Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
Performance Today

Performance Today®

Peteris Vasks: Vox Amoris

Peteris Vasks: Vox Amoris

In 2008, composer Peteris Vasks wrote a new piece, a fantasy for violin and strings. In the program notes, he wrote: "It is about the greatest power in the whole world—love. Love is, was, and will be as long as we will be... I hope this work will reach the listeners and make the world a little brighter and more open to love." We'll hear Vox Amoris (Voice of Love) by Peteris Vasks on today's show.

Missy Mazzoli: Dark with Excessive Bright

Missy Mazzoli: Dark with Excessive Bright

Composer Missy Mazzoli often makes multiple versions of her works. In 2018, Mazzoli wrote a piece for solo bass and string orchestra that she recently rearranged for violin and orchestra, and she says she loves how the solo violin soars over the orchestra in this newer version. Join us today to hear violinist Peter Herresthal and the Bergen Philharmonic play 'Dark with Excessive Bright' by Missy Mazzoli.

Young Artist in Residence: Najee Greenlee

Young Artist in Residence: Najee Greenlee

Clarinetist Najee Greenlee is the next of our 2024 cohort of PT Young Artists in Residence. Najee recently joined Fred Child in our St. Paul studio—hear Najee’s music and the entire interview here!

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Meet Najee Greenlee

Meet Najee Greenlee

We're pleased to introduce our next 2024 PT Young Artists in Residence: clarinetist Najee Greenlee. On today's show, Najee joins Fred Child for music and conversation at our Saint Paul studio.

PT Weekend: Tessa Lark

PT Weekend: Tessa Lark

Tessa Lark is a uniquely American violinist. She has classical conservatory training and grew up playing the fiddle in her family bluegrass band in Kentucky. On today’s show, Tessa Lark shares two sides of herself with a sonata by Eugene Ysaye and a new piece named “The Ysaye Shuffle” by none other than Tessa Lark!

Leonidas Kavakos and the 'Willemotte' Stradivarius

Leonidas Kavakos and the 'Willemotte' Stradivarius

In 1994, violinist Leonidas Kavakos played an exceptional violin in New York. He says, "It felt like the earth moved beneath me." Sadly, the instrument wasn't for sale. Twenty years later, he found that same violin in London; this time, he wouldn't let it get away. Kavakos plays his 1734 Willemotte Strad on today’s show.

Wayne Shorter's 'Terra Incognita'

Wayne Shorter's 'Terra Incognita'

Composer Wayne Shorter was fascinated by the symbolic idea of terra incognita, the undiscovered territory in ourselves, and the courage it takes to explore that territory. On today's show, hear Imani Winds play Shorter's Terra Incognita at a concert in Athens, Georgia.

NACAP 2023 Young Composers

Performance Today spoke to several young composers from the 2023 Native American Composer Apprentice Project about their experiences in the program.

Michael Begay at the Grand Canyon Music Festival 2023

Producer Meghann Oglesby caught up with one-half of the Grammy award-winning Catalyst Quartet at the 2023 Grand Canyon Music Festival. Cellist Karlos Rodriguez and violist Paul Laraia share their thoughts on what's special about GCMF.

About Performance Today®

To find a station near you on our Stations Listings page, click here.

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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Your Host

Since 2000, Fred Child has been the host of Performance Today, the most-listened-to classical music radio show in America. He also is the commentator and announcer for Live From Lincoln Center, the only live performing arts series on television. He also hosts musical events on stages around the country, working with major orchestras and festivals, and connecting with audiences coast to coast.

Fred Child

Your Host

Kathryn Slusher is the senior producer of Performance Today, where she leads programming and production for the show. In her spare time, she enjoys the vibrant Twin Cities music and theater scene, and loves to read, hike and spend time with her family.

Your Host

As a Producer for Performance Today, Meghann chooses music to broadcast on the show, writes web articles and scripts, facilitates, conducts and edits interviews, creates video content and manages PT’s social media pages. She created Performance Today’s Black History Spotlight Series and the My Name is Series to highlight Black classical musicians. Meghann is also the producer for the PT Young Artist in Residence Series. In her free time, she is a mom, a part-time actress and fashion lover. Meghann also created and hosted “Wondrous Strange”, a national radio program about uncommon musical instruments, she is the official underwriting voice for ‘The New York Times’ The Daily, and she can occasionally be heard guest-hosting Performance Today.

Meghann Oglesby

Your Host

As an Associate Producer for Performance Today, Kathleen Bradbury writes scripts and assists with external communications. In her spare time, she likes to read fiction, lift heavy weights at the gym, and frolic about in nature. But above all else, Kathleen loves to sing Broadway showtunes--much to the delight of her wife, her infant son, and her rescue dog.

Kathleen Bradbury

Your Host

Jon Gohman is an associate producer for Performance Today. He is responsible for various behind-the-scenes functions, including liaising with artists and creating materials for national distribution. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, playing the guitar, and thinking about Langrange points.

Your Host

Craig Thorson is the Technical Director for Performance Today. In addition to mastering the live music recordings that are programmed for each daily program, he records guest performances and interviews. Craig enjoys skiing, tennis, and bicycling, and boating.

Craig Thorson

Your Host

Jeanne Barron is the technical producer of Performance Today.

Jeanne Barron
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