Performance Today®

with host Valerie Kahler

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.

All Episodes

Meet Najee Greenlee

Meet 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.

PT Weekend: Tessa Lark

PT Weekend: Tessa Lark

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!

Leonidas Kavakos and the 'Willemotte' Stradivarius

Leonidas Kavakos and the 'Willemotte' Stradivarius

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.

Wayne Shorter's 'Terra Incognita'

Wayne Shorter's 'Terra Incognita'

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.

NACAP 2023 Young Composers

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

Michael Begay at the Grand Canyon Music Festival 2023

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.

What's special about the Grand Canyon Music Festival?

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.

Two sides of Tessa Lark

Two sides of Tessa Lark

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!

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