Classical KC

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.

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.

Andy Akiho's 'Seven Pillars' combines visual effects and flashing lights with unconventional instruments such as glass bottles and boxes for a fun and highly syncopated piece for percussion. Learn more about this cutting-edge piece recently performed by UMKC's Ensemble in Residence: Sandbox Percussion.

Join co-hosts Michael Stern and Dan Margolies as they trace two centuries of concertos and orchestral works that feature a soloist. Enjoy two double concertos from Antonio Vivaldi that showcase Kansas City Symphony members as soloists, a beautiful and devilish violin feature from Maurice Ravel, and Mozart's sublime "Piano Concerto No. 24." Also, hear two wonderful symphonies from Franz Joseph Haydn.

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.

Two musical worlds collide as jazz pianist Dan Tepfer finds inspiration, and room for improvisation, in J.S. Bach's Two-Part Inventions.

Co-hosts Michael Stern and Dan Margolies delve into a diverse program beginning with the tragically short life and beautiful music of Lili Boulanger. We'll also hear a chamber work from Astor Piazzolla, concertos from Alexandre Guilmant and Frédéric Chopin, and the world premiere of a violin concerto by Chris Rogerson.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Celebrate the changing seasons with Kansas City Symphony performances of orchestral favorites including Bach's "Air on the G String" and "Brandenburg Concerto No. 3." We'll also hear Yo-Yo Ma as soloist on Haydn's "Concerto in D Major" and guest conductor Ludovic Morlot leads the orchestra through Beethoven's bucolic "Symphony No. 6."