News Release: What Music Is

NEWS RELEASE
Wichita Symphony Orchestra
September 26, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Discover the Wonder of What Music Is with the Wichita Symphony

Wichita, KS — The Wichita Symphony invites you to step into a world where music, science, and imagination meet in What Music Is, a spellbinding concert-theatre experience on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 3:00 PM in Century II Concert Hall.

Created by composer and storyteller Bill Barclay, this one-of-a-kind performance combines the power of a live symphony, captivating narration, and stunning visual art to reveal how music connects us to each other and the universe. Guest conductor Thomas Heuser leads the Wichita Symphony through breathtaking and recognizable works while visual artist Shawn Feeney’s animations bring the music to life in brilliant color.

In just 80 minutes, you’ll travel from the beauty of Debussy’s dreamlike soundscapes to the soaring optimism of Holst’s Jupiter. Along the way, you’ll discover how music resonates in our brains, shapes our emotions, and reflects the cosmos itself. Perfect for families, first-time concertgoers, and longtime music lovers alike, What Music Is will take audiences on an immersive and unforgettable musical journey.

What Music Is premiered with the San Juan Symphony in Durango, Colorado on February 22 and 23, 2025. The Durango Herald’s review celebrated the production as “an audience-friendly exploration of science and art. The new form merges storytelling with concert fare. Barclay’s amiable, favorite-uncle style managed to deliver the connections between music and physics, math and astronomy with easy warmth. His occasional asides brought humor into the equation … and added fun to the friendly, family-table atmosphere.”

What Music Is is presented by the Wichita Symphony on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at 3:00 PM in Century II Concert Hall. Tickets are available now with no fees only at WichitaSymphony.org or by calling (316) 267-7658. Adult tickets start at $29 and student tickets are only $10. This performance is sponsored by Commerce Bank, Stev Overstreet, Colby B. Sandlian, The City of Wichita, and The State of Kansas through the Kansas Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Contact: Nina Longhofer, Director of Marketing
Phone: (316) 267-5259, ext. 104
Email: nlonghofer@wso.org

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