The Friends of Chamber Music
The Friends of Chamber Music is one of the premier organizations of its kind in the
nation. The Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City has inspired lives, championing and
exploring the Art of Chamber Music for fifty years. They present the world’s leading
artists in beautifully curated performances, advocate for creative and engaging
programming, provide educational initiatives reaching deep into the community, and
work tirelessly to be a good partner in strengthening the cultural life of Greater Kansas
City and beyond.

ZaRiah Wind Quintet
A “world-class emerging ensemble,” ZaRiah is a collaboration of multifaceted artists
who are guided by their varying backgrounds and cultures.
Known for their dynamic staging and audience engagement, ZaRiah was the First Prize
Winner of the Frances Walton Chamber Music Competition. They recently embarked on
a tour of Washington state in which they performed multiple concerts, were featured on
Classical KING-FM, and paid visits to numerous public schools for outreach programs.
For ZaRiah, their top priority is connecting with people. They will often interact with their
audiences in various ways such as implementing choreography, performing from
memory, as well as conversing directly with the audience. ZaRiah believes the intimate
and interactive environment of chamber music is what makes it special and meaningful.
Members of ZaRiah have participated in renowned summer festivals such as
Tanglewood, the Music Academy of the West, the National Repertory Orchestra, and
the National Orchestral Institute, and have also toured with Broadway productions. This
past summer, ZaRiah was in residence at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, where
they presented multiple concerts featuring a diverse selection of repertoire.
In addition, ZaRiah’s members are accomplished orchestral musicians, having
performed with ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, Boston
Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Artosphere
Festival Orchestra, Akron Symphony Orchestra, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and
Charleston Symphony Orchestra, among numerous others.
Katelyn, Ben, and Oved are currently completing degrees at the Yale School of Music;
AJ is the recently appointed Principal Bassoon of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra;
and Jamison is the Acting Second Oboe of the Charlotte Symphony.
With three out of the five members being first-generation college students and three
members being from the rural south, the group is dedicated to increasing music
accessibility in underserved communities.

ABOUT THE CONCERT:
Join Friends of Chamber Music for an exciting free community concert featuring the
Zariah Wind Quintet at the vibrant Zhou B Art Center. Enjoy a pre-concert cocktail hour
with a cash bar beginning at 6 PM—sip, stroll, and take in the gallery’s art—followed by
the concert at 7 PM. Don’t miss this special evening of music and art!