Harriman-Jewell Series


In its 59th season, the Harriman-Jewell Series is dedicated to bringing the best of the performing arts to the Kansas City community.

Discovery, quality, diversity and variety are the guiding principles for Kansas City's premier performing arts presenter. Jewell students get a chance to see some of the world's top performers for free, thanks to the Harriman-Jewell Series.

Richard Harriman, a longtime Jewell English professor, and Dean Dunham, Jr., co-founded the series in 1965. Since then, the series has become known for bringing the world's top performing artists not only to Kansas City audiences, but to world audiences. Famed tenor Luciano Pavarotti, for instance, made his professional concert debut in 1973 for the Harriman-Jewell Series. More than 1,000 performances have come to Kansas City, including 24 American recital debuts. The Series regularly hosts performers such as the pianist Emanuel Ax, the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and the Russian National Ballet. See the Harriman-Jewell Series historical timeline.

Education Events

For more than 40 years, the series has also offered educational activities for Kansas City students, community members, educators and aspiring artists in the form of master classes, workshops, young-person's performances, demonstrations and more. These education events are presented without charge and allow Jewell students and emerging artists to hear and see performers in an informal and personal setting.

Education Events are held alongside the appearance of critically acclaimed artists and ensembles on the Series’ performance calendar. In addition, we present exceptional artists for exclusive Education Events.