Laurel Parks
HostLaurel Parks is a violinist, composer and instructor who’s enjoyed an exciting career as a musician. She has performed with artists such as Sarah McLaughlan, Disturbed, Amy Grant, Josh Groban and Evanescence. Her music is signed to Second Nature Recordings (USA) and Arctic Rodeo (Germany). In addition to traveling through Europe with the Americana band “In the Pines,” Parks has toured all over Asia with the Mantovani Pops Orchestra. She has recorded strings for Hulu and Universal Pictures in addition to laying string tracks for countless bands and corporate clients.
Laurel’s heart lies in composing music. She currently writes, records and concertizes with modern string duo The Wires and co-writes music for the alternative Indie-folk band Of Tree. Parks also owns and teaches Drunken Fiddles, a workshop for adult beginners who want to learn to play the fiddle with a twist, and is the founder of the online music school Fiddle Life.
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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. -
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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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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March is Women's History Month. Celebrate with Sound Currents, as we explore music by and inspired by women.
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Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Eleanor Alberga is a highly-regarded mainstream British composer with commissions from the BBC Proms and The Royal Opera, Covent Garden. Her music reflects not only the human experience, but also particular milestones in her life. Listen to it on this week's Sound Currents.
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Allison Loggins-Hull's music is often resonant with social and political themes of the current moment, encompassing motherhood, Blackness, and cultural identity. Hear her music on this week's Sound Currents.
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It’s all hearts on this week's Sound Currents! Share the love — whether its romantic or self-love — with music fit for Valentines Day.
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This week on Sound Currents, composer and social justice artist Anthony R. Green shares how music can be a tool to increase equality in the world, as well as spark joy and understanding.
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newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. To honor this milestone, explore music from Kansas City composers — like guest Hong Hong Gianakon — in the third of a series of shows highlighting artists with local connections.
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After two weeks of music inspired by controlled substances, take time for a detox. In this episode of Sound Currents, explore music reflecting on recovery and healing with guest Ben Stevenson.
