classical music

There's plenty of song and celebration this season with holiday concerts and shows around Kansas City.

Despite her success in the 1930s, Dana Suesse’s music remains underappreciated. From piano concertos infused with jazz to popular film music, Suesse was a woman of great musical prowess.

Kansas City has long been associated with barbeque, fountains and jazz music — but accordions? Not so much. Still, Kansas City has a rich accordion history thanks to Joan Cochran Sommers, an icon who is still conducting, teaching and playing the accordion.

Kansas City has long been associated with barbeque, fountains and jazz music — but accordions? Meet the 90-year-old woman who is keeping the city's rich legacy alive. Plus: Kansas City journalist Ebony Reed takes an "immersive" dive into the nation's racial wealth gap in her new book.

After 19 seasons, outgoing Kansas City Symphony music director Michael Stern conducted his final concert over the weekend. Plus: One Kansas City opera company is bringing the show to residents of local retirement communities.

After 19 seasons, Michael Stern is stepping down as music director of the Kansas City Symphony, with Matthias Pintscher taking over at the start of the next season. Classical KC spoke with the outgoing maestro and his longtime friend Yo-Yo Ma about Stern's time at the helm and what’s ahead for the orchestra.

The Bach Aria Soloists, now in their 25th season, celebrate the music of the 17th and 18th centuries through concerts and collaborations across genres.

The Lyric's Opera To Go program brings live performances to retirement communities across the Kansas City metro. For the residents of these communities, in-person concerts are an experience that can't be replicated by recordings.

We’ve reached another milestone together – it’s the 200th episode of From the Archives. It’s a program with some of Frank Byrne's favorite music, each with a personal connection.

Aleia Gonzalez came to Kansas City to study guitar at the UMKC Conservatory but shortly after graduation, the classical guitar program was dissolved. While holding teaching positions in Great Bend, KS, she is active with the Kansas City Guitar Society and performs in Kansas City. Celebrate guitar month by listening to performances from Aleia and another local guitarist, Beau Bledsoe, with music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Brad Cox and more.

Seiji Ozawa came on the music scene like a meteor, and soon established himself as a remarkable conductor who led the world’s best orchestras. In memory of his long and distinguished career, we’ll hear him interpret music by Rossini, Tchaikovsky, Berlioz, and Mahler.

The Medical Arts Symphony of Kansas City community orchestra has given amateur musicians in the health care profession a place to perform since 1959. For the doctors, nurses, dentists, medical students, and more who take part, the music can be therapeutic.