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Sounds of the Conservatory

Pianist Konstantin Lifschitz works with piano student Christopher McKiggan in his November 22 master class.

Jazz musician Stefon Harris works with Conservatory students in his November 22 master class.

Pianist Konstantin Lifschitz will give a master class Sat., Nov. 22, 2–5 pm, Grant Recital Hall, 5227 Holmes Rd. He appears in conjunction with Friends of Chamber Music and KU.

The Conservatory is pleased to announce the world premiere of Bobby Watson’s colossal seven-movement work Gates B-B-Q Suite, with the Conservatory Concert Jazz Band, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m., White Recital Hall. The 11 O’Clock Jazz Band, led by Michael Pagán will also perform. More...

Vibraphonist-composer Stefon Harris, who the Los Angeles Times has heralded as "one of the most important young artists in jazz," and who studied with UMKC Jazz professor Bobby Watson, will give a master class to Watson's Jazz program students. More...

Fountain City Brass Band, led by Joseph Parisi won first place at the U.S. Open Brass Band Championships, Nov. 8, 2008. Conservatory student Nate Gay won Best Featured Brass Soloist. More...

The 2009 Missouri Music Teachers Association (MMTA) annual commissioned composer has been awarded to Narong Prangcharoen, DMA candidate at UMKC’s Conservatory of Music and Dance, and Academy faculty member. More...

Composer and Princeton professor Paul Lansky, a pioneer in computer music, works with UMKC composition student Michael Miller during Lansky’s master class at UMKC, October 31, 2008.

Conservatory composition student Lauren Wells took second prize for her sonata for cello and piano at the 2008 Young Composer's Competition at The Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, Austin Peay State University.

Kauffman Visiting Artist and opera super star Carol Vaness gave October master classes to Conservatory vocal students. Vaness will return in February.

Robert Battle, founder of Battleworks Dance Company, works with dance student Claire Dale-Gardner in an October 21, 2008 master class. Battleworks Dance Company performs October 25 in the Conservatory's Signature Series.

Dance student Chris Page works in a master class with dancer Erika Pujic from Battleworks Dance Company. Robert Battle and his company are at the Conservatory working with dance students Oct. 20–25 prior to the October 25 Signature Series performance: Battleworks Dance Company.

Conservatory dance students Erik Sobbe, Skyler Taylor, Miyesha McGriff, Pamela Auinbauh, Kelanie Murphy, and Molly Vaeth have been chosen by the Kansas City Ballet to dance in its much beloved and prestigious holiday production of The Nutcracker, December 2008.

The Conservatory Wind Symphony has been accepted to perform at the 2009 College Band Directors National Association Conference in Austin, Texas under the direction of Steven D. Davis. Numerous UMKC faculty will also make the trip as part of the event!

The internationally renowned Dr. Chen Yi is the first woman and first Asian composer to take center stage in the 24-year history of FOCUS Contemporary Music Festival at Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, OH. More...

Kauffman Visiting Artist opera star Carol Vaness works with student Ben Hilgert in their October master class.

Composer, writer, and ArtsJournal blogger Kyle Gann favorably reviews his experience in Kansas City, and with the Conservatory of Music and Dance in his blog PostClassic. Read his blog here. Here he appears at his talk with faculty member Andrew Granade.

UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance