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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

PT - Young Artist in Residence - Najee Greenlee - Parts 1 & 2

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!


PT Originals: Najee Greenlee at MPR

Performance Today®

Will Keeler

Young Artist in Residence: 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.



Meet Najee Greenlee

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!



Lauren Desberg

PT Weekend: Tessa Lark

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.



Provided

Leonidas Kavakos and the 'Willemotte' Stradivarius

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. 


Unknown artist, via WikiMedia Commons

Courtesy of the Artist

Wayne Shorter's 'Terra Incognita'

Producer Meghann Oglesby reflects on her time at the 2023 Grand Canyon Music Festival. 


Meghann Oglesby at the Grand Canyon Music Festival

Festival

Producer Meghann Oglesby reflects on the Grand Canyon Music Festival

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


Grand Canyon Music Festival Native American Composer Apprentice Project

NACAP 2023 Young Composers

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. 


Michael Begay Grand Canyon Music Festival

Michael Begay at the Grand Canyon Music Festival 2023

Meghann Oglesby Karlos Rodriguez Paul Laraia