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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The UMKC Conservatory orchestra shines in performances of Ludwig van Beethoven’s revolutionary Symphony No. 3, and the spooky overture from Carl Maria von Weber’s Der Freischütz. -
For the music he composed to accompany our droid friends C-3PO and R2-D2 as they wander the Dune Sea on the planet Tatooine, John Williams was clearly inspired by the bleakness of Igor Stravinsky's “Sacrifice” movement from the Rite of Spring. -
Take a stroll on the streets of Paris with George Gershwin and the UMKC Conservatory orchestra. Also in this episode, you'll hear an award winning performance of a fantastic concerto for piano and a joyful symphony by Haydn. -
Billy Joel has called classical music "the girl next door," but he ended up being seduced by a rock-n-roll temptress. -
In this episode of the UMKC Conservatory Hour, we’ll hear a piano quintet that earned nothing but disdain from its dedicatee, plus a showstopper aria and Brahms crafts a birthday present. -
The "Lament Bass” is a descending bassline that has evoked deep sadness and mourning for pretty much all of music history. -
For centuries the name of King Arthur has inspired works of art, literature, and music. We have music by three British composers from the 17th to the 20th centuries, each of which captures the spirit and mystery of this legendary sovereign. -
Composer, conductor, former Kansas City Symphony music director, and longtime radio host Bill McGlaughlin has died at the age of 82. In his final story for Classical KC, he shares his unorthodox musical journey and offers a simple message: music is one of the most rewarding paths a young person can take. -
Hear how different cultures and traditions inspired Franz Liszt in this week’s UMKC Conservatory Hour. Plus, Vivaldi’s only trumpet concerto played by UMKC Conservatory faculty. -
Sometimes the hardest part of writing a piece of music is getting started, but maybe the most important thing is how you end.
