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EncoreKC! Opportunities for Fall '26
Note: All Classes and Ensembles meet at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, 11100 College Boulevard, Overland Park (parking lot entrance is off of Nieman). If you have questions not answered in the descriptions below, use the Contact Us link here or in the Main Menu and someone from EncoreKC! will contact you.
Note that EncoreKC and it's ensembles will be taking a break during Summer '26 and will begin rehearsals again in August/September. Registration for the Fall session is open for all opportunities and will remain open till capacity is reached or the second week in September.
EKC! CHORUS
The original and largest group in the EncoreKC family is a non-audition choir of approximately 90 individuals who love choral singing. The Chorus is open to individuals age 50+, regardless of choral experience. There are generally 10 rehearsals per season, culminating with the season's concert. Rehearsals are held on Mondays, 10:30 a.m. to noon at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church (GCPC), 11100 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS with one rehearsal on the Saturday morning at the concert venue prior to the Sunday concert. Fall session rehearsals will begin August 31 (skipping Labor Day) with the Concert on Sunday, November 15. Cost for EncoreKC! Chorus participation in the Fall session is $50. If you are new member, please plan to attend a New Member Orientation session the second week of rehearsals (September 14) at 9:30 a.m. Please Contact Us with questions you may have.
All Soprano slots are filled. To register for the Fall session for an Alto, Tenor, or Bass position in the EncoreKC! Chorus, click here. If you'd like to be placed on a waiting list, please click the Contact Us link above and let us know. We can contact you if an opening occurs. Be sure to let us know which vocal part list you would like to be put on (S1, S2, A1, A2, T1, T2, Bass or Baritone).
Sopranos and or Altos, you might also be interested in the Belle Voci Ensemble, our SSAA Choir, described below.
ACT II ENSEMBLE
A smaller 24-member choral ensemble made up of singers from the main Chorus who rehearse at GCPC an hour before the main choir (9:30 Mondays) and are available to perform throughout the community upon request. Pam Kelly, conductor. Please note that you must be a member of the EKC! Chorus to participate in Act II and priority is given to current Act II members. Act II rehearsals will begin September 14. Act II will perform with the Chorus at the Fall Concert and other dates as requested. Cost for Act II participation is $25. Registration is by invitation only.
BELLE VOCI (SSAA CHOIR)
If you are 50+ and love to read and sing SSAA music and are an independent singer come join our new 28-member SSAA Choir. Sections are limited to 7 Soprano 1, 7 Soprano 2 and 7 Alto 1 and 7 Alto 2. Barbara Douglas will be conducting and Leayn Losh will be your accompanist. The repertoire will consist of sacred and secular music. This Choir is open to anyone who has a love for singing. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays beginning September 1, 2026 at 10-11:30 am. Performances will be determined throughout the Fall. Cost to participate in the session is $25. To register for the Belle Voci for the Fall session click here.
UKULELE ENSEMBLE
Are you 50+ and have always wanted to learn to play the Ukulele? Or do you know how to play and want to join in the fun with this ensemble? Beginning and continuing Intermediate instruction makes this class so much fun. If you are returning to this class, Miles McDonald will be your leader again for the Fall session. If you are new to the class, you will need to bring your own tenor ukulele (a small number are available to borrow) and purchase the books that have already been used in this ensemble. Miles is excited to return to teach this class and will send you the link for the books and ukulele to purchase in advance. Performances will be determined throughout the season. This class meets on Mondays beginning September 14 for 10 weeks from 6:30-7:30pm. Cost to participate in the Fall session is $25. To register for the Ukulele Ensemble for the Fall session click here.
WOODWIND ENSEMBLES
Do you play a woodwind instrument and love playing in small ensembles? Amy Schwartz, will continue leading our 50+ woodwind ensembles. WOODWIND ENSEMBLES include oboe, bassoon, flute, clarinet, and French Horn. This ensemble plays 5-part music written for wind ensemble. All the ensemble members are advanced musicians, actively performing in the KC area in other groups and love to have fun. Weekly rehearsals with performance opportunities through the session. Rehearsals will be Thursdays, beginning September 10 for 10 weeks at 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. at GCPC Choir Room. Performances to be determined during the session. Cost to participate in the Fall session is $25. To register for the Woodwind Ensemble for the Fall session click here.
MUSIC READING CLASS (Level 1)
Do you want to understand how to read your vocal part, to understand rhythms and new time signatures? This Music Reading class is for you! Pam Kelly will send you an email with information about the book to purchase after you sign up. If you're 50+, let's learn together!! You will learn rhythmic and melodic notation. You will begin in the key of C with quarter notes, half notes and whole notes and the names of the notes of the staff. This class will meet on Tuesdays, from 1:30 - 2:15 p.m. beginning September 8 for 10 weeks. To register for the Music Reading 1 Class for the Fall session click here
BEGINNING PIANO / MUSIC READING CLASS (Level 2)
Do you have a basic understanding of music rhythms and note names? Then you are ready to plunge into applying those skills to play the piano. Participants 50+ will bring their own battery-operated keyboards and suggested method book. Links will be sent to you to order these once you enroll. (Approx cost will be $140.) We will start with this basic music knowledge and progress using both hands on simple music. Pam Kelly is teaching this class on Tuesdays 2:30 - 3:15 p.m. beginning September 8 for 10 weeks. Cost to participate in the Fall session is $25. To register for the Beginning Piano/Music Reading 2 Class for the Fall session click here.
INTERMEDIATE PIANO CLASS
Do you have a basic understanding of music rhythms and note names? Then you are ready to plunge into applying those skills to play the piano. This class will help you become more confident using both hands playing beginning music. Basic understanding of the treble and bass clef and simple notation of eighth, quarter, half and whole notes is a prerequisite for the class. As in the Beginning Piano class, participants 50+ will bring their own battery-operated keyboards and suggested method book. Links will be sent to you to order these once you enroll. (Approx cost will be $140.) We will start with this basic music knowledge and progress using both hands on simple music. Pam Kelly is teaching this class on Tuesdays 3:30-4:15 pm. beginning September 8 for 10 weeks. Cost to participate in the Fall session is $25. To register for the Intermediate Piano Class for the Fall session click here.
BRASS ENSEMBLE
50+ Come PLAY with us! Do you play a brass instrument? Our brass ensemble will accommodate and customize repertoire for any combination of instrumentations at varying levels of difficulty. The Brass Ensemble will rehearse for an hour at 6 p.m. on Thursdays at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church Choir Room. Dwight Rhoades will be the director of this group for Fall '26 Cost for participation in the Fall session is $25. Rehearsals begin September 10 and run 10 weeks. To register for the Brass Ensemble for the Fall session click here.
Please Contact Us with any questions you may have about these opportunities or about the EncoreKC! organization.
