2027 MAPAA
Youth Orchestra Festival

Study with Timmy Chooi, Zlatomir Fung, Tatiana Tessman, and Ulysses Quartet. Play Beethoven with them at the Finale.

July 26–30, 2027 · UMKC Conservatory · Kansas City, Missouri

📌 One Application. Two Orchestras.

Every accepted musician joins one of two orchestras based on their prescreening recording and grade level: Strings Orchestra — oriented to intermediate middle and high school string players. Symphony Orchestra — oriented to high school and collegiate strings, winds, brass, percussion and keyboard.
You do not choose your orchestra when you apply. MAPAA staff will place you in the group where you'll grow the most. Both orchestras rehearse and perform at UMKC Conservatory. Both attend the festival's evening concerts. Both perform in the Friday Finale.

🌟 The 2027 Marquee Event

For its third year, the MAPAA Youth Orchestra Festival welcomes an internationally acclaimed guest artist roster that transforms this festival into one of the most significant orchestra training experiences in the region. Timmy Chooi, second-prize winner of the 2019 Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition; Zlatomir Fung, winner of the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition and the first American cellist to win Gold at Tchaikovsky in over 40 years; and Tatiana Tessman, first-prize winner of the 2005 Glenn Gould International Piano Competition and MAPAA Artistic Director — join the MAPAA Symphony Orchestra to perform Beethoven's Triple Concerto at the Friday Finale Concert. All three artists will also give masterclasses during the week. Adding to this extraordinary lineup, the Ulysses Quartet — one of America's most acclaimed young string quartets, former Graduate Resident String Quartet at The Juilliard School and first-ever quartet in residence at GBH Music (Boston) — joins us as festival faculty, teaching all week, performing the Wednesday Faculty Concert, and joining the orchestra for the Friday Finale. This is a rare opportunity: young musicians rehearsing and performing alongside internationally touring artists, in a professional conservatory setting, for one intensive week.
💬 What Participants Are Saying

"This year's festival was the most musically fulfilling experience I've ever had."
— Andrew Anderson, Festival Cello Scholar

"Incredible energy and vibes. Very high expectations and amazing encouragement to reaching them. Highly inspirational for aspiring musicians and all of the faculty were very kind and helpful. Keep high difficulty and standards, along with laid back vibes."
— 2026 Festival Participant

"I really loved making new friends, playing in quartets, and learning such challenging music! Dr. Jesse was an amazing coach and director."
— 2026 Festival Participant

🎻 Strings Orchestra Track

Oriented to intermediate middle school and high school string players
Dates: Tuesday, July 27 – Friday, July 30, 2027
Hours: 10:00am–5:00pm daily (Friday extends through 7:00pm Finale Concert)
Location: UMKC: Jame C. Olson The Performing Arts Center
Focus: Techniques class, sectional coaching, orchestra rehearsal, and guest clinician masterclass. Program builds toward the Friday Finale Concert.
Does NOT include chamber music coaching.
Guest Clinician: [Name TBD for 2027 — 2026 featured Kirt Mosier, Conductor]
Co-Directors: [Ryan Masotto and TBD] Strings Orchestra participants attend all festival concerts.

🎼 Symphony Orchestra Track

Oriented to high school and collegiate strings, winds, brass, percussion and keyboard
Dates: Monday, July 26 – Friday, July 30, 2027
Hours: 9:00am–5:00pm daily (evening festival concerts throughout the week)
Location: UMKC Grant Hall, 5228 Charlotte St., Kansas City, MO 64110
Focus: Intensive chamber music coaching (two sessions daily), masterclass instruction with world-class guest artists, orchestra rehearsals, and side-by-side learning with international touring musicians.
Includes intensive chamber music coaching in addition to full orchestral work.
Repertoire:‍ Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmila Overture & Beethoven: Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56 (featuring Timmy Chooi, Zlatomir Fung, and Tatiana Tessman)
Core Faculty (teaching all week):‍ ‍Leslie Henrie, Violin Julius Adams, Viola Brittany Gardner, Cello Jesse Henkensiefken, Conductor Ulysses Quartet (faculty+ Wed Concert + Friday Finale)
Guest Artists (masterclasses + Friday Finale Beethoven Triple):‍ ‍Timmy Chooi, Violin — 2019 Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition, Second Prize Zlatomir Fung, Cello — 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition, First Prize (first American cellist to win Gold in 40+ years) Tatiana Tessman, Piano — 2005 Glenn Gould International Piano Competition, First Prize; MAPAA Artistic Director

📝 How to Apply

Step 1: Submit your application by May 1, 2027
Step 2: Submit a prescreening recording (YouTube or Vimeo link)
Step 3: Pay application fee of $100 (due with application)
Step 4: MAPAA staff will review and place you in either Strings Orchestra or Symphony Orchestra
Step 5: Upon acceptance, pay $250 tuition by July 1, 2027
Festival Scholars: MAPAA staff will select a limited number of Festival Scholars (Symphony track only) from the applicant pool. Scholars receive free tuition and additional performance opportunities.

🎥 Recording Requirements

All students: Submit a 5 minute performance clip
Recording should showcase your best playing. Content can include: Solo repertoire, Etudes, Excerpts from school music or youth orchestra music (if solo repertoire not prepared). Focus on quality of playing rather than production values. We're listening for musicality, technical development, and readiness for orchestra participation.

🎫 Evening Festival Concerts

All participants attend and are welcome to bring family. Concerts held at UMKC's White Concert Hall.
Wednesday, July 28 (7:00pm) — Festival Faculty Concert featuring Ulysses Quartet
Thursday, July 29 (7:00pm) — Festival Student Chamber & Faculty Recital
Friday, July 30 (2:00pm) — Adult Workshop Concert & (7:00pm) — Festival Finale Concert — Featuring MAPAA String Orchestra selections and the Symphony Orchestra with Timmy Chooi, Zlatomir Fung, Tatiana Tessman, and Ulysses Quartet performing Glinka Ruslan and Ludmila Overture and Beethoven Triple Concerto‍ ‍

🏠 Practical Details

Lunch: MAPAA partners with UMKC Catering. Students have access to the university café, or may bring a sack lunch. Budget approximately $15 per lunch if purchasing from café. All lunchs are pre-paid by July 1, 2027.
Overnight Housing: UMKC dorm rooms are available upon request for out-of-town students at $75 per night per student.
Application Fee: $100 (due with application)
Tuition: $250 (due upon acceptance)

💬 Questions?

Contact Dr. Jesse Henkensiefken at (785) 220-2058 or mapaacorp@gmail.com.