News Release: WSO Connect & Alejandro Brittes Trio

NEWS RELEASE
Wichita Symphony Orchestra
June 13, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WSO Connect Launches July 14 with Cross-Cultural Collaboration Between South American Trio and Wichita Symphony Quartet

Wichita, KS – The Wichita Symphony is proud to announce the launch of WSO Connect, a bold new series that brings audiences and artists closer than ever before through innovative, intimate performances in new and interesting spaces. The inaugural WSO Connect event takes place Monday, July 14 at Somewhere Works, featuring a cross-cultural collaboration between the Alejandro Brittes Trio and a Wichita Symphony string quartet.

Brazil-based Argentine composer and accordionist Alejandro Brittes is an internationally celebrated artist widely regarded as the “main exponent of chamamé” (The Boston Globe). This concert marks a rare opportunity for Wichita audiences to experience the music of chamamé, a genre from the northeastern region of Argentina that blends Indigenous Guaraní traditions with Baroque influences brought by Jesuit missionaries. Chamamé has been declared as an "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO."

Alejandro Brittes’s work as a composer, accordionist, and scholar has captivated audiences around the globe. Now, in collaboration with the Wichita Symphony, he brings this powerful tradition to Kansas in an evening that promises both joyful energy and emotional resonance. The quartet, consisting of Wichita Symphony musicians Timothy Jones (violin), Addison Wegerle (violin), Ricardo Cavalcante de Oliveira (viola), and Leonid Shukaev (cello), will perform music from the baroque era before joining forces with the Brittes Trio.

“Launching WSO Connect with Alejandro Brittes is a statement of what this series is all about,” said Tim Storhoff, Executive Director of the Wichita Symphony. “The goal is to bring people together through innovative performances outside of our mainstage concerts. From guest soloists to chamber ensembles and cross-cultural collaborations, this immersive and interactive series brings you closer to the music and invites you to explore new spaces, encounter fresh perspectives, and engage with orchestral music in new ways.”

WSO Connect originally launched during the pandemic as a digital streaming offering. Now, it has been reimagined as an in-person concert experience that emphasizes connection between artist and audience, supported by creative partnerships and meaningful collaborations with local organizations and venues. These performances take place in intimate, unconventional spaces and feature chamber and solo works paired with storytelling, visual art, and meaningful dialogue.

2025 Inaugural WSO Connect Performances:

JULY 14 – Somewhere Works
Alejandro Brittes Trio with WSO String Quartet
An international collaboration blending the vibrant rhythms of Argentine and Brazilian chamamé with the elegance of classical chamber music. Composer and accordionist Alejandro Brittes joins members of the Wichita Symphony for an evening of cultural fusion and joyful musical exploration.

OCTOBER 4 – Somewhere Works
Alexi Kenney: Shifting Ground
Acclaimed violinist Alexi Kenney weaves together pieces for solo violin and violin/electronics by J.S. Bach and contemporary composers to form a program with dramatic arc, flow, and scope. The music is accompanied by visuals from media artist Xuan, whose projection art transforms the performance space.

OCTOBER 26 – Century II Stage Experience
Michelle Cann: Solo Piano Recital
Audiences are invited to sit onstage at Century II with pianist Michelle Cann for a moving solo recital that blends storytelling with music by trailblazing women composers of Chicago’s Black Renaissance. This powerful program celebrates a vital piece of American musical culture.

Additional WSO Connect experiences will be announced throughout the Symphony’s 2025-2026 season.

Tickets for the July 14 WSO Connect performance are $29 and can be purchased at https://wichitasymphony.org/ or from the Symphony box office at (316) 267-7658. Tickets for the October WSO Connect events will go on sale to the public beginning July 1, with early access starting June 16 for Wichita Symphony subscribers.

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Contact: Timothy Storhoff, Executive Director
Phone: (316) 267-5259, ext. 106
Email: tstorhoff@wso.org

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