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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

When orchestras work without a conductor, they read each other with eye contact and body language—they know and trust each other. On today's show, we'll take you to a concert in Houston to hear members of the ensemble ROCO play Dvorak's String Serenade...without a conductor. 


Performance Today®

www.roco.org, photograph by Jeff Grass

Reading the room

Cellist and former PT Young Artist in Residence Julia Yang took some time between Festival performances and rehearsals to give an exclusive performance of the Allemande from the Cello Suite No. 1 by J.S. Bach at Tippet Rise Art Center in Fishtail, Montana. 



Cellist Julia Yang - PT Young Artist in Residence

Festival

Nate Ryan/APM

PT Originals: Julia Yang at Tippet Rise

Sometimes the original is great, but the reboot is even better. Maurice Ravel wrote a stunning piece for solo piano, but it went from black and white to technicolor in his later version for full orchestra. We'll hear Ravel's Alborada del gracioso on this episode of Performance Today.



WikiMedia CC, Bibliothèque nationale de France

Ravel's reboot

Pianist Marc-André Hamelin loves music by French composer Gabriel Faure. Hamelin says "[Faure's music] …is subtle, sophisticated, but also very sensuous." On today's show, we'll hear Hamelin play music by Gabriel Faure and French composer/educator Nadia Boulanger.


Photo: Sim Cannety-Clarke

PT Weekend: Marc-André Hamelin

Fred Child talks with conductor and violinist Scott Yoo in San Luis Obispo, California about what makes Festival Mozaic special. Yoo has served as Music Director of Festival Mozaic since 2005. 


Provided

Scott Yoo at Festival Mozaic 2023

Fred reflects on Performance Today’s visit to Festival Mozaic on the Central Coast of California. 


Reflections on Festival Mozaic 2023

When Pablo Ziegler was growing up in Argentina in the 1960s, he hated tango. But, to his surprise, he wound up playing in one of the most innovative tango bands of the 20th century—he's been a creative force, blending tango and classical and jazz ever since. We'll hear Muchacha de Boedo by Pablo Ziegler on today's show.



Shigeto Imura

Ziegler's tango

Fred Child catches up with former PT Young Artist in Residence cellist Sterling Elliott at Festival Mozaic 2023. 


Sterling Elliott at Festival Mozaic

French composer Louise Farrenc grew up in Paris in the early 1800s. She had a great career as a pianist and composer, and she was hired as a professor...but at half the pay as men doing the same work. Louise Farrenc fought for equal pay, and she GOT it. Join us to learn more about Louise Farrenc and hear her Sextet for winds and piano.

