Sam Wisman
Production Director - 91.9 Classical KC / Backup Announcer - KCUR 89.3Sam started listening to jazz on his local NPR affiliate when he was just 13 years old, and his life as a musician and radio guy continues to intertwine. Son of a merchant and a classical musician, he came to Kansas City to attend the UMKC Conservatory. During school, he shelved a lot of records and played “drop the needle” at The Marr Sound Archives, working with KCUR’s own Fish Fry host Chuck Haddix. After graduating Cum Laude with a degree in Percussion Performance, Sam became a versatile fixture in Kansas City’s music scene. He hosted Jazz Afternoon on 90.1 FM KKFI for over 10 years, and currently hosts Jazz Across America - Kansas City on San Diego's KSDS Jazz 88.3. Sam lives with his family in Roeland Park, and has yet to measure the volume of his kids with a decibel meter — but he has thought about it.
Email him at samwisman@classicalkc.org.
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Music Director Stéphane Denève and the SLSO break out the bubbly for a sparkling New Year’s Eve Celebration, simulcast LIVE on St. Louis Public Radio and Classical KC. Revel in an evening of lively music, from Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Bernstein’s Candide Overture to Bizet’s Selections from L’Arlésienne and more. -
Handel’s Messiah draws us in time and time again. Nicholas McGegan, one of the world’s foremost experts on Handel’s music, conducts the SLSO and St. Louis Symphony Chorus in this beloved holiday tradition. -
Conductor Pierre Monteux lived a long and active musical life. Among his many accomplishments was conducting the 1912 world premiere of Maurice Ravel’s score to the ballet Daphnis and Chloe. When Monteux made this recording 47 years later, he invested a lifetime of familiarity to create an unforgettable musical experience. -
The UMKC Conservatory Choirs and Orchestra take you on a journey through holiday favorites and new discoveries. Rodrigo Camargo is your host in this first ever UMKC Conservatory holiday special. -
Clara Schumann’s Three Romances are wistful and intimate, gracefully opening this concert led by frequent SLSO guest conductor John Storgårds, and Cellist Kian Soltani performs Haydn’s Cello Concerto. Then, a musical kaleidoscope takes shape in Shostakovich’s final symphony. -
Over his 89 years, conductor Pierre Monteux led the world’s great orchestras and was chief conductor of over six. His total understanding of the scores and his intimate knowledge of many of the composers he conducted made him a favorite of musicians everywhere. He was both respected and loved by those who played for him and they called him “Maître,” the French word equivalent to the Italian “Maestro.” -
The SLSO presents Ludwig van Beethoven’s personal favorite piece—his boisterous Symphony No. 7. We'll also hear Béla Bartók's Dance Suite, and pianist Joyce Yang’s performance of Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini centers this concert, which also features conductor Kevin John Edusei’s SLSO debut. -
Lawrence violist Mary Tuven and composer and bassist Charles Kelso Hoag often brought their daughter, Andrea Hoag, to their wintertime performances when she was just a small child. Now all grown up, Hoag brings those decades-old memories to life in her short story “The Christmas Musicians.” -
Classical KC Ovation Circle and Advisory Council member Andrew Garton has curated a melodic and dramatic hour of music that highlights the human voice. -
From Hanukkah and Christmas to Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve, enjoy music fit for any celebration, including holiday performances recorded in Kansas City.
