We are both proud and honored to announce that Jessie Montgomery is our 2025 PT Classical Woman of the Year. Montgomery is a celebrated composer, violinist, and educator known for compositions that blend classical, folk, jazz, and contemporary influences. Among her numerous accomplishments, she founded the Young Composers Initiative, where she mentors high school composers, assisting them in preparing their music for performance by members of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Tune in today to learn more about Jessie Montgomery and why her work is so influential.
Episode Playlist
Hour 1
John Harbison: November 19, 1828: Movement 3
Gloria Chien, piano | Danbi Um, violin | Paul Neubauer, viola | Laurence Lesser, cello
Album: Music@Menlo LIVE: Schubert, Vol. 8
Music@Menlo Live
Valerie Coleman: Suite: Portraits of Josephine
Imani Winds
UChicago Presents, Performance Hall, Logan Center for the Arts, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Felix Mendelssohn: Six Songs, Op. 34, Mvt 4 Suleika
Nina Bernat, bass | Gloria Chen, piano
Chamber Music Northwest, Lincoln Recital Hall, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Jessie Montgomery: Hymn for Everyone
Chicago Symphony Orchestra | Riccardo Muti, conductor
Album: Contemporary American Composers
CSO Resound
Jessie Montgomery: Duo for Violin and Cello
Bella Hristova, violin | Nicholas Canellakis, cello
Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival and Institute, Spieker Center for the Arts, Menlo Park, CA
Hour 2
Astor Piazzolla: Introduccion al angel
Anne Akiko Meyers, violin | Akira Eguchi, piano
Album: Smile
Koch 7762
Fanny Mendelssohn: Quartet in E-flat major
Castalian String Quartet
Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA
Mats Larsson Gothe: Submarea
Philharmonia Orchestra | Santtu-Matias Rouvali, conductor
EBU, Royal Festival Hall, London, UK
Arcangelo Corelli, arr. Andy Poxon: Sonata in D minor, Op. 5 No. 12, "La Folia"
Anne Akiko Meyers, violin | Fabio Bidini, piano
CAMA, Lobero Theater, Santa Barbara, CA
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American Public Media’s Performance Today® is America’s most popular classical music radio program and a winner of the 2014 Gabriel Award for artistic achievement. The show is broadcast on hundreds of public radio stations across the country, including at 1 p.m. central weekdays on Minnesota Public Radio. More information about our stations can be found at APM Distribution.
Performance Today® features live concert recordings that can’t be heard anywhere else, highlights from new album releases, and in-studio performances and interviews. Performance Today® is based at the APM studios in St. Paul, Minnesota, but is frequently on the road, with special programs broadcast from festivals and public radio stations around the country. Also, each Wednesday, composer Bruce Adolphe joins host Fred Child for a classical musical game and listener favorite: the Piano Puzzler.
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