
Brooke Knoll
Digital Audience Specialist & On-Air Host, Classical KCBrooke Knoll is the digital audience specialist and on-air host for Classical KC. A Minnesota native, she comes to Kansas City from the Twin Cities, where she received her BSB in Entrepreneurial and Public Non-Profit Management from the University of Minnesota - Carlson School of Management, as well as a major in harp performance. She was the on-air host of Radio K’s all-classical show, Rock Me, Amadeus, during her college years before joining YourClassical Minnesota Public Radio as a digital producer and board operator.
An advocate for arts accessibility, she has previously worked with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Cuban American Youth Orchestra and Minnesota Orchestra on their initiatives to engage younger audiences and cultivate the next generation of classical music lovers.
When not obsessing over all things classical radio, you can find her hiking, playing harp, starting a new craft, or searching for vinyl to add to her growing collection.
You can reach Brooke at brooke@classicalkc.org.
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Two composers — one American and one Nigerian American — explore their African heritage through orchestral music. Each finds connections and expressions that are authentic and artistic. There’s even a Kansas City connection with one of the composers!
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Of the many performance outlets for students at the UMKC Conservatory, Musica Nova is one that focuses entirely on new music. Composers, UMKC faculty members and Musica Nova directors Yotam Haber and Zhou Long join Classical KC's Brooke Knoll to talk about the group's mission and upcoming concerts. Hear music from Zhou and Haber as well as Chen Yi and Wang Jie.
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A resource and place of discovery for students and the public, UMKC's Music/Media Library is home to over 130,000 scores, recordings, books and other materials. Classical KC's Brooke Knoll talks with Nara Newcomer and Libby Hanssen about the library's "Shining a Light" project, which highlights underrepresented musical voices. Plus, we will hear music by Joan Tower, Libby Larsen, Viet Cuong, Chen Yi and more.
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Sascha and Laurel continue their Women's History Month celebration and go in depth with composer and librettist, Susan Kander. We'll explore the music and stories of this New York-based composer with Kansas City roots.
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What better way to celebrate the beginning of Spring than with gorgeous music by Beethoven and Copland? (No Vivaldi to be found here!) Enjoy this inspired and delightful music.
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We're continuing our ode to women and celebrating Women's History Month on Sound Currents with an episode about music and motherhood. Hear music and conversation with this week's guest: Stacey Barelos.
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The music of composer Claude T. Smith is some of the most played in all of the symphonic band repertoire, being performed in classrooms as well as concert halls. He was born in Monroe City, Missouri and spent many years in Lawrence and Kansas City. Classical KC's Brooke Knoll speaks with Smith's daughter Pam Smith Kelly about Claude's life and music. Plus, hear several of his compositions.
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Shakespeare’s character of Falstaff appeared in “Henry IV” parts one and two, but came into his own in “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” Ralph Vaughan Williams made Falstaff the center of his second opera “Sir John in Love” — originally titled “The Fat Knight.” We’ll hear a remarkable orchestral suite of music from the opera in its debut recording.
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In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, the most fiddle-y of holidays, hear music from the Fretless, a supergroup fiddle quartet. Hear fiddle tunes and folk melodies turned into intricate, beautiful, high-energy arrangements that have quickly gained a dedicated following and accolades from around the world.
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Thank you for tuning in for special programing during our spring member drive. It's not too late to become a member! Find out more information here.