James E.C. Tinsman Mr. Michael Fields Julia Irene Kauffman Roswitha and Ken Schaffer Liza and Guy Townsend Charlotte Kemper Prudence and Robert True and 2020-2021 SEASON DISCOVERY CONCERT SPONSORS Charles and Virginia Clark present HOLIDAY BLISS BEN BLISS with BARNABY BRIGHT AND SPECIAL GUESTS

The Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation is the sponsor of our 56th Season.

This evening marks the 972nd presentation by the Harriman-Jewell Series, and a second appearance on the Series by Ben Bliss. This is our 53rd free Discovery Concert since 2004. 7:00 P.M., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2020 PARKWAY ROOM, 1900 BUILDING MISSION WOODS, KANSAS 2 PROGRAM

Ben Bliss — vocals/host Mark Lowrey — pianist Joey Panella — double bass Sam Wisman — drums Becky and Nathan Bliss — Barnaby Bright Sascha Groschang — cellist Carmen Dieker — violin/vocals Judy Bliss — vocals

Song selections will be announced from the stage. 3

BEN BLISS American tenor Ben Bliss, whom the New York

Classical Review called “one of the leading Mozartian BIOGRAPHIES tenors,” has gained a reputation as one of the most valuable and versatile performers of his generation. Mr. Bliss returns to the operatic stage for the 2020–2021 season at Opernhaus Zürich as Flamand in Strauss' Capriccio. He was most recently praised for his "splendid Don Ottavio" (Platea Magazine) in Don Giovanni at the Liceu Opera Barcelona. The 2019–2020 season featured a return to the Metropolitan Opera as Ferrando in Così fan tutte, conducted by Harry Bicket, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni for his debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Tom Rakewell in Britten’s The Rake's Progress with The Glyndebourne Festival and Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, his hometown. Concert appearances include a debut with the San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas singing Steuermann in Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra singing Orff’s Carmina Burana, conducted by Alain Altinoglu, Beethoven’s Missa solemnis with The Dario Acosta credit: Atlanta Symphony with performances in both Atlanta In the 2017–2018 season, Mr. Bliss performed the and in New York City at Carnegie Hall, Bernstein’s role of Ferrando at the Metropolitan Opera, Seattle Songfest with the Seattle Symphony and Handel’s Opera, and Oper Frankfurt. He also made his Messiah with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. house debut at Opera Philadelphia as Tamino, and The 2018–2019 season brought Ben Bliss back to the performed Cassio in Otello with the Atlanta Symphony Metropolitan Opera as Tamino in The Magic Flute, Orchestra. In the summer of 2018, he returned to as well as a debut with Canadian Opera Company Santa Fe Opera to make his role debut as Robert as Ferrando, role and house debuts with Houston Wilson in Dr. Atomic in a production directed by Grand Opera as Don Ottavio, Peter Quint in Britten’s Peter Sellars. Concert appearances included Handel’s The Turn of the Screw with Seattle Opera, and a Messiah with the New York Philharmonic, and the return to Santa Fe Opera as Ferrando. Orchestral tenor solos in Schumann’s Das Paradies und die and recital appearances included a return to the New Peri with Gustavo Dudamel, Peter Sellars, and the York Philharmonic for Mozart’s Requiem with Manfred Los Angeles Philharmonic. He also returned to the Honeck as well as a crossover concert with Bramwell Aspen Music Festival and School for two separate Tovey in Vail, Colorado; concerts in the NYC Parks with programs of Benjamin Britten: Serenade for Tenor, the Metropolitan Opera, and a solo recital at Messiah Horn and Strings and Canticle II: Abraham and Isaac. College in Pennsylvania with pianist Lachlan Glen. Highlights of Mr. Bliss’ recent seasons include the Metropolitan Opera as Belmonte, conducted by

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James Levine, Steuermann, conducted by Yannick BARNABY BRIGHT Nézet-Séguin, and Tamino. He also made his Despite the fact that visceral resonance is part European debut in the same role with Glyndebourne BIOGRAPHIES of the grace of music-making, it's a true rarity Festival on tour. Returning as a principal artist to when you come across folks who so deeply Los Angeles Opera, he appeared as Tamino under walk what they sing that you can't help but love the baton of James Conlon. He made his company and feel a personal connection to them. This is and role debut at Santa Fe Opera as Flamand in a how Nathan and Becky Bliss (their real names), new production of Capriccio directed by Tim Albery, collectively known as Barnaby Bright, touch you. Belmonte with Atlanta Opera, Tom Rakewell with Boston Lyric Opera and Camille, Count de Rosillon Forget that Nathan plays his guitar as if inspired by in Die lustige Witwe for his house and role debut the ragged virtuosity of Django Reinhardt and that with the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. his wife, Becky, sings like…well, in one PopMatters review alone her "divine voice" is compared to On the concert stage, Mr. Bliss performed with the both Annie Lennox and Sarah McLachlan, the duo’s New York Philharmonic singing Tony in Bernstein’s harmonies to the best of the Civil Wars. Forget West Side Story Concert Suite No. 1 with Alan that there is a sincere aura of warmth around them Gilbert, Haydn’s Creation and Cassio in Otello at that will melt even the iciest of curmudgeons, or the Cincinnati May Festival with James Conlon, their sharp penchant for self-effacing humor. holiday concerts with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Lexington Philharmonic, Bach’s Magnificat with It's the music! the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and Bach’s The music is what leads. It flows through this duo St. Matthew Passion with the La Jolla Symphony. like water, and it nourishes its listeners every time, A recital tour with Lachlan Glen included stops at and without fail. The single, "The Hurting Times" Carnegie Hall, the Folly Theater in Kansas City as is a perfect example. Sure, Barnaby Bright are part of the Harriman-Jewell Series, Theater of the cool, calm, connected. But this confidence allows Arts at the University of District of Columbia as part for facades to come down and their humanity and of the Vocal Arts DC Emerging Artists series, Hahn compassion always to be heard and felt. This song, Hall at Music Academy of the West as part of the with its eloquent, nurturing lyrics, is so indicative University of California, Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures of that. In fact, there's something generous about series, and in Cincinnati with Matinée Musicale. this track that is central to their ethos and most Ben Bliss was a 2016 recipient of the Martin E. Segal especially to these global hurting times of 2020. award at Lincoln Center, awarded by the Metropolitan And the 9/11 release date was no coincidence—it Opera, received the Mozart and Plácido Domingo is still very much a time in the US and worldwide awards at the 2015 Francisco Viñas International for reflection, understanding, focus on family, love, Competition in Barcelona, receiving 2nd place generosity and healing, remembering what’s import overall, first prize in the 2014 Gerda Lissner and as we honor one of this century’s darkest hours. Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation competitions, Barnaby Bright’s alt-Americana leanings reveal as well as a Sara Tucker and Sullivan Foundation their provenance, that deep tradition of brilliant grant. Mr. Bliss is also the 2013 Operalia Don American folk singer-songwriters, yet with diverse Plácido Domingo Sr. Zarzuela prizewinner. For more and contemporary influences that reflect their musical information, please visit www.benblisstenor.com. and geographical journey from Brooklyn to Nashville to the Midwest—with a little bit of London thrown 5

MARK LOWREY For two decades, Mark Lowrey has been one of the

hardest-working musicians in Kansas City. Though most BIOGRAPHIES of his heart is a jazz musician, Mark’s contributions regionally and internationally span from hiphop to chamber music; from Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Argentinian musics to pop, rock, and musical theater. While Lowrey performed with Tango Lorca at the First Annual Tango Ensemble Competition at the Argentine Consulate in NYC, the group won second place amidst prestigious competition. After curating the live collaborations that were “Mark Lowrey Vs. Hiphop,” he went on to record with many emcees, most notably improvising source material for Tech N9ne’s critically acclaimed album Special Effects which also features Lil Wayne and Eminem. Mark is an “Escape To Create” artist in residence alumni, and holds an honorary degree from the London College of Music. The Pitch Music Awards gave him the title “Best Jazz Artist” for six years in a row before retiring his name from nominations. Mark has been on the art/education team for three Medical Missions Foundation missions, twice in Ouellessebougou, Mali, and once last year to Gulu, Uganda. Barnaby Bright: Becky and Nathan Bliss In recent years, Lowrey has found a new musical family in Jukeboxx Media, playing keyboards in in for good measure. They’ve spent several years their flagship variety cover band LostWax, where he touring and crafting self-releases, winning major often gets to play classical music at the ceremony, songwriting awards, sharing the stage with the likes jazz for cocktail hour, and then top-40 music for of Norah Jones and The Lumineers, performing at heavy-hitting dance sets at the reception. Ted Talks and garnering a loyal core following. Amidst the challenges of 2020 for performing artists, November 2020 has seen the release of the new Mark began streaming a Facebook Live show he Christmas album Bleak Midwinter, featuring "The calls “Jazz and Plants,” playing solo piano, fulfilling Hurting Times," which has received strong press commented requests in real time. "Jazz and Plants" and radio plays worldwide, plus three guest artists is approaching its 100th two-hour episode. in Calvin Arsenia, Caleb Hawley, and Liz Longley, four other original songs, five unique interpretations JOEY PANELLA of classics and a gorgeous Hannukah “Ner Li," for good measure! Becky and Nathan will perform Joey Panella has been performing double bass songs from this new repertoire in this show. For more and electric bass professionally for over a decade. He information, please visit www.barnabybright.com. grew up in a musical family and was encouraged to

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study music from the earliest ages. He studied with SASCHA GROSCHANG Marcos Machado, classical virtuoso and author of Cellist Sascha Groschang is an active recitalist, The Tao of Double Bass at the University of Southern BIOGRAPHIES having concertized across the United States and Mississippi. He has also studied with bassist and Asia. As an Artists International Special Presentation educator Dr. David Pellow, a protégé of François Winner, she gave her solo debut recital at Carnegie Rabbath and former professor at Carnegie Mellon Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in February 2009. She has University, as well as Bob Bowman, legendary bassist appeared at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall many with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. In 2012, he times as a chamber and orchestral musician, including began working in Nashville as a session and touring as a featured soloist with country artist Clay Walker, musician with the Annie Moses Band, a group that and as associate principal of the National Youth fuses a broad range of influences, including folk, pop, Symphony. She has shared the stage with artists and classical music. Currently, Panella resides in the such as Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Nadia Salerno- Kansas City area, performing as a freelance bassist and Sonnenburg, Jonathan Biss, Robert Levin, Sharon teaching clinics and private lessons. In the Midwest, Isben, Vladimir Feltsman, and Pepe Romero. She he has performed with the likes of Mark Lowrey, Lisa has been a member of the Des Moines Symphony, Henry, Matt Otto, Will Matthews, Shay Estes, Stanton an associate member in the Civic Orchestra of Kessler, Danny Embrey, Anthony Pinciotti, Pete Chicago and is currently principal cellist with the Saint Zimmer, Pamela Watson, Ensemble Iberica, Victor and Joseph Symphony. In addition to classical music, Penny, Owen/Cox Dance Group, and many more. Sascha is an avid performer and string arranger of SAM WISMAN non-traditional and popular styles such as folk, jazz and contemporary, worship, improvisation, rock, Sam Wisman is a versatile fixture in Kansas City's alternative, Broadway, and film music. She is the cellist creative music scene. Sam is a member of The Kansas and co-composer of the alternative string duo The City Jazz Orchestra, The People's Liberation Big Band, Wires, which explores a variety of non-traditional string Kinnor Philharmonic, Marimba Sol de Chiapas, Owen/ techniques and styles through original compositions. Cox Dance Group, HoraceScope, and the Roger Wilder Quintet & Trio. Sam has performed with the Kansas CARMEN DIEKER City Symphony, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Ensemble Iberica, the Topeka Symphony, Weird Al Yankovic, Carmen Dieker, a native of Kansas City, grew up Shirley Jones, Krystle Warren, Bobby Watson, The playing piano, violin, flute, and guitar. Though early Sons of Brasil, and plays regularly with Mark Lowrey, on she primarily studied classical music, she has Chris Hazelton, Ken Lovern, Matt Hopper and many performed many genres of music, including pop, rock, more. He has worked extensively as a percussionist in jazz, sacred, funk, ambient and musical theatre. She musical theater including the Kansas City Repertory has performed with local groups, like Quixotic Cirque Theater, Starlight Theatre, The Music Hall, New Nouveau, Making Movies, My Brothers and Sisters, and Theatre & Restaurant, Unicorn Theater, Musical Theater Calvin Arsenia, as well as internationally recognized Heritage, and the Coterie Theater. Sam has helped groups such as Evanescence, Lindsey Stirling, 2 to premiere works by Harry Connick Jr., Stephen Cellos, and TransSiberian Orchestra. She maintains a Schwartz, Shirley Jones & Richard Maltby Jr., Jodi teaching studio, teaches orchestra at various schools, Picoult, Henry Krieger & Bill Russell, and Ahrens & and performs at area churches and synagogues Flaherty. Sam lives in Roeland Park, KS with his wife regularly as a violinist, accompanist, and vocalist. Libby and two elementary-age children Jack and Zellie. 15 ABOUT THE SERIES

OUR MISSION IS TO BRING THE BEST OF THE PERFORMING ARTS TO THE KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY.

Founded by William Jewell College in 1965, the Harriman-Jewell Series continues to carve out an enviable legacy as a performing arts presenter of international importance. Many know that the Series presented tenor Luciano Pavarotti in his professional recital debut in 1973, but the story of discovery neither begins nor ends here. Few Kansas Citians had seen New York City Ballet's Patricia McBride and Edward Villella before they McBride and Villella danced in the Series' first performance in 1965. Nor had the community heard violinist Itzhak Perlman play, unless one counts Ed Sullivan Show appearances that preceded his first Series recital in 1971. Discovery, along with its co-tenets quality and variety, run the full length of the Series' existence. These principles set by the Series' late founder and artistic director Richard Harriman will continue to guide its service to the community. An enduring aspect of the Series, drafted by founders Richard Harriman and Dean Dunham, Jr., is the availability of the performing arts as an integral part of a superior Itzhak Perlman liberal arts college curriculum for William Jewell College students. More than 970 performances have come to Kansas City by way of the Harriman-Jewell Series, including 24 American recital debuts by prominent artists. With the addition of its free Education Events that allow interaction with musicians and dancers, and its free Discovery Concerts that eliminate the barrier of cost, the Harriman-Jewell Series offers even more life-enriching opportunities for its community's youth and lifelong learners.

HJSERIES.ORG | 816.415.5025 Richard Harriman