Performance Today®

Last year, in our Young Artist Series, we introduced you to Jordan Bak, an incredibly talented young violist with a bright personality... and he continues to bloom. On this episode of Performance Today, hear violist Jordan Bak's performance in the final round at the Sphinx Competition.

In 2005, the Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma founded the first American Indian summer arts academy, with classes in dance, literature, theater, art, and music composition. On today's show, the Spokane String Quartet plays music by two Chickasaw composers, Dylan Bennett and Miko Begaye.

On today's show, Rhiannon Giddens and the Kronos Quartet play a traditional lullaby, an interesting combination of classical and American folk music. Also, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler.

If you could personally thank a musical artist who's been an inspiration for you, who would it be and how would you thank them? On today's show, hear how composer and percussionist Ivan Trevino expressed his gratitude in "Songbook Volume 3" - performed by Trevino and Windsync at a concert in Jacksonville, Florida.

Omar Thomas says that, in all his years playing in concert bands, he never got to play music celebrating African American traditions. So as a composer, he wrote the piece he wished he could have played. On today's show, hear a vibrant work called Come Sunday, by Omar Thomas, from a concert presented by the Dallas Winds.

There's a remarkable photo from the 1889 World Expo in Paris: Four young Javanese dancers, and one young woman is staring rather sternly into the camera. Her name is Soekia. On today's show, hear the Dolce Suono Ensemble perform the world premiere of Soekia's Dance by Thomas Whitman.

On today's show, hear the Piano Concerto No. 5 by French composer Camille Saint-Saens... and find out why it has become known as the Egyptian Concerto.

When Stephen Hough wrote his Piano Sonata No. 4, he called it "Vida Breve" (Short Life), expressing the melancholy of this brief lifetime we have. On today's show, Stephen Hough plays "Short Life", from a concert at the Grand Teton Music Festival.

Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concerto de Aranjuez" may be the most popular guitar concerto of all time. On today's show, hear guitarist Chaconne Klaverenga play Rodrigo's concerto with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler.