Q: The Sunflower Music Festival wraps up Saturday night at White Concert Hall at Washburn University in Topeka. Who was the first conductor of the Festival? 
Sunflower Music Festival of Topeka, Kan., presents an annual series of orchestra concerts, chamber music evenings, educational projects and other artistic events throughout a two-week period each June in White Concert Hall on the Washburn University campus. (Photo via Wikimedia/Gooseinoz) |
A: Russell Patterson
Russell Patterson co-founded the Sunflower Music Festival in 1987. He was the event’s first conductor - and its principal conductor - through 1998. Patterson also founded the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and served as its general artistic director for 40 years. He also conducted and organized the Kansas City Symphony. Patterson now lives in Cape Cod, Mass., where he’s still very much involved in making music.
Sunflower Music Festival performers recently visited KPR's LIVE studios...click to listen to The Stegeman Duo and Atrium String Quartet in action!
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