UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance

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.

Violist Victor Diaz and violinist Jose Ramirez stopped by the Classical KC studio to play Colombian music and to talk about life as international music students in Kansas City.

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.

Classical KC's Brooke Knoll speaks with the UMKC Conservatory's Noel Torres-Rivera and Ebonee Thomas about the upcoming "América Festival" which highlights music by composers from North, South and Central America. We'll hear music by Ronaldo Miranda, Astor Piazzolla, José Martínez, Carolina Heredia and more.

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.

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.

Hear our conversations with three distinguished UMKC Conservatory alumni and find out what it means to them to be honored at this year's "Crescendo" performance.

A new certificate program at UMKC will prepare students for careers in arts administration thanks to the Theater League.

The Guggenheim Fellowship is awarded to mid-career individuals who show exceptional promise in their field. A Flint Hills photographer and a Kansas City choreographer are among the 2022 winners.

Classical KC speaks with Sandbox Percussion's Ian Rosenbaum and Director of Orchestra's at the UMKC Conservatory, Kevin Noe, about championing new music, collaboration and inspiring students.

Classical KC speaks with Elizabeth Suh Lane from the Bach Aria Soloists alongside Mary Pat Henry and DeeAnna Hiett from the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company about creating collaborative live music and dance. Hear music by J.S. Bach, Claudio Monteverdi and Mark O'Connor.

The nominations for the 64th annual Grammy Awards include an album performed by Sandbox Percussion, a quartet that teaches at the UMKC Conservatory, and the duo 123 Andrés.