If you’ve ever been to downtown Kansas City, you may recognize the familiar sight of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, home of the Kansas City Symphony. What you may not know is that it offers free Happy Hour Chamber Music Series concerts throughout the year. The series returned this past year with performances in November, March, April and May.

I attended the Happy Hour Striking Strings concert on April 22, and it offered a chance to experience world-class music at no cost. Attendees can reserve tickets online, and drinks and food are available for purchase from 5 to 6 p.m. before the hourlong concert.

Instead of buying drinks at the venue, I stopped at Las Tules, located just across the street and less than a five-minute walk away. While parking can also be purchased in advance, I was able to find free street parking a few minutes away off Central Street, making the evening even more affordable.

The concert ran from 7 to 9 p.m. in Helzberg Hall, a space that may sound familiar to students of Rockhurst University’s Helzberg School of Management. The program included pieces by the Shaw Enr’acte, Bowen Fantasie Quartet for Four Violas and the Walton String Quartet.

My favorite piece was the opening performance by the Walton String Quartet. I tend to prefer more exciting compositions, and I appreciated how the lighting behind the musicians subtly shifted to match the tone of each piece.

That said, I would be especially interested in attending a large-scale orchestra or symphony performance in the future, with a greater number and variety of musicians.

The venue was busy but not overcrowded, and I had a great view from my mezzanine seat, although it seemed that nearly every seat in the hall offered a strong vantage point.

As someone who has grown up in Kansas City, I was surprised I had not heard about this opportunity before. The Kauffman Center typically hosts a wide range of performances, but not often for free. This concert series offers a unique opportunity for college students to expand their cultural experiences while exploring the city. I attended with a friend, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

The final concert before the summer will take place May 12 at 6 p.m. and is titled “A Baroque Ball.” The program will feature music by Antonio Vivaldi, Philipp Friedrich Böddecker and Johann Sebastian Bach. Tickets are available through email sign-up on the Kauffman Center’s website.