Musician Nancy Beckmann demonstrates her violin to a captive audience.

Every year, Summerfest performs concerts free of charge for children and adults at schools, libraries, and retirement centers throughout the Kansas City area.

In past years Summerfest has teamed up with the Music and Arts Institute of Independence, Heartland Chamber Music Camp at UMKC, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Kemper Art Museum, and more than 30 different schools and libraries in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Summerfest has also presented concerts during the year to audiences in smaller communities in the Midwest.

In December 2006, Summerfest musicians Nancy Beckmann, Mary Grant, Shannon Finney, and Debbie Clark played holiday concerts at Bishop Spencer Place in Westport and Kingswood Manor in south Kansas City. Children, teachers and employees at the Kansas School for the Blind, in Wyandotte County, learned about the instruments of Summerfest and heard the same holiday program.

In June 2007, Summerfest musicians return to Bishop Spencer Place to preview their summer season.

Summerfest continues its partnership with the Heartland Chamber Music Camp at UMKC this summer. A group of student musicians will perform before Summerfest concerts on July 14 and 21 in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center outside White Recital Hall. Come early to hear these talented young musicians perform music they've learned at the camp. All students at the camp receive free tickets to Summerfest concerts.

Summerfest will perform at Corinth Library, 81st and Mission Road, on Tuesday, July 17th, at 2 p.m. Musicians will give instrument demonstrations and talk about what it's like to be professional musicians. They will also give a short concert. This event is free and open to the public.

If you are interested in having Summerfest musicians play for your educational event for children or adults, please email Cynthia Duty, Administrative Director, or call (913) 645-7965.