A Note from the President

Don Eccles, TSS Board President

On behalf of the Topeka Symphony  Board of Directors, I am so excited to welcome everyone to “Puttin’ On The Ritz”, the 78th season of the Topeka Symphony Orchestra! This season will feature a range of fantastic performances from well-known classical arrangements to new and exciting works from contemporary composers, and it will wrap up with another much anticipated collaboration with the Topeka Civic Theatre. 

We are so fortunate to have the amazing Kyle Wiley Pickett leading our orchestra for his 11th season.  Maestro Pickett is widely regarded as an exceptional conductor and a creative music director who brings out the best in and is respected by the musicians in the orchestra.  The musicians who make up the Topeka Symphony orchestra are top-notch, talented professionals who bring the arrangements they perform to life and deliver arousing and vibrant performances.  We are also fortunate to have the talented Raffaele Cipriano on board as the assistant conductor for the Topeka Symphony. 

We are also very excited for and proud of another season for the Topeka Symphony Youth Ensembles. We are grateful and fortunate to have three very talented conductors, Nicolas Carr, Ryan Masotto, and Carolyn Sandquist, directing the Youth Ensembles.  We hope that you’ll come out to see and support these talented, up-and-coming young musicians as they perform in their fall and spring concerts. 

Thanks to the staff of the Topeka Symphony Orchestra who take care of the day-to-day operations as well as ensuring everything is done to ensure the concerts go off without a hitch.  This season would not be possible without the support of the Friends of the Topeka Symphony, the Endowment Trustees, and all of the sponsors and donors we so very much appreciate. 

We are looking forward to seeing you in White Concert Hall for the stirring performances to come this season.  We encourage you to come to the free Concert Conversations prior to most concerts which always add so much to how you experience the concerts following.  We can’t wait to share “Puttin’ On The Ritz” with you! 

Don Eccles
Board President
Topeka Symphony Society