At the request of a number of nationally prominent musicians, the first Sunflower Music Festival opened in White Concert Hall of Washburn University in Topeka on Monday, June 1, 1987. Artists in attendance represented the following music organizations:

• Juilliard School
• Curtis Institute
• New England Conservatory
• New York Philharmonic
• Metropolitan Opera
• Louisville Symphony
• New Orleans Philharmonic
• Nashville Symphony

Artists gathered in Topeka for ten days of exciting music making. Members of the Washburn University music faculty, as well as other area musicians, participated in these events.