Performance Today®

American composer Michael Abels has been getting a lot of attention in the past few years; in particular, for his movie music — he's in high demand after scoring Jordan Peele's satire horror films Get Out and Us. On today's show, hear an orchestral piece by Michael Abels: Delights and Dances, from a concert presented by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

We're proud to introduce you to our next 2021 PT Young Artist in Residence: tuba player Cristina Cutts Dougherty. Cristina recently joined us from Houston, TX for conversation and music. Touch or click here for more!

For more than 20 consecutive years now, students from top schools of music around the country have joined us as PT Young Artists in Residence. On this episode of Performance Today, we continue this year's series with tuba player Cristina Cutts Dougherty.

Zenobia Powell Perry was a life-long civil rights activist, a mother, caregiver, and pianist. In her 40s, while juggling all of her responsibilities, she pursued advanced degrees in music, and began composing. We'll hear one of the many compositions by Zenobia Powell Perry, on this edition of Performance Today.

Thomas Wiggins was born blind and into slavery in Georgia in 1849. He became one of the best-known performers in the country in the late 1800s, but due to the times, the fruits of his success may or may not surprise you. Hear the story and music of Thomas Wiggins on this edition of Performance Today.

There's a long tradition of music inspired by visual art, and that continues right up to this day. On today's show, hear the world premiere performance the Violin Concerto by French composer Pascal Zavaro — music that Zavaro says was written "under the influence" of images by Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Paul Burgett was a leader in classical music. He was known for his warm spirit and as a visionary behind the Gateways Music Festival, an event celebrating classical musicians of African descent. On today's show, join us as we remember the late great Paul Burgett, as well as a concert highlight from the Gateways Music Festival.

Composer Zhou Tian was inspired by a Chinese proverb, that it takes "a thousand years of good prayers to bring about a good relationship." He wrote music that unfolds into a clear and harmonious song — and it's less than ten centuries long. On this episode of Performance Today, hear A Thousand Years of Good Prayers by Zhou Tian, from a recent concert in Melbourne, Australia.

Due to current circumstances, Performance Today has adapted the concert content from its Young Artist in Residence Program to provide virtual learning experiences in their new series "Performance Today in the Classroom." Today's PT in the Classroom Music Lesson features PT Young Artist in Residence Cristina Cutts Dougherty.