Springfield Symphony Orchestra Archives

Missouri State alumna Kendal Blumenthal appointed to “Pershing’s Own”

March 5, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University alumna Kendal Blumenthal has been appointed to a full-time position with The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.”

Blumenthal graduated from Missouri State’s Department of Music in 2023 with degrees in music performance and jazz studies.

As a band member, Blumenthal will regularly provide musical support at national and international events, funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, and federal events such as arrival ceremonies at the White House and the Pentagon. She will also serve on an as-needed basis for duties within the Concert Band and Army Blues ensembles.

Along with her duties as a saxophonist in “Pershing’s Own,” Blumenthal must also meet the same physical and moral standards of the typical Army enlistment process. This includes a ten-week basic combat training program. When she completes basic training, Blumenthal will move to Washington, D.C. and begin her duties as a member of “Pershing’s Own.”

“Broadway Giants” celebrates musical theatre legends Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim

February 27, 2026 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance, in collaboration with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, will present “Broadway Giants: Lloyd Webber and Sondheim” at 7:30 p.m. March 7, 2026, in the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.

“Broadway Giants” honors the musical legacies of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim. Associate Professor and Musical Theatre Coordinator Josh Young is the show’s co-producer, writer and director.

Young built “Broadway Giants” around three Sondheim compositions and six Lloyd Webber compositions. He then included songs from people who influenced Sondheim and Lloyd Webber as well as the new generation of composers they have since influenced. The narrative throughout “Broadway Giants” provides historical context while telling the story of Sondheim and Lloyd Webber, their work and their far-reaching influence.

“I’m excited for the community to see the show,” Young said. “I think people will be shocked at the level of talent that we have this year. I think we have some of the most talented students in the country, and I would love for the community at large to know that.”

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MSU Theatre and Dance collaborates with Springfield Symphony Orchestra in “Carousel”

October 31, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance joins the Springfield Symphony Orchestra to present “Carousel” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16, 2024, at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.

As part of the Symphony’s “Lullaby of Broadway” program, the performance features a concert version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic and stars Josh Young, associate professor and coordinator of musical theatre at Missouri State.

The production includes a 55-member ensemble backed by a 60-plus piece symphony.

Springfield Symphony Maestro Kyle Pickett will conduct the entire event.

Tickets are available through the Hammons Hall box office and online at www.missouristatetix.com.

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Collaboration leads to “Carousel”

When Young joined MSU’s theatre and dance faculty in 2023, one of his first actions was to have lunch with Pickett to discuss collaboration opportunities.

“Kyle and I discussed several possibilities, including an evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein music,” Young said.

Originally, the plan was to give a performance featuring Young and his wife, Emily Padgett-Young. Both are Broadway veterans, and Young was nominated for a Tony® Award in 2012.

“However, ‘Carousel’ has always been one of my favorite musical scores,” Young said. “With the immense talent we have here at MSU, I thought, ‘Why just do a two-person evening of songs when we could create something even more special?’”

“The idea of bringing the full richness of ‘Carousel’ to life with our students, in collaboration with the Springfield Symphony, felt like the perfect way to elevate the experience for both the performers and the audience,” he added.

Since then, working with Pickett and the technical staff at Hammons Hall has been a delight, Young said. “Their professionalism and flexibility have made the collaboration seamless.”

Man singing in front of Steinway piano — Josh Young performs for the Missouri State Foundation Board of Trustees on Oct. 18, 2024, in the C. Minor Recital Hall. Photo credit: Jesse Scheve/Missouri State University.

Adonis Garcia wins principal cello position in Springfield Symphony Orchestra

October 10, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Adonis Garcia, a sophomore cello performance major in Missouri State University’s Department of Music, recently won the principal cello position during a blind audition for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.

“We are proud of the excellent work Adonis has done to win this professional leadership position in Springfield Symphony Orchestra,” said Dr. Daniel Ketter, associate professor of music at MSU and Garcia’s cello teacher.

Garcia was in math class when he learned he had won principal cello.

“Honestly, I almost cried with emotion, but I held back because there were many people around me,” Garcia said.

Immediately after hearing the news, Garcia called his parents in Venezuela. They were surprised by the news, as Garcia had not told them he was auditioning. Then he called his girlfriend, Moira, whom he described as one of his biggest supporters.