KMFA blends classical and modern
Words Deven Wilson | Photos from KMFA
This fall, KMFA presents percussionist-composer Jordan Walsh’s if it keeps on rainin’ show on October 17 and Moontower Duo’s Vistas on November 21. Both continue the radio station’s push on what classical sounds like.
“If you think classical music is all Bach and Beethoven, you’re just missing out,” Todd Hogan, KMFA’s director of marketing, states, adding that “the genre has long been evolving and continues to take on modern influences.”
In its 50-plus years, KMFA has served as a home for local and international talents to showcase their ongoing work in the classical music genre, continually introducing new composers and compositions. For local composer Jordan Walsh, that sounds like blending electronic music and classical percussion into a chaotic think-piece on what “noise” really means. For Moontower Duo’s Matthew Lyons and Stephen Krishnan, classical guitar morphs into new territories to leave their audience saying, “I didn’t know the guitar could do that.”
KMFA is the only nationally syndicated program where the guitar takes center stage. Surprisingly, according to Todd, “Classical music doesn’t have to involve a traditional instrument.” That range includes being instrument-free and entirely performed on vocals alone, as their program Choral Classics proves. The Offbeat Series is a compilation of local composers and musicians redefining the boundaries of what classical music sounds like. Series like these contribute to the station’s legacy in Austin as a home for classical music, while also tearing down any elitist expectations. The programming is designed to encourage listeners who would never consider themselves part of the classical crowd to take in the concerts with an adoration for the mix of genres, to show up in casual wears, and last but not least, to sip cocktails or a cold beer during their complimentary pre-show cocktail hour.
As a radio station, KMFA still plays the old hits from big names, but with programs like Offbeat Series and others giving stage time to local talents, Todd says the whole point is “showcasing what’s happening in our backyard.”
Get Social: General admission tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students, with doors opening at 7:30 pm for if it keeps on rainin’ on October 17 and 7 pm for Vistas on November 21.
Contact:
41 Navasota St.
kmfa.org
info@kmfa.org
