The Performance Today Young Artist in Residence program shines the spotlight on young soloists from American conservatories. Each year, PT works with the nations top music programs to to identify talented young artists who have demonstrated strong potential for careers in music. Previous young artists have represented a variety of music schools and students, including pianists Jeremy Denk, and Rodolfo Leone, harpist Mallory McHenry, violinist Randall Goosby and cellist Ifetayo Ali-Landing.

Young Artists

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2019-2020 Performance Today Young Artists in Residence

Meghann Oglesby

In studio with Ray Ushikubo Part 1

In studio with Ray Ushikubo Part 2

In studio with Ray Ushikubo Part 3

Listen to in-studio interviews with pianist and violinist Ray Ushikubo and host Fred Child as well as exclusive musical performances.


Freds Favorites

AU Photography

Young Artist in Residence: Ray Ushikubo

In studio with Alex Beyer Part 1

In studio with Alex Beyer Part 2

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by pianist Alex Beyer.


Linda Kane Brinckerhoff

Young Artist in Residence: Alex Beyer

Phoenix Avalon Interview Part 1

Phoenix Avalon Interview Part 2

Phoenix Avalon Interview Part 3

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by violinist Phoenix Avalon and pianist Hsin-I Huang.


Will Keeler

Young Artist in Residence: Phoenix Avalon

Emma Resmini Interview Part 1

Emma Resmini Interview Part 2

Emma Resmini Interview Part 3

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by flutist Emma Resmini and pianist Hugh Sung.


Nate Ryan / APM

Young Artist in Residence: Emma Resmini

Jenny Chen Interview Part I

Jenny Chen Interview Part 2

Jenny Chen Interview Part 3

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by pianist Jenny Chen.


Young Artist in Residence: Jenny Chen

Jack Swanson Interview Part 1

Jack Swanson Interview Part 2

Jack Swanson Interview Part 3

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by tenor Jack Swanson and pianist Roderick Phipps-Kettlewell.


APM photo/Nate Ryan

Young Artist in Residence: Jack Swanson

Alexi Kenney Interview Part 1

Alexi Kenney Interview Part 2

Alexi Kenney Interview Part 3

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by violinist Alexi Kenney and pianist Renana Gutman.


Violinist Alexi Kenney

Young Artist in Residence: Alexi Kenney

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by violinist Yoojin Jang.


Young Artists in Residence

Courtesy of the artist

Young Artist in Residence: Yoojin Jang

This week on PT, tubist Coco Wieprecht joins Fred in the studio as our first-ever Young Artist in Residence born in the 21st Century. Wieprecht will discuss her budding musical career, and we'll hear her play a solo piece by Philadelphia-born composer, Vincent Persichetti.


APM/Performance Today

Youngest Artist in Residence: Coco Wieprecht

To find a station near you on our Stations Listings page, 

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

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

Performance Today - March 12, 2025

Erin Keefe is the concertmaster and the first violinist of the Minnesota Orchestra. She's fantastic in smaller ensemble settings as well. Today, we'll take you to La Jolla's Summerfest to hear Erin Keefe, Jay Campbell, and Joyce Yang play Fanny Mendelssohn's Piano Trio.



Performance Today®

Provided

Erin Keefe at La Jolla's Summerfest

Performance Today - March 11, 2025

Maria Duenas is a 22-year-old violinist and composer. She grew up in Spain and went to school in Germany and Austria. Although she's still a student, she already has a couple of major label albums, and she gave her Carnegie Hall debut in October to rave reviews. Duenas plays Jean Sibelius's Violin Concerto in D minor on today's show, with Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducting the Philharmonia symphony orchestra.



Photo: David Ruano

A rising star: María Dueñas

Performance Today - March 10, 2025

In 2007, Composer Errollyn Wallen wrote a piece to mark the anniversary of the Abolition of the British Slave Trade. She says, ‘It is human instinct to be free, just as it is for the river to rush headlong to the sea.’ We'll dive into Errollyn Wallen’s Mighty River on today's show.



portrait of a composer with brown skin and red shirt

Photograph: Azzurra Primavera

Errollyn Wallen: Mighty River

Performance Today - March  8, 2025

Dora Pejačević was a trailblazer. She became the first Croatian composer to write a concerto in 1913. Then, while serving as a nurse in World War One, she wrote what is considered to be the first modern symphony in Croatian music. On today's show, we'll hear Pejačević's Piano Quartet in D minor from a concert presented by the Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival.



via Wikimedia Commons

PT Weekend: A Croatian trailblazer

Performance Today - March  7, 2025

In 1928, Maurice Ravel spent some time hanging out with George Gershwin in Harlem jazz clubs. The sounds Ravel heard in Harlem made their way into some of his subsequent compositions. On today’s show, pianist Inon Barnatan joins the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra to play Ravel's jazz-influenced Piano Concerto in G Major.



Ravel (piano), Gershwin (right), New York City, 1928

Wide World Photos 1928, via Wikimedia Commons

Ravel hangs out with Gershwin

Performance Today - March  6, 2025

Celina Anna Kintscher grew up in Germany, attended high school in South Africa, and is now studying composition at UCLA. This mix of cultures informs her work. Today, we'll hear a piece Kintscher wrote last year during ECI, the Emerging Composers Intensive in Carmel Valley, California.



Courtesy of artist

ECI - Emerging Composers Intensive

Performance Today - March  5, 2025

Dora Pejačević

Performance Today - March  4, 2025

In 2008, composer Peteris Vasks wrote a new piece, a fantasy for violin and strings. In the program notes, he wrote: "It is about the greatest power in the whole world—love. Love is, was, and will be as long as we will be... I hope this work will reach the listeners and make the world a little brighter and more open to love." We'll hear Vox Amoris (Voice of Love) by Peteris Vasks on today's show.



Jānis Porietis

Peteris Vasks

Performance Today - March  3, 2025

Pianist Mitsuko Uchida says in Beethoven's music you can hear that life is life, and sometimes, you have to cry. Yet, she hears such optimism amid the tragedy. Mitsuko Uchida plays Beethoven on today’s show.



A female pianist in dark clothing with windows in background

Mitsuko Uchida on Beethoven

Performance Today - March  1, 2025

Conductor Elim Chan works with orchestras worldwide. She stays fit by boxing; she appreciates situations where she might get a black eye if she loses concentration. On today’s show, conductor and boxer Elim Chan leads the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra at a concert in Berlin.

