KANSAS CITY, Mo. (August 13, 2026) — The Kansas City Symphony announced today the appointment of Betsy Burleigh as director of the Kansas City Symphony Chorus, the 160-voice ensemble long recognized as the choral voice of the Kansas City Symphony. Burleigh, an internationally acclaimed choral conductor, educator and director, will lead the Symphony Chorus in performances with the Kansas City Symphony and guide the ensemble’s continued artistic growth. 

The Kansas City Symphony first welcomed Burleigh as guest chorus director in spring 2026, when she prepared the Symphony Chorus for performances of Rachmaninoff’s Spring and Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. From her first rehearsal, she earned the admiration of Chorus members and Symphony staff through her exceptional musicianship, insightful leadership and warm, collaborative approach. 

“Betsy is an extraordinary musician whose depth of experience and commitment to choral artistry make her an ideal leader for the Kansas City Symphony Chorus,” said Danny Beckley, President and CEO of the Kansas City Symphony. “Her work with our singers this spring demonstrated the special combination of musical excellence and collaborative leadership that will help the Chorus thrive in this next chapter.” 

As Chorus Director, Burleigh will prepare the ensemble for performances with Music Director Matthias Pintscher and the Kansas City Symphony, while guiding the Chorus’s ongoing artistic development.  

“Betsy has already captured the hearts of our Kansas City Symphony Chorus community,” Pintscher said. “From her first visit, she made a profound artistic impact on our sound and brought such warmth and energy to the spirit of the chorus. We look forward to working together on the exceptional repertoire planned for her first season, and we are delighted to welcome her to Kansas City.”   

Burleigh currently serves as the Thomas R. Kasdorf Professor of Choral Conducting at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she chaired the choral conducting department for more than a decade. Her career bridges the highest levels of professional performance and higher education, making her uniquely suited to guide the Symphony Chorus into its next era. 

Burleigh served for 10 years as Music Director of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, where she prepared and conducted landmark performances of major choral masterworks while collaborating extensively with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Throughout her career, she has also served as assistant director of choruses for the Cleveland Orchestra, chorus master for Cleveland Opera and music director or conductor of several acclaimed symphonic choruses, including the Akron Symphony Chorus, Canton Symphony Chorus, Providence Singers and Chorus pro Musica in Boston. She has guest conducted ensembles including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Rhode Island Philharmonic and other leading orchestras, and has prepared choruses for conductors such as Manfred Honeck and Andris Nelsons. 

“I am truly excited and honored to be stepping into the role of Director of the Kansas City Symphony Chorus,” Burleigh said. “Preparing the ensemble for the April performances of Rachmaninoff’s Spring was a joy, and I’m thrilled by the opportunity to work with this wonderful chorus, impressive orchestra and inspiring maestro.” 

The Kansas City Symphony Chorus is a 160-voice, auditioned volunteer ensemble that has served as the Symphony’s choral voice since 1988. Celebrated for performances of the great orchestral-choral repertoire — from Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony and contemporary masterworks — the Chorus is an essential artistic partner of the Symphony and an ambassador for choral excellence throughout the region. 

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About The Kansas City Symphony
In only its 45th season, the Kansas City Symphony has become one of America’s most vibrant major orchestras and has gained international recognition. At its orchestral home of Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, the Symphony serves the Kansas City metropolitan region of more than 2.2 million people.   

The Symphony’s 80 full-time musicians present a diverse and dynamic range of orchestral and chamber music performances each season under the artistic leadership of music director Matthias Pintscher, an internationally acclaimed conductor and composer who regularly conducts the world’s leading orchestras and opera companies. 

In addition to concerts in Helzberg Hall, Symphony musicians perform throughout the region on an innovative portable stage, the Mobile Music Box. The Symphony also serves as the orchestra for the Kansas City Ballet and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, adding to the rich cultural experiences that these organizations offer to the community. 

For more information, visit www.kcsymphony.org.