Libby Hanssen

January 2, 2018

‘As One’ Delves the Complexity of Transgender Life

“As One” is the story of one soul torn between two identities, a story of courage, of truth, of searching and of self-discovery. It is the story of Hannah, in her journey to realize herself as a young transgendered woman. “As One” is a chamber opera composed by Laura Kaminsky, with co-librettists Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed. The opera premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2014.

November 27, 2017

Arts News – The Wires: Making Music a Meditative Exploration

The winter solstice is a time of mystery and a moment of hope in the darkened chill of December. The Wires, an alternative string duo,..

November 6, 2017

NewEar Celebrates its 25th Season with a ‘Happy Birthday’ Concert and an Expanded Mission

Kansas City’s professional new music ensemble celebrates its 25th season with a “Happy Birthday, newEar!” concert Dec. 2 at Central United Methodist Church. Over the past few years, newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble has undergone a period of transition and restructuring, preparing to grow into the sort of arts organization that will present another 25 years of new music to the region.

September 13, 2017

Mid America Freedom Band Offers “Programming Diversity, with Some Guts”

The Mid America Freedom Band has planned an adventurous 15th season. Themed “Pioneers and Frontiers,” the upcoming concerts will celebrate historic revolutionaries, musical mavericks and civil rights pioneers, as well as new frontiers in sound and space, with the American expansion of the West and the exploration of the universe. MAFB is Kansas City’s only LGBTQIA + ally community band.

September 1, 2017

Artist to Watch: Kenny Broberg

The Park University student won a silver medal in the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Kenny Broberg, a graduate student at Park University’s International..

August 31, 2017

The Kansas City Symphony’s 2017/18 Season Honors a Giant of American Music

Orchestras and organizations across the nation are honoring an important milestone during the 2017/2018 season. From Aug. 25, 2017 to Aug. 25, 2018, they are celebrating the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein, born in 1918, and recognizing his influence on American music as conductor, composer, educator and advocate. The Kansas City Symphony has planned an extensive celebration.

July 17, 2017

Meet “The Classical Challenge”

Every Wednesday evening, radiating 80 miles from 39th and Main Streets, eclectic, rambunctious music permeates the Kansas City airwaves when “The Classical Challenge” broadcasts on KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio. “The Classical Challenge,” the only classical music show on KKFI, is unlike any classical music radio show in the region. “We try to play things that are either experimental or challenging...” said Mike Pettengel, host and founder of the show.

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June 30, 2017

“Between Silence and Light”

This June, Kansas City Baroque Consortium began its first summer series, “Between Silence and Light.” The series explores the journey artists make from inspiration to realization and the connections between, linking music with architecture, dance, writing and painting. The series got its name from John Lobell’s book, “Between Silence and Light,” a collection of words and images from architect Louis Kahn.

May 10, 2017

Concert to Come: “Goldberg Variations”

Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental “Goldberg Variations” is at once staggeringly difficult and uniquely beautiful, challenging and enamoring musicians for centuries. Kansas City’s Owen/Cox Dance Group will display these compatible contrasts in their final performance of the season, in collaboration with pianist Kairy Koshoeva. This is the second presentation of the work for Koshoeva and the company, which they premiered in June of 2013.

Author: Libby Hanssen