Sounds Like with Sean Chen - Listen to the birds

By Sean Chen,

Sam Wisman

Published June 10, 2026 at 5:00 PM CDT

Composer Olivier Messiaen studied with Paul Dukas, who once told him to “listen to the birds! They are great teachers.” Messiaen clearly agreed, and took a deep dive into ornithology and the study and transcription of bird song.

Catalogue d'oiseaux (Catalogue of Birds)
by Olivier Messiaen

Sounds Like with Sean Chen

Sean Chen

Sean Chen creates custom musical mashups for Classical KC's "Sounds Like with Sean Chen."

Sam Wisman

Sam Wisman is Production Director for 91.9 Classical KC and a backup announcer for KCUR 89.3