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Editorial Assignments Executive Editor; Traditional and New Classical Contributor
Kristin Shafel, a native of Madison, WI, moved to Kansas City in 2001 to attend the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, where she earned both her M.M. and B.M. in composition, with additional focus in double bass performance and arts administration. During her time at UMKC, Kristin was a student leader and performer in many of the Conservatory's student organizations and ensembles, including Musica Nova, Composers' Guild, the Conservatory Student Association, the orchestras, and Wind Symphony. Her composition instructors were James Mobberley, Paul Rudy, Zhou Long and Chen Yi, and her bass instructor was Sue Stubbs.
Kristin's compositions have been performed at national and regional new music festivals and conferences in Missouri, Wisconsin, Texas, Oklahoma, New York, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, and Oregon. She is a member of ASCAP, SCI, NACUSA, IAWM, and Vox Novus. In 2009 Kristin received a 1-year internship with the Chamber Music Society of Kansas City and started regularly volunteering for Charlotte Street Foundation.
Kristin has been a bassist in the Kansas City Civic Orchestra since 2007 (for which she also serves as Bass Section Principal and Concert Annotator) and recently joined the Northland Symphony Orchestra and Heritage Philharmonic. Formerly a guitarist, Kristin performed with big bands and her own jazz combo in Madison, WI, having studied jazz guitar and theory with Roger Brotherhood in Madison. At UMKC, Kristin studied jazz voice and theory with Hal Melia and classical guitar with Douglas Niedt.
Mon, Feb 15, 2010
The Harriman-Jewell Series' "Discovery Concerts" are worth attending for any concert-goer interested in new artists. Rachel Lee is one such artist brimming with talent and potential - and worth catching again in the future.
Tue, Mar 09, 2010
The KC Symphony's presentation of "A Haunted Landscape" was impressive and certainly lived up to the work's title. Eerie, perfectly balanced string entrances, subtle offstage trumpet fanfare and expertly executed phrases in the woodwind section were definite highlights.
Mon, Mar 15, 2010
Beethoven's music demands much attention and concentration to fully appreciate, and certainly an all-Beethoven concert can be an exhausting endeavor for performer and listener alike. The Artemis String Quartet brought exactly the right kind of energy and respect to their performance last Friday night.
Mon, Mar 15, 2010
newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble's Saturday night concert, "China Rising," was curated by local composers Chen Yi and Zhou Long. They clearly went to great lengths to present a program of very avant-garde composers who blend Chinese and Western contemporary classical styles, and ultimately it paid off for the audience.
Mon, Mar 22, 2010
Pianist and composer Keith Kirchoff presented a lecture-recital at the UMKC Conservatory last Friday night. He has an engaging onstage persona and provided insightful introductions to each work.
Tue, Mar 30, 2010
The New York City woodwind quintet Imani Winds is perfect blend of individual personalities, accomplishments and sheer talent. During last weekend's UMKC Signature Series performance, it was wonderful to see a traditional chamber ensemble express such exuberance for new music.
Mon, Apr 12, 2010
It is rare when each piece on a Kansas City Symphony program perfectly complements the others and is individually compelling, and this weekend's program achieved just that with rousing success. Each work contained impressions of idyllic reflection and wistful imagery, and the Symphony along with guest soprano Heidi Grant Murphy performed at an impressively high level which further enhanced this divine and inspiring selection of music.
Tue, Apr 27, 2010
Both jovial and regal in its sound, the Venice Baroque Orchestra clearly takes pure pleasure in what it does and has a deep respect for Baroque music. They play with vigor and exuberance, sometimes to their detriment, yet there is no question that this is an exceedingly talented group of musicians.
Tue, Apr 27, 2010
Christian McBride, renowned jazz bassist, and his band Inside Straight concluded this season's Folly Jazz Series with a rousing concert this past Saturday night.
Tue, May 04, 2010
newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble ended their season of guest curators with "Regenerations" last Saturday night. Composer James Mobberley, a professor at UMKC's Conservatory, programmed this concert with "compositional lineage" in mind. In addition to one of his own, Mobberley selected works by his teachers and their influences as a look back, and a work by a former student as a look towards the future. The music heard was clearly reflective of connections between teacher and student.
Mon, May 24, 2010
This Saturday's Simon Carrington Chamber Singers dual concerts will feature the world premiere of their first composition competition's winning work, Melissa Dunphy's "What do you think I fought for at Omaha Beach?" Melissa took some time recently to answer a few questions about the piece, her compositional process, and her reaction to winning the SCCS competition.
Tue, Jun 15, 2010
Two 20th century works and a favorite Romantic piano concerto capped off the Kansas City Symphony’s concert season last weekend. The overwhelmingly jovial program of all-Russian music celebrating man’s pure spirit, happiness and freedom was certainly a crowd-pleaser and left me feeling excited for next season with the Symphony.
Mon, Jun 14, 2010
The Kansas City Chamber Orchestra closed their concert season last Friday with an ambitious program featuring Mozart’s legendary "Requiem in D minor." A work shrouded in mystery and intrigue, this was the star of the concert under the direction of Bruce Sorrell, the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and a combined chorus comprised of members from the Village Presbyterian and St. Paul’s Episcopal Churches, and Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Tue, Sep 07, 2010
The Kansas City Symphony bade farewell to summer this past Saturday night, entertaining a full crowd of all ages at the Theatre in the Park in Shawnee Mission with favorites from the concert hall, theatre stage, and Hollywood.
Wed, Sep 15, 2010
Displaying extremely vivacious and enthusiastic playing, it is clear the Takács Quartet has a lasting excitement and authentic enjoyment for sharing and making music together.
Tue, Sep 28, 2010
The Bad Plus, in their Kansas City debut, has found its niche and is developing a new style of jazz with a progressive outlook, experimental emphasis and respect for improvisation.
Tue, Oct 05, 2010
Glitzy and glamorous, the Heartland Men's Chorus opens their 25th season with vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway. "The Nanny" crooner brings wit and pizazz to the Folly.
Tue, Oct 12, 2010
Veteran rockers Los Lobos brings their Tejano-Mexican music to the Folly Theater in a cool, stripped-down showcase for the Cyprus Avenue Series.
Mon, Oct 25, 2010
The Russian Kopelman Quartet presents a concert of Borodin, Shostakovich, and Brahms on their Nov. 6th concert courtesy of the Friends of Chamber Music.
Wed, Nov 03, 2010
Quixotic’s “Lux Esalare” at JCCC is equally breathtaking and gritty—a cohesive and successful fusion of dance, music, and light.
Wed, Nov 10, 2010
Veterans of the “golden age” of the Russian string school, the eight-year-old Kopelman Quartet brought years of pedigree to their Friends of Chamber Music performance.
Tue, Nov 16, 2010
The Kansas City Guitar Society presented formidable classical guitarist Ana Vidović at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in the second concert of their season this past weekend. The audience of devoted guitar music enthusiasts was not disappointed, as Vidović is a high-caliber performer who offered up standards and popular arrangements.
Wed, Dec 08, 2010
With its usual sentimental spin as well as a new twist this year, Musical Theater Heritage’s annual "A Spectacular Christmas" features high-quality singing, entertaining laughs, and a few tears of joy in between.
Tue, Dec 07, 2010
The Heartland Men’s Chorus never fails to present fun, humorous, and heartwarming shows—often with entertaining guests not to be missed—and their holiday program, "12 Divas of Christmas," was no exception.
Tue, Dec 14, 2010
With two CDs to his credit, Chicago-native Sachal Vasandani received "DownBeat"'s 2010 Rising Star award. He channeled Sinatra in his Kansas City debut Saturday night in the Folly Jazz Series' Spotlight concert.
Tue, Jan 11, 2011
Kansas City is bursting with chamber music and jazz concerts this spring. The multitude of events coming up in the metro in both categories are sure to be fun and entertaining.
Wed, Jan 26, 2011
Highly-acclaimed violinist Joshua Bell returned to Kansas City on Saturday in his fourth Harriman-Jewell appearance. The Folly Theater’s sold-out audience sat entranced through Bell’s sonata-heavy program.
Wed, Feb 16, 2011
How often does one have the opportunity to hear an NEA Jazz Master perform in one of "DownBeat’"s best jazz venues? Jazz lovers in Kansas City enjoyed just such a chance last Friday night when venerable founding father of modern jazz Ellis Marsalis and his quartet performed at the Folly Theater.
Wed, Mar 02, 2011
One of only three professional orchestras in South Africa and the first to tour the United States, the Cape Town Philharmonic appeared in their Kansas City debut last Friday night for a 500-plus audience at the Folly Theater for the Harriman-Jewell Series. Cape Town, with its conductor Martin Pantaleev and solo violinist Philippe Quint, put on a concert of accessible twentieth century works and a romantic Russian standard.
Tue, Mar 15, 2011
Of Kansas City’s myriad choirs, Kantorei is certainly one to follow. Their small but captive audience at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church last Sunday witnessed a truly special choral concert: traditional and modern settings of the songs of Solomon and romantic twenty-first century treasures.
Wed, Mar 23, 2011
In an equally familiar and thrilling performance, the Kansas City Symphony with guest violist Roberto Díaz filled the Lyric Theatre this past Friday night with mysterious and compelling twentieth-century works by Osvaldo Golijov, Krzysztof Penderecki, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and Alberto Ginastera.
Wed, Apr 13, 2011
Last Friday night’s Harriman-Jewell Series presentation of Canada’s premiere string chamber orchestra I Musici de Montréal to a two-thirds full audience at the Folly Theater was just as described in the concert’s tagline: “Paintings for the ears and music for the eyes!”
Fri, Jul 22, 2011
A great premise alone could not save “Bill Murray’s Cousin Live in Concert!” from missing the mark Friday evening at the Kansas City Fringe Festival.
Wed, Jun 01, 2011
An exciting and ambitious season-closing show, the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre’s presentation of the now-classic rock musical The Who’s “Tommy” was a rockin’ good time.
Wed, May 18, 2011
Musical Theater Heritage’s presentation of the venerable "Gypsy" only proves you don’t need lavish costumes and elaborate sets to put on one hell of a show.
Tue, May 24, 2011
Musical Theater Heritage’s presentation of the venerable "Gypsy" only proves you don’t need lavish costumes and elaborate sets to put on one hell of a show.
Tue, May 24, 2011
An exciting and ambitious season-closing show, the Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre’s presentation of the now-classic rock musical The Who’s “Tommy” was a rockin’ good time.
Fri, Jul 22, 2011
The scorching heat and humidity last Sunday didn’t stop Mistura Fina from presenting a cool Brazilian concert at Oppenstein Brothers Park downtown as part of the Kansas City Guitar Society’s “Guitars in the Park” program.
Wed, Jul 27, 2011
Full of physical comedy and clever song lyrics, Egads! Theatre Company brilliantly blends two cult classics in the campy and hilarious “The Rocky & Bullwinkle Horror Picture Show Parody” at the Kansas City Fringe Festival.
Wed, Jul 27, 2011
A gritty drama tackling deep ethical dilemmas, "Worth" is intense and utterly engrossing as it entwines an ostensibly “normal” middle-class family and the seedy underbelly of society.
Tue, Aug 16, 2011
Musical Theater Heritage scores another hit with the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice collaboration, "Evita." The three fine leads make this a show a must-see.
Tue, Aug 16, 2011
The excitement of a new season is palpable—and this coming year is no exception. As the KC arts community and its enthusiasts look forward to another productive year with intriguing season line-ups full of local and national acts, KCM Executive Editor Kristin Shafel remembers her favorite shows from 2010–11.
Tue, Aug 30, 2011
You can’t start a new season of music in Kansas City without jazz! From locals to legends and combos to big bands, find out what Kansas City has in store for jazz lovers this fall.
Wed, Sep 28, 2011
“Grand Celebration” perfectly describes of the atmosphere Friday at the new Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Spirits were high among musicians and concertgoers in anticipation of the Kansas City Symphony’s inaugural season in Helzberg Hall, starting with this first program inspired by quintessential human and earthly delights.
Tue, Oct 04, 2011
Talented jazz trumpeter, educator and advocate Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra shined on the Harriman-Jewell Series last Saturday night, proving Helzberg Hall isn't just for classical.
Wed, Oct 12, 2011
Egads! Theatre Company’s revival of last year’s smash hit "Evil Dead: The Musical" stormed Off Center Theatre last weekend to robust audiences and solid splatter zones. I attended the Monday night showing, and although the crowd was understandably smaller, the splatter zone was still packed and ready for gut-spewing mayhem.
Tue, Oct 18, 2011
Although jazz lovers are fortunate with Kansas City's rich jazz culture and heritage, audiences are also treated to excellent jazz greats who continually visit the metro. Among those greats, is the inimitable musical icon Herbie Hancock who stops at the Lied Center this month on his first-ever solo tour.
Wed, Oct 26, 2011
The Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College's 21st season kicked off Saturday night with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet at Yardley Hall. Steeped in history, drama, romance, and fantasy, LAGQ’s well-paced and accessible program dazzled the near-capacity audience.
Wed, Oct 26, 2011
Over 400 fans enjoyed an uplifting concert by premier post-bop saxophonist Joe Lovano and his band Us Five at the historic, century-old Gem Theater last Friday. The event marked the beginning of the 15th season of the American Jazz Museum’s Jammin’ at the Gem Series.
Wed, Nov 02, 2011
In a stop on his first-ever solo tour, iconic jazz and funk keyboardist Herbie Hancock presented re-imagined and experimental versions of his original compositions to a near-capacity audience at the Lied Center of Kansas last Sunday night.
Tue, Nov 15, 2011
Te Deum Chamber Choir, directed by Matthew Christopher Shepard, presented an ambitious program on deeply soulful themes this weekend, featuring music by Bach, Britten, and MacMillan.
Wed, Nov 16, 2011
The Harriman-Jewell Series hosted the Vienna Symphony Orchestra last Wednesday to a sold-out audience as the first international orchestra on the Helzberg Hall stage. With special guest the Eroica Trio, this concert proved to be a night to remember.
Wed, Dec 07, 2011
The Turtle Island Quartet guided their audience of nearly 400 through an enjoyable program of uplifting international holiday music in their appearance last weekend as part of the JCCC Performing Arts Series in Polsky Theatre.
Wed, Dec 21, 2011
Despite the drizzly and dreary weather, the music was sizzlin’ inside Helzberg Hall last Monday night, where DuPue Brothers Band warmed the audience with lively genre-crossing holiday cheer.
Wed, Dec 28, 2011
Music lovers with eclectic and adventurous tastes will not be disappointed this spring as the chamber music and new classical scene in Kansas City offers selections from all eras and many cultures.
Wed, Jan 18, 2012
Celebrating their twelfth season, the Lincoln, Nebraska-based Chiara String Quartet will grace the Lied Center stage on January 29 with works by Schubert, Brahms, and the Kansas premiere of a commission by Gabriela Lena Frank.
Wed, Feb 01, 2012
The audience at the Lied Center of Kansas on Sunday afternoon enjoyed a gratifying and brilliant performance by the Chiara String Quartet, which presented a program showcasing its flare for the contemporary as well as its mastery of the established quartet literature.
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