Group with Fort Scott ties set to play in Kansas City

Vivant!, made up of Julie Silfverberg, Karen Fremar, Dee Sligar, Janne Silfverberg and David Sager, will be joined by Melody Stroth (piano) and Ronda Adams (electric violin) to premiere new music by Fremar, a Leawood composer, at Music and Merlot, set for June 23 at All Souls Unitarian Church in Kansas City, Mo. The Frank Busso Jr. Trio will also perform. (Submitted Photo)

The Fremar Foundation for Accordion Arts will feature the Frank Busso Jr. Trio, from Washington, D.C., and Kansas City Ensemble Vivant! at their, "Music & Merlot" concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 23, at All Souls Unitarian, 4501 Walnut St., Kansas City, Mo.

Busso Jr. Trio members -- Frank Busso Jr. (accordion), Henry Tyszler (violin) and William Hones (string bass) -- also serve as musicians in the U.S. Air Force Strings and perform at high protocol events in Washington from the White House to the Capitol.

Vivant! is a mixed ensemble performing a varied program of Latin, tango, R&B and original music featuring accordion with synthesizers, trombone, bass, and Latin percussion. Members include former Fort Scott residents Julie Silfverberg and Karen Fremar, Dee Sligar, Janne Silfverberg, grandson of Dr. Dean and Marlene Gettler of Fort Scott, and David Sager.

Julie (Gettler) Silfverberg is the daughter of Dr. Dean and Marlene Gettler of Fort Scott. Karen is the daughter of the late Margie and Fred Fremar, operators of Fremar Music Studio in Fort Scott. She is also the niece of Fort Scott residents Clara and Kenny Schwartz.

Melody Stroth (piano) and Ronda Adams (electric violin) will join the ensemble to premiere new music by Fremar, a Leawood composer.

The seven musicians are products of the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music. The event is free. Donations at the door are welcome.

The Fremar Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization that presents outstanding accordion artists in concert from around the nation and the world. The concert is sponsored in part by Husch Blackwell, LLP; the Courtney S. Turner Trust-Daniel C. Weary and Bank of America, Trustees; and the H. R. Block Foundation Inc. For more information, visit www.FremarFoundation.com.