Performance Today®

Pianist Joyce Yang and student musicians Emma Gerstein, Sofia Nikas and Katherine Siochi joined Fred onstage for PT's live event at Harris Hall in Aspen, Colo. for an evening of musical performances and conversation.

The natural world has always been a source of inspiration for musicians -- but there's another side to it as well. On Wednesday's Performance Today, we'll speak with student violist Cynthia Phillippi on how she copes with the more creepy crawly side of nature at the Aspen Music Festival and School.

Violist Cynthia Phillippi says that even before she was born, her mother would take her to concerts and Broadway shows. You could almost say that music was part of her DNA from the start.

In order to earn pocket change, some students at the Aspen Music Festival play their instruments on the streets of Aspen -- a practice called "busking." Cellist Lucie Ticho likes to set up outside a local creperie for a couple of different reasons; one reason may or may not involve free crepes. On Tuesday's Performance Today, we'll hear more from Ticho and other performers at the Aspen Music Festival.

When Lucie Ticho first came to Aspen, she remembers thinking she was way out of her league. Two years later, she's still wowed by her fellow cellists, but the 17-year-old can definitely hold her own.

Beginning today, we've got a full week of stories and music from the 2015 Aspen Music Festival and School. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll meet 17-year-old Kebra-Seyoun Charles, a star of the double bass who really, really wanted to play the flute.

Each of the past three summers, Kebra-Seyoun Charles has been the youngest player in the school's double bass program. We caught up with Kebra earlier this summer in Aspen to find out how the bass came to be his instrument of choice.

The combination of harp and guitar isn't exactly traditional. But that doesn't discourage harpist Yolanda Kondonassis and guitarist Jason Vieaux, who love the way their instruments sound together. On this weekend's Performance Today, this unique duo will join Fred in the studio for music and conversation.

Every day, PT takes you to concerts near and far -- showcasing the creativity and vitality of today's music scene. On Friday's Performance Today, we'll hear world-class performances from recent concerts in Florida, Texas, Virginia, and New York. Plus, we'll take a trip to Switzerland for to hear a Dvorak serenade.