One activity that has been essential to Summerfest’s mission is the exploration of music by living composers. “We do a whole lot of repertoire that most groups wouldn’t ordinarily do,” Jane says. “We actively seek that out and promote really varied repertoire.” This summer’s concerts offer works by no fewer than five living composers: Elizabeth Brown, Thomas Albert, Lowell Liebermann, Karim Al-Zand and Joan Tower. “Music is an ever-evolving art, it’s not at all static, by any means,” Jane adds. “We’re constantly looking for and identifying composers and pieces that we don’t know.” In addition, this summer the group performs music of the Scarlattis, Purcell, Vivaldi, Haydn (the Quartet, Op. 9, No. 3), Mozart (the G-minor Piano Quartet), Carlos Chavez (Trio for flute, viola and harp), Frank Martin (the Musique de chamber, No. 1) and Brahms (a nonet version of the Serenade No. 1 in D major).

“Transformation,” as Summerfest’s 2011 season is titled, looks at different ways in which composers transform existing musical, literary, visual or even geographic materials. Program 1, for example, includes Elizabeth Brown’s evocation of the Italian coast of Liguria; on the same program, Lester Trimble uses literary inspiration for his Four Fragments from the Canterbury Tales. “We’re exploring ways in which a composer takes one idea and changes it into something new and unique,” Mary says.

The musicians of Summerfest enjoy working with living composers because “first of all, we can talk to them about the music,” Mary says, “so that lends a whole different perspective to what we’re doing.” While centuries of historical perspective aid a musician in understanding of Bach or Haydn, “you don’t have that with new pieces,” she says. “You have to bring your own ideas—you have to figure it out yourself. And I think that’s really good for an ensemble. I know you shouldn’t really approach old music and new music differently, but you can’t help it.” Indeed, when composers are standing in front of you, she adds with a laugh, “you can’t ignore what they want. But you don’t have to guess, either.”

One of Summerfest’s trademarks is its friendly and informal atmosphere: The concerts are held in small venues, and each is followed by a Meet the Musicians reception in which audience members can discuss the music with the performers. “You get to hear music in a much more intimate setting than you would at the Symphony or the Ballet or the Opera,” Mary says. “It’s a smaller space, so you’re up close. … There’s no pretention with Summerfest concerts, nothing uptight. … We want it to be fun.”

Lisa Hickok, the former Kansas City Ballet marketing director who took on the post of Summerfest’s executive director earlier this year, says this combination of informality and professionalism was part of what drew her to the organization in the first place. “They are lovely to work with. … Though they’re particular, obviously, about what they’re putting on the stage, there’s not a lot of ego behind the scenes at all, I mean at all.” Among Lisa’s goals for the group is to establish, in time, a variety of alternative performing venues around the city—libraries, schools, churches and nursing homes.

“One of the things that they have going for them as a chamber group is that they can get up and go other places,” Lisa says. “There are maybe 12 musicians performing at the same time, so it’s possible to take the music to the people, and that’s one of the things that I hope I can affect in the future. … Because Summerfest is small, it’s affordable. … But you’ve also got to have the funding to do that, and that’s one of the things I’ll be working on.” She says a certain core funding group has remained faithful to Summerfest through the years, but that she’s also interested in building more awareness among “a second- and third-tier funding pool, of those who really don’t know who we are.” As for audiences, Jane says, the group has built a faithful following over the years and continues to draw attention. “We feel fortunate to have a very loyal following,” Jane says, “and also to be able to attract new people.”

Summerfest concerts are July 9^th and 10^th, July 16^th and 17^th, July 23^rd and 24^th and July 30^th and 31^st Each Saturday concert is at White Recital Hall on the UMKC campus, and the Sunday concerts are at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church downtown. For tickets call 816-235-6222 or go to www.summerfestkc.org.