My Name Is: Steven Banks
Steven Banks is an award-winning chamber musician, music educator, and composer.
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.

Steven Banks is an award-winning chamber musician, music educator, and composer.

For some people, summer begins Memorial Day weekend, or when the kids are out of school. But astronomically speaking, summer begins with the solstice, so we've selected music to inspire daydreams on this summer day filled with daylight. Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Samuel Barber, Max Richter, and more, on Thursday's Performance Today.

Flute, trumpet, clarinet, and three strings. The ensemble yMusic has that unusual combination. Their signature sound and their interest in all kinds of music has had quite an impact on contemporary composers. On Wednesday's Performance Today, yMusic plays a piece by Son Lux, recorded live at Classical KING FM studios in Seattle.

Conductor Thierry Fischer says working with violinist Augustin Hadelich is "...a revelation. He's more than impeccable, he's inspirational." On Tuesday's Performance Today, hear Augustin Hadelich in concert, playing Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 with the Utah Symphony.

On Monday's Performance Today, we learn about a musician's journey from metal rocker to classical composer. Then take a seat for a Nashville Symphony performance of "Conversations with Nijinsky," by Kip Winger.