Classical KC speaks with Jackie Lee, artistic director for the Heartland Chamber Music Festival, about the origin of the festival, keeping talented local students in the area, and various community outreach programs. Joining Jackie is Hez Leung, violist with the award winning Rolston String Quartet - featured performers at this year's festival.

Heartland Chamber Music is not just a festival and it’s not just a music program or a “violin camp.” It’s many things at once, and unless your child has been one of the 80 or so lucky string players admitted into the program each year, you might not fully appreciate the impact it is having on Kansas City’s summer music scene.

“We can’t believe it’s really a possibility for the kids to receive free violin lessons for five years and a free instrument, and as they grow, that instrument will grow with them,” said Leslie Hochsprung, principal of Thomas Hart Benton Elementary. “We are just very lucky to be a part of that.”

Heartland Chamber Music visited the KPR studio August 2. The full Camerata Orchestra played
the ending to Britten's Simple Symphony, conducted by Chris Kelts. Then the Festival Scholars quartets played string quartets by Antonin Dvorak (first movement of the "American" quartet) and Alexander Borodin (quartet #2, first movement). Michael Keelan talked with cellist and coach Larry Figg.

We are proud to announce Kansas City, Kansas Early Childhood Center is among the first metro schools to participate in String Sprouts, a groundbreaking early childhood violin program that supports kindergarten readiness.

Young students of Harold Holliday, Sr. Montessori school sat quietly on the floor on Thursday, Aug. 31 eagerly awaiting the start of something new and exciting in their school – String Sprouts.

String Sprouts is an innovative new program from Heartland Chamber Music that teaches violin music to children ages three to eight in underserved communities.

Free and reduced lunch students receive custom violins and lessons through new String Sprouts program. A new initiative from Heartland Chamber Music aims to make learning an instrument more accessible for kids in free and reduced lunch programs. ​

The Heartland Chamber Music brings the power of music to underserved communities. Vicki Olson,  Executive Director, talks about their new program called Sprouts.'s this item about? 

Listen to our 2017 Festival Scholars on Kansas Public Radio

It’s a beautiful thing when an artist’s vision becomes a reality.

Fifteen years ago, violist Victoria Olson was disappointed that her students had to go out of state to attend summer chamber music camps. So she started her own.

Today, the Heartland Chamber Music Festival employs an international roster of faculty and offers a variety of summer programs for aspiring young musicians. Free and public concerts are an important part of the festival.