The sun sets as the Kansas City Symphony begins to play at the 9th Symphony in the Flint Hills at Rosalia Ranch. Photo by Kevin Brown.

Boulder’s orchestras like to present nature in their programming. In Kansas, they like to present their programming in nature.

Symphony in the Flint Hills is happening for the 11th time on June 11 in Chase County, Kansas, about eight hours from Boulder. It’s a unique event that focuses on the preservation of the largest remaining area of pristine tallgrass prairie in the country, and includes a concert by the Kansas City Symphony. Every year the event is located in a different section of prairie, with tents to house the many different offerings, culminating with the concert near sunset.

Photo by Kevin Brown

Symphony in the Flint Hills was created in 2004 and gave their first event in 2006. As executive director Christy Davis explains it, “Our mission from the beginning has been to enhance appreciation for the tallgrass prairie. It was organized not by folks whose primary mission was symphonic music, but by folks whose primary mission was conservation.”

But a partnership with the Kansas City Symphony has been part of the formula from the beginning.

“[Music] enhances the emotional experience,” Davis says. “It’s one thing to go out and see this open range and beautiful rolling landscape. That’s breathtaking. But then when you set music to it, it’s an emotional experience unlike any other.”

Read more in Boulder Weekly.

Photo by Mark Higgins

Symphony in the Flint Hills
12 noon­–11 p.m. Saturday, June 11
(Rain date: Sunday, June 12)

South Clements Pasture, Chase County, Kansas
(Eight hours from Boulder by car)
6:45 p.m. Kansas City Symphony, Aram Demirjian, conductor
Program announced at the event

For tickets, directions and other details, click HERE
or call: 620-273-8955.