NAVO performing their “Mozart Out of the Jungle” concert in fall 2018 at Unity Temple on the Plaza (photo by Russ Mehl)
The classical music ensemble specializes in concerts with an international flair – and they’re free
If there’s something for classical music lovers to be thankful for this season in Kansas City, it’s NAVO.
For the past 10 years, this performing ensemble has brought world-class talent to the community.
The group was founded by violinist and co-artistic director Véronique Mathieu and conductor/violist Shah Sadikov, who saw the need for accessible, high-quality performances.
“This was a response to the budget cuts in the arts,” said Mathieu. “We wanted to just put together organized concerts that would be available to everyone. Our admission has been free for 10 years, and we wanted to present high-quality concerts that would be accessible and be advocates for the arts.”
The word “navo” has Persian roots, explained Mathieu. “It symbolizes something new that is starting . . . new endeavors or new projects. It has, of course, artistic ties and it’s a way to show . . . new ideas.”
Even though the organization is hitting the decade mark, this idea of newness has remained: No NAVO concert is the same as the last.
The group was founded in 2015, and their first performance was in 2016, a collaboration with the Owen/Cox Dance Group. From that beginning, they’ve presented a variety of unique concerts, welcoming musicians both regional and international.
“It grew very organically. We started on a project, and then we saw that there was some interest, and then we kept going. It’s a bit surprising to see that it’s already been 10 years. Time has definitely gone by very quickly for us.”
The season is flying by, too. Already they’ve presented a concert with internationally acclaimed pianist Behzod Abduraimov, as well as a “Musical Portrait” of German-born, Kansas-based composer Ingrid Stölzel, NAVO’s composer-in-residence.
A THANKSGIVING TRADITION
Next up is the group’s annual Thanksgiving weekend project, featuring co-artistic director and cellist Sunnat Ibragimov. Originally from Uzbekistan, he earned his bachelor’s degree at the International Center for Music at Park University, his master’s degree at the University of Kansas and is a doctoral candidate at the Peabody Institute. He’s also a member of the Seattle Symphony. But, he says, having lived here for 14 years, “I consider myself from Kansas.”
He knew Sadikov from their youth in Uzbekistan, reconnecting here in the Midwest, then met Mathieu at KU (she was previously on the faculty at KU and currently at the University of Saskatchewan). Ibragimov has been involved with NAVO since the first season.
This Thanksgiving tradition started as many NAVO ideas have: Try it and see. “There are lots of holiday concerts once you get into December,” explained Mathieu. “We were a bit hesitant at first because we thought that everybody’s traveling somewhere for Thanksgiving. But then we also started thinking that actually not everybody’s traveling over Thanksgiving. And it’s a long weekend. And maybe for some people it’s nice to . . . eat a lot on Thursday, and then just kind of relax the next day, and then go to a concert. It makes for a nice tradition.”
This year, they present three works for trio, featuring Ibragimov, Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich (piano), and Evgeny Zvonnikov (violin) performing Felix Mendelssohn’s D Major Sonata, op. 58, Antonín Dvořák’s Dumky trio, op. 90 and the United States premiere of Georgiy Mushel’s D Major cello sonatas. They perform at Atonement Lutheran Church in Overland Park.
Mushel was an Uzbek-Soviet composer who moved to Uzbekistan during World War II. He was hugely influential in the classical music culture of the country and often used traditional Uzbek folk melodies and folk traditions in his work.
“Mushel’s sonata is very dear to me,” said Ibragimov. “I performed it for the first time about 20 years ago while a student at Glier Music Lyceum back in Tashkent. This piece is special to me, also because my late teacher Jahnogir Ibragimov performed and recorded it . . . it brings back many wonderful memories studying with him.”
Though the group is flexible, changing concert to concert based on the repertoire and concept, there is a core group of musicians. “The group . . . sort of built over the first couple years and it was based on having common interests, having a desire to really put together projects that would be well rehearsed . . . and people that had a bit more of a personal tie,” Mathieu said. “We’re looking at this as a personal project more than a gig.”
COMING IN 2025
In 2025, NAVO presents “Neoclassical Fervor” with Mathieu and longtime NAVO friend pianist Steven Spooner in February.
“Art of the Cello with Daniel Veis: Celebrating Life in Music,” in March, features the popular Park ICM teacher, bringing back many of his former students for a “big cello extravaganza,” said Mathieu. “This being our 10th season, it’s also a great chance to circle back to the people who have been meaningful for us in our individual musical path.”
“I have studied with him since 2010 and every lesson I had since was a discovery for me,” said Ibragimov. “He is one of those great pedagogues who can teach the art of cello playing in the most profound ways and get the very best out of his students.”
On this anniversary year, the group is taking on new initiatives.
“We’ve been working hard on this 10th anniversary season, trying to increase the scope of our organization and trying a few new different things,” she said.
That includes the formation of a new ensemble, the Frontier String Quartet, who will perform in Kansas and Canada this spring with a program featuring music by Maurice Ravel, Dinuk Wijeratne and Mohammed Fairouz. Frequently, NAVO presents world and regional premieres. “We’re trying to really promote living composers as much as we can,” said Mathieu.
And for the first time, NAVO is presenting a festival in May featuring violinist Maria Ioudenitch, NAVO’s first artist-in-residence. Events include a May 7 recital with Ioudenitch’s father, Stanislav, director of Park ICM and Van Cliburn gold medalist, a chamber music concert (May 9) at the 1900 Building, and a chamber orchestra performance (May 11) at the Folly Theater. Together with work by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms and more, programs include regional premieres by Jessie Montgomery, Gabriela Lena Frank and Eleanor Alberga.
It’s a big finale for a fantastic season, but at its core it’s the same as NAVO’s first performances 10 years ago.
“These are people that I really enjoy working with and playing with,” said Mathieu, “and I want to continue doing that.”
NAVO’S next performance is Nov. 30 at Atonement Lutheran Church, 9948 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park. For more information visit navoarts.com.
