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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 

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.

Shows

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.


Host

Fred Child

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.


Senior Producer

Kathryn Slusher

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.


Producer

Meghann Oglesby

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

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.


Associate Producer

Jon Gohman

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.


Technical Director

Craig Thorson

Jeanne Barron is the technical producer of Performance Today.


Technical Producer

YourClassical MPR

Jeanne Barron

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Performance Today

We're excited to introduce our next 2025 Young Artist in Residence: double-bassist Nina Bernat. In today's show, Nina joins Fred Child for music and conversation at our studio in Saint Paul.



woman with a stand-up bass with green background

Performance Today®

© Titilayo Ayangade

Nina Bernat

COVID travel restrictions kept Gao Hong from visiting her family in China, so she reminisced about her childhood to comfort herself and channeled that nostalgia into a new piece for pipa and bassoon. Join us today to hear Gao Hong play her concerto, "Reminiscences of My Hometown," from a recent concert in St. Paul, Minnesota.



Provided

PT Weekend: Gao Hong's 'Reminiscences of My Hometown'

In 1940, Eleanor Roosevelt was introduced to Symphony No. 3 by African American composer Florence Price; the First Lady loved it and praised it enthusiastically in her daily newspaper column. On today’s show, we’ll take you to a recent concert in St. Louis for a performance of Price’s Symphony No. 3.



Woman seated at a piano and marking a musical score

Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries

Florence Price: Symphony No. 3

Kahler steps in as Fred Child to step down after 25 years of hosting the show.


Dani Werner

YourClassical names Valerie Kahler as new host of 'Performance Today'

Pianist Mitsuko Uchida says in Beethoven's music you can hear that life is life, and sometimes, you have to cry. Yet, she hears such optimism amid the tragedy. Mitsuko Uchida plays Beethoven on today’s show.



A female pianist in dark clothing with windows in background

© Justin Pumfrey

Mitsuko Uchida on Beethoven

 © John Andrson

Gao Hong

Approximately two million people visit Olinda, Brazil, each year to celebrate Carnival. Brazilian-American composer Clarice Assad found inspiration in the bonecos—the giant papier-mâché puppets carried in parades. On today's show, we'll hear music infused with the spirit of Carnival: Bonecos de Olinda by Clarice Assad.



woman with graying hair and white background

© Marcelo Macaue

Clarice Assad: Bonecas de Olinda

The final symphony by Jean Sibelius unfolds over twenty-one minutes, evolving from a quiet opening to a warm, life-affirming ending—it's one unbroken weightless stream. Join us at a concert in Zurich for the Symphony No. 7 by Jean Sibelius.



black and white photograph of man seated in a chair

Santeri Levas/Finnish Museum of Photography

Sibelius' Symphony No. 7

Proud to Be

Proud To Be – Craig Hella Johnson

Proud To Be – Clarice Assad

Proud To Be – Andrew Yee

Proud To Be – Blake Pouliot

Proud To Be – Jimmy Lopez

Proud To Be - Meg Rohrer

Proud To Be - Brandon Patrick George

Proud To Be - Thomas Sondergard

Proud To Be - Jonathan Biss

Proud To Be - Seth Parker Woods

Proud To Be - Michael Abels

Proud To Be - Sharon Isbin

Proud To Be - Jonathan Howard

Proud To Be - Emmanuel Ceysson

Proud To Be - Jennifer Higdon

Proud To Be - Mari Esabel Valverde

Proud To Be - Conrad Tao

Proud To Be - Davóne Tines

Proud To Be - Sara Davis Buechner

Proud To Be - Mark Adamo

Proud To Be - Ahmed Alabaca

Proud To Be - Stephen Hough

Pride Month is a wonderful time to celebrate our unique identities and to reflect on how authenticity shows up in our lives. We asked classical musicians in the LGBTQIA community to share their thoughts on Pride. Listen now. [Support for Pride Month programming is provided by Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church.]
