Past Projects

Annual side-by-side concert
April 4, 2024

The secret garden
March 8-18, 2024

Feeling Spooked : Halloween Concert
Novermber 2, 2023

Footloose
june 16-26, 2023

Annual side-by-side concert
march 23, 2023

into the woods
march 10-20, 2023

christmas concert
december 16, 2022

cinderella
october 7-15, 2022

the hunchback of notre dame
june 10-20, 2022

Annual side-by-side concert
march 25, 2022

xanadu
february 11-26, 2022

Princess Academy
December 10-18, 2021

Annual Halloween concert
october 8, 2021

Urinetown
August 13-24, 2021

Spelling bee
june 3-15, 2021

Newsies
april 15-26, 2021

Annual side-by-side concert
march 19, 2021

Annual Halloween concert
november 6, 2020

LES miserables, school edition
august 10-18, 2020

The fact that this musical happened at all is a complete miracle! Between having to quarantine the entire cast for 2 weeks and then having our Marius quarantine for another 2 weeks just before tech week, we were so fortunate to not only be able to pre-record the show for a livestream but also enjoy 4 live performances. Because the full orchestra was not allowed in the pit with social distancing concerns, we spread out in the aisles and balcony of the theater so we could still provide live music for the performers. It was an amazing production and brought sincere joy to everyone who both participated and watched. Watch the trailer HERE.

Side-by-side annual concert
march 12, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our dress rehearsal became our concert. We were able to get together with the ELA Junior High Instrumentalists for this one night before schools and events were closed. We enjoyed performing The Moldau, Light Cavalry Overture, Tales of Vandosar, Saturday at the Symphony, Viking, Viva la Vida, Gonna Fly Now, Backburner, Themes from Harry Potter, and the funny and clever Concerto Gross featuring three kazoo soloists. Watch Concerto Gross HERE.

little shop of horrors
february 21-March 7, 2020

We were excited to provide a combo again for this zany dark comedy about a man-eating plant named Audrey II. With Angel Williams on percussion, Stuart Duff on guitar, Stacy Mayren on bass guitar, Jennifer Hansen on keyboard and Michelle Willis as conductor and auxiliary keyboardist, it was a blast to play onstage with both a junior high and an adult cast as the performed in rep. Watch the trailer HERE.

disney’s tarzan
december 6-16, 2019

This is Kensington’s second time performing this eye-popping, jaw-dropping musical. This time around, we were on the stage with the performers, providing an auditory and visual feast for the audience. Look for us HERE in the trailer. The orchestra loved doing this musical—it is one of our favorites!

Peter Pan, the british musical
june 14-24, 2019

This is Kensington’s second time performing this beautiful version of the timeless tale by James Barrie. Our full orchestra enjoyed having Tinkerbell visit us in the pit every night during the overture, as she appeared from the conductor’s box to ‘fly’ with Peter. Watch the trailer HERE.

bright lights, big city!
Annual side-by-side concert
MARCH 2019

In combination with instrumental groups from Early Light Academy, we presented a delightful concert featuring The Barber of Seville Overture, On Broadway, Gershwin by George, Stompin’ at the Savoy, Sagebrush, NYC: Salute to the Big City, Shostakovich’s Waltz No. 2, Eureka, and Bugler’s Holiday.

The fantasticks
march 16-23, 2019

This is the longest running musical in the history of the world, and for good reason! The poetry, music, and thought-provoking allegory narrated by El Gallo and told through the endearing characters cause audiences to laugh, cry and reflect. This production was staged in honor of a great theater teacher in the Utah Valley—Russ Johnson. Michelle Willis, musical director, was the pianist for the show.

TUCK EVERLASTING
DECEMBER 7-17, 2018

“You don’t need to live forever, you just need to live.” What a beautiful message! To live; to be alive! And what makes it even more beautiful is experiencing it with our families. “It’s a wheel, Winnie/A ripple in water/Girl to wife to mother to daughter”: What a beautiful wheel we get to ride with all our “kinsfolk come and gone”! -Toni Butler, Director
Watch the trailer HERE.

HALLOWEEN CONCERT
October 26, 2018

Selections included Highlights from Wicked, In the Hall of the Mountain King, Pirates of the Caribbean, Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, The Incredibles, and more. The Herriman High School Ballroom Dancers joined the Kensington Orchestra onstage for a special performance of Libertango.

West Side STory
JUNE 15-30, 2018

West Side Story is the award-winning adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Two teens from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective gangs build toward tragedy. Toni Butler directed this touching classic with a live, 30 piece orchestra directed by Michelle Willis and music direction by Erin Walker.

Side-by-side Concert
March 19, 2018

Kensington Symphony Orchestra was delighted to accompany six talented soloists as they performed impressive concerto pieces. Kensington also entertained the audience with pieces such as 1941 by John Williams, Fiddles on Fire by Mark Williams, and Mary Poppins by The Sherman Brothers, arranged by Sean O’Loughlin.

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD
FEBRUARY 16-26, 2018

Based on Charles Dickens’ final unfinished novel, this hilarious whodunit invited the audience to solve its mystery by choosing the identity of the murderer. Kensington Symphony Orchestra members once again had the wonderful opportunity to provide a live pit orchestra for the Kensington Theatre Company players on stage.

joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat
november 3-11, 2017

Students in Grades 3-9 at Early Light Academy were thrilled to have a full pit orchestra underneath their feet for their annual school production.  Playing to nearly-sold-out audiences every show, Andrew Lloyd Webber's fun and frolicsome musical delighted both young and old.

JENNY OAKS BAKER & FAMILY FOUR
October 28, 2017

Grammy-nominated violinist, Jenny Oaks Baker, joins the combined forces of the Kensington Symphony Orchestra and Utah Philharmonic Orchestra to present a concert of great music for the entire family. Hear Jenny's four children play magnificent music right along with their mother and mentor.

3 is a magic number: ANNUAL HALLOWEEN CONCERT
October 6, 2017

The full ensemble presented a delightful selection of pieces that revolved around the number 3, trios, and trilogies.  Guest artists included the HHS Ballroom Team performing "Vampire Masquerade" and dancers from Simply Ballet Studio in Herriman, UT.

PIPPIN
AUGUST 11-12, 2017

8 members of the Kensington Symphony Orchestra joined TBC (Theatre Boot Camp) teens for an exciting 5 performances in 2 days.  We all found our "Corner of the Sky" as we shared this musical to sold-out audiences for every show.

WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
June 16-26, 2017

The delicious adventures experienced by Charlie Bucket on his visit to Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory lit up the stage in this captivating adaptation of Roald Dahl's fantastical tale. Featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder and new songs by Leslie Bricusse (Jekyll & Hyde, Doctor Dolittle) and Anthony Newley, Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka was a scrumdidilyumptious musical that delighted everyone's sweet tooth.

GOLD RUSH
MARCH 20, 2017

Kensington Symphony Orchestra joined the Early Light Academy Band and Orchestra for a side-by-side concert of great music that connected to that precious metal we call gold: "Palladio" by Karl Jenkins, "Dragon Dances", "Brave", "Old Time Rock and Roll", "William Told Too Much", "Hoe Down" by Aaron Copland, "Dr. Who", and "Themes fro 007". The concert was to  help the school start earning money for a 6-foot grand piano for the main theater.

WORLD PREMIERE OF PRINCESS ACADEMY
DECEMBER 2016

Based on the Newberry Honor book Princess Academy by Shannon Hale, this brand-new musical delighted audiences in 10 thrilling performances.  With script and music by Katie Brown and arrangements/orchestration by Michelle Willis, Princess Academy was a treat for young and old.

LES MISERABLES
June-July 2016

This cast featured young actors ages 10-19, with stellar performances by Jacob Ericksen as Jean Valejean , Geoff Beckstrand as Javert, Tanner  Tate as Marius, Lily Graham as Cosette, and Tevyn McPeak as Thenardier.  A thrilling and beautiful musical story, the seats were sold out numerous nights to witness this amazing production.

Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker
DECEMBER 2014-2015

For the second and third year in a row, South Pointe Ballet combined with conductor Michelle Willis to present Tchaikovsky's holiday favorite The Nutcracker. The production was one of only a few in the Salt Lake Valley that featured a live orchestra.

Annie
June 2014

Kensington Theatre Company (formally South Jordan Community Theatre) presented Annie with the Kensington Symphony Orchestra.

“America the Beautiful”
May 2014

The Avanti Orchestra (now Kensington Symphony Orchestra) joined forces with the Timpanogos Chorale for two evenings of American-inspired music. Audience members were treated to favorites such as "Shenendoah", "Amazing Grace", and the inspiring "Battle Hymn of the Republic".