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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

On Thursday's Performance Today, we'll hear two great pianists in concert. First, Leon Fleisher plays music for five fingers -- a piece called "L.H." by Leon Kirchner. Then, Marc-Andre Hamelin plays a piece for ten fingers -- Franz Schubert's Impromptu No. 3.


Performance Today®

Chris Hartlove

Two great pianists

Every week on our Piano Puzzler, composer Bruce Adolphe re-writes a familiar tune in the style of a classical composer. Play along on Wednesday's Performance Today to see if you can guess the tune and the composer whose style Bruce is mimicking.


Andrew Malone/Flickr

A musical puzzle

Tuesday's Performance Today is chock full of musical guests! First, harpist Yolanda Kondonassis and guitarist Jason Vieaux join Fred for music and conversation. Then, proud music nerd and blogger, Emily Hogstad, joins Fred for music trivia and more.


MinnPost photo by Jim Walsh

Musical guests

In studio with Yolanda Kondonassis and Jason Vieaux

Harpist Yolanda Kondonassis and guitarist Jason Vieaux came to the PT studios to perform the very best music they discovered for their unlikely duet.


Performance Today Features

Laura Watilo Blake

Are you a proud music nerd? Take our quiz to test your knowledge of musical trivia!


jayneandd/Flickr

Are you a music nerd?

Tchaikovsky thought his Symphony No. 6 was his greatest achievement. According to conductor Leonard Slatkin, the music is so powerful that it somehow keeps going, even after the sound has ended. On Monday's Performance Today, Slatkin joins Fred to introduce the DSO's concert performance of the last of Tchaikovsky's numbered symphonies.


Wikimedia Commons

Tchaikovsky's greatest achievement

On this weekend's Performance Today, we'll hit the road and head to the next stop on PT's Summer Road Trip: Charleston, West Virginia. We'll hear a piece called "Vandalia,"; after an old name for what is now West Virginia. Composer Matthew Jackfert will join us for the journey. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week's Piano Puzzler.


Josh Saul

Vandalia

All this summer, we're featuring great music inspired by distinctive American places. The next stop on PT's Summer Road Trip is West Virginia. On Friday's Performance Today, we'll hear a piece called "Vandalia," after an old name for what is now West Virginia. Composer Matthew Jackfert will join us for the journey.


Boston Public Library Flickr

Charleston, West Virginia

Leonard Slatkin says that at a certain point in Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, there's not much for a conductor to do. On Thursday's Performance Today, Slatkin will be our guide to that piece, even if he didn't have to guide the Detroit Symphony.
