Kansas City is alive with the sound of Robert Russell Bennett's music. Bennett is the Kansas City native who orchestrated many of the most well-known musicals of the 20th century. On this episode of Kansas City Local Feature, Kiana Fernandes and Music Theater Heritage founder George Harter examine the life and work of this often-overlooked theater giant.

Classical KC's Christy L'Esperance speaks with six time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald about the blurred lines between modern opera and the American musical theater, embracing each performance opportunity and her appearance in Kansas City. We'll hear Audra's rich soprano in works by Leonard Bernstein, John Adams, George Gershwin and more.

At the cross section of classical piano, environmental activism, arts education and the remote South Pacific island of Rapa Nui — also known as Easter Island — you’ll find the award-winning pianist and humanitarian Mahani Teave. Christy L'Esperance talks with Teave about her work and coming to Kansas City to perform. We'll hear her play traditional melodies from Rapa Nui as well as solo piano works by Bach, Liszt, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff.

Dean Courtney Crappell joins Brooke Knoll for a conversation about the year ahead at the UMKC Conservatory. We'll highlight some of the many upcoming performances happening at the music school and hear several recordings featuring Conservatory students and faculty.

Violinist Maria Ioudenitch grew up around Kansas City, and is part of a very musical family — her parents are world-renowned pianists and educators. Now, she's balancing the rollout of her debut album, "Songbird," with the an international touring calendar.

Some of the best musicians in Kansas City and surrounding communities come together each July for Summerfest: Kansas City's annual chamber music showcase. Brooke Knoll previews this year's festival with musicians and artistic advisors Jane Carl and Evan Halloin. We'll hear music by Charles Loeffler, Henriëtte Bosmans, Joseph Bologne - Chevalier de Saint-Georges and Astor Piazzolla.

Brooke Knoll speaks with pianists Jessica Koebbe, Kowoon Lee and Karen Savage about their work with the Puerto Rico Center for Collaborative Piano, as well as fostering a musical and cultural exchange between Puerto Rico and Kansas City. We'll hear performances from all three guests, including works by Gabriela Ortiz, Miguel del Aguila, Valeria Coleman and more.

Celebrate Pride month with Classical KC by listening to meaningful music selected by and featuring out and proud artists and musicians from right here in Kansas City, including drag queen and clarinetist Tajma Stetson and J.J. Pearse: Composer and member of the Mid America Freedom Band. Hear music by Julius Eastman, Michael Tippett, Jennifer Higdon and more.

Renowned violist Jordan Bak understands the importance of sharing the arts with young musicians such as the students of Harmony Project KC. Brooke Knoll speaks with Jordan, alongside Kyla Pitts-Zevin and Jaqueline Marquez Salgado from Harmony Project about the transformative power of music. Learn about their Harriman-Jewell Series collaboration and hear recordings of Jordan playing music by Joan Tower, Rebecca Clarke, Jeffrey Mumford and Harrison Leslie Adams, Jr.

This week on the Kansas City Local Feature, we get to know Classical KC's new Community Engagement Specialist and On-Air Host, Christy L'Esperance. We'll learn about her background as a pianist, her large family, and enjoy her quirky sense of humor. Christy has curated a varied program of music that includes works by Maurice Ravel, Anna Clyne, Henry Purcell and Sergei Prokofiev.