Westport Center for the Arts continues its Brown Bag concert series with a performance by Soprano Jayne Siemens and pianist John Livingston on Friday, Sept. 20, at noon. The noontime concerts are free (donations accepted) and held in the sanctuary at Westport Presbyterian Church, 201 Westport Road, Kansas City, MO 64111.

Siemens and Livingston promise to take the audience on an unforgettable musical exploration of one of the heart’s most profound emotions – love.  This curated program of timeless classics, Spanish canciones, and melodies from cinema and Broadway is designed to reignite passion.

About the performers

Jayne Siemens began performing at age five and attended the Interlochen Academy of the Arts in high school.  This was followed by a scholarship to the University of Michigan and a Masters in Opera from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, where she was a Fulbright Scholar.  Siemens performed leading roles at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and more and has performed with the Greater Miami Opera, Bern Switzerland Stadtheater, and the South Bank Theater in London.  She has also shared the stage with operatic luminaries from the past, including fellow Kansan Samual Ramay, Kiri Te Kanawa, Frederica von Stada, and Placido Domingo.

Siemens produced a Master Class, Coaching, and Recital Program entitled “Behind The Notes” for professional and advanced singers, accompanists, and audiences in the European Art Song tradition alongside renowned coach and accompanist Kelvin Grout.  Her recital performances have taken her to the United Kingdom, including the prestigious Square Chapel in Halifax, England.  Closer to home (where she lives in Shawnee, Kansas), Siemens performs frequently with the Johnson County Community College Ruel Joyce Recital Series, Musica Ardiente! at the Central Library, and Art Song to Cabaret and Beyond! at the Kansas City Museum, and Christmas Laments & Celebrations at the Second Thursday Recital Series at Village Presbyterian Church. She is a featured soloist at the First Congregational Church in Tonganoxie, KS.

John Livingston has worked extensively as a collaborative pianist, starting at the age of three. Since then, he has had continuous collaborative experiences ranging from choirs to musical theatre to college instrumental lessons and recitals. In 2009, John partnered with a local community theatre company, Pentacle Theater, in their production of “My Fair Lady.” Hooked by this initial foray into musical theater, he continued to work with Pentacle Theater on six of their following musical productions.

At the University of Missouri-Kansas City, John studied Piano Performance under Dr. Robert Weirich and earned his Bachelor of Music degree. He was subsequently accepted into the Master’s program at UMKC and was awarded one of the Opera Accompanying graduate assistantships. John has served as rehearsal pianist for Hänsel und Gretel, Poulenc’s La voix humaine, Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges, Mozart’s La finta giardiniera, and Johan Strauss Jr.’s Die Fledermaus. During his time at UMKC, John also did instrumental accompanying, playing for lessons and recitals for cellists, violinists, oboists, trombonists, and more.

John is a founding member and principal accompanist of Choral Spectrum, a LGBTQ and supporting choir, which is the first of its kind in Kansas City. He completed his Master’s degree at UMKC, having studied with the 2013 Van Cliburn third prize winner, Sean Chen. In recent years, John has developed a relationship with the Midwest Chamber Ensemble in Kansas City and the Kansas Lyric Opera. John serves as Adjunct Faculty at Avila University, teaching Applied Piano, Music History, and Music Theory and as a staff accompanist.

 There will be a reception with cookies and coffee after the concert.