KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Conductor Daniel Wiley will join the Kansas City Symphony on its upcoming European tour as a member of the orchestra's artistic staff, supporting the ensemble during its second international tour and continuing his work alongside Music Director Matthias Pintscher and the Symphony's musicians during a landmark moment in the organization's history.
The tour will bring the Kansas City Symphony to three of Europe's most celebrated concert venues: Amsterdam's Concertgebouw on August 27, Hamburg's Elbphilharmonie on August 29, and Berlin's Philharmonie as part of Musikfest Berlin on August 30. Prior to departing for Europe, the orchestra will present a tour sendoff concert in Kansas City on August 21 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Led by Pintscher, the tour highlights both American and European musical traditions. The Amsterdam and Hamburg programs will feature Aaron Copland's Suite from Appalachian Spring, Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with Gil Shaham, and Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 3. The Berlin performance at Musikfest Berlin will feature violinist Blake Pouliot and include Olga Neuwirth's Tombeau I and Dreydl alongside Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto and Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 3. The Kansas City sendoff concert will feature Neuwirth's Dreydl, Copland's Appalachian Spring, Gershwin's Love Is Here to Stay featuring Concertmaster Jun Iwasaki, and Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with Blake Pouliot.
His participation on the European tour reflects the close collaborative relationship developed with both the orchestra and its music director. Touring presents unique challenges, with every venue offering different acoustics, stage configurations, and logistical considerations. With limited rehearsal time in each city, established trust, communication, and artistic familiarity become essential to maintaining the orchestra's standards while adapting quickly to new performance environments.
The Kansas City Symphony's return to Europe follows its inaugural international tour in 2024 and represents another significant step in the orchestra's growing international reputation. As part of the artistic staff, Wiley will help support the ensemble throughout the tour while contributing to an artistic project that showcases both the orchestra and the cultural vitality of Kansas City on the global stage.
For more information visit: https://www.kcsymphony.org/2026/05/07/kansas-city-symphony-announces-second-european-concert-tour/
