Poster Martin Luther King, Jr
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his 'I Have a Dream' speech.
Rowland Scherman/National Archives
Performance Today®

MLK

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s impact is more important than ever. Join us for a special edition of ‘Performance Today’ honoring King through music. We'll celebrate his legacy with a piece dedicated to Dr. King in 1963: Montgomery Variations by Margaret Bonds. Join us for music honoring Dr. Martin Luther King on today’s show.

Episode Playlist

Hour 1

Jason Moran: Selma (excerpts)
Jason Moran, piano
Album: Selma (Music from the Motion Picture)
Paramount Pictures/Pathe Productions Ltd.

Quinn Mason: Reflection on a Memorial
Serafim Smigelskiy, cello | Alex Fortes, violin | Will Frampton, viola | Experiential Orchestra | James Blachly, conductor
Renewal: An Evening with Louise Toppin, DiMenna Center, New York City, NY

Moses Hogan: My Soul's Been Anchored
Morehouse College Glee Club | David Morrow, conductor
Album: Bound for the Promised Land
Albany Records

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor arr. Maud Powell: Deep River, Op. 56, No. 10
Samuel Nebyu, violin | Charles Abramovic, piano
EBU, Lucerne Festival, St Luke's Church, Lucerne, Switzerland

Thomas A. Dorsey, arr. Adrian Dunn: Precious Lord
The Adrian Dunn Singers | Adrian Dunn, conductor
Album: Revelations
Hopera World

Traditional, arr. Terence Blanchard: A City Called Heaven
Jubilant Sykes, baritone | Terence Blanchard, piano
Album: Jubilant Sykes
Sony Classical

Joseph Bologne Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Symphony No. 1 in G Major, Op. 11
Colour of Music Festival Virtuosi | Jean Montes, conductor
Colour of Music Festival, The Riviera Theater, Charleston, SC

Hour 2

Undine Smith Moore: Scenes from the Life of a Martyr: Martin's Song
Demetrious Sampson, Jr., tenor | EXIGENCE | Diane Retallack, conductor
Album: Black is Beautiful
Navona 6599

Margaret Bonds: Montgomery Variations, Mvts. 3 & 7
Royal Scottish National Orchestra | Kellen Grey, conductor
Album: African American Voices II
Linn 731

Florence Price: Beyond the Years
Karen Slack, soprano | Michelle Cann, piano
Album: Florence Price: Beyond the Years
Azica 71370

Joel Thompson: My Dungeon Shook: Three American Preludes, Mvts. 2-3
Michelle Cann, piano
Spivey Hall, Clayton State University, Morrow, GA

Joel Thompson: My People
Lawrence Brownlee, tenor | Kevin J. Miller, piano
Album: Rising
Warner 57842

Jessie Montgomery: Soul Force
New York Youth Symphony | Michael Repper, conductor
Album: Works By Florence Price, Valerie Coleman and Jessie Montgomery
Avie 2503

Jessie Montgomery: Coincident Dances
Chicago Sinfonietta | Mei-Ann Chen, conductor
Album: Project W: Works by Diverse Women Composers
Cedille 90000185

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

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Latest Performance Today® Episodes

David Lai

David Lai

We're pleased to present pianist David Lai, one of our 2025 PT Young Artists in Residence. On today's show, David joins Fred Child for music and conversation at our Saint Paul studio.

1:59:00
PT Young Artist David Lai plays the Piano Puzzler

PT Young Artist David Lai plays the Piano Puzzler

PT Young Artist David Lai is a devoted fan of our weekly game, the Piano Puzzler. He submits his guesses every week and has even written Piano Puzzler-style pieces of his own. On today’s program, pianist David Lai joins Bruce Adolphe (in person!) at our St. Paul studio to see if he can guess this week's Piano Puzzler.

1:59:00
Inon Barnatan and Summerfest La Jolla

Inon Barnatan and Summerfest La Jolla

Pianist Inon Barnatan keeps busy as a musician, playing on the most prestigious stages around the world. He's also the Music Director of Summerfest La Jolla in California. On today's show, we'll hear a stunning performance at a stunning location—Inon Barnatan and violinist Augustin Hadelich play a piece by Camille Saint-Saens at Summerfest La Jolla.

1:59:00
Composer Viet Cuong

Composer Viet Cuong

In 2022, composer Viet Cuong found himself at his father's bedside in the ICU. He played some of his compositions—music he knew his father loved—and hoped that the sound, or "sine waves," would reach his father's consciousness. Cuong realized that his love for his father and his passion for music were inseparable. Join us for a concert at the University of Georgia to hear “Vital Sines” by Viet Cuong.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Meet Victor Ni

PT Weekend: Meet Victor Ni

We're pleased to introduce you to clarinetist Victor Ni, our next 2025 PT Young Artists in Residence. On today's program, Victor joins Fred Child for music and conversation in our Saint Paul studio. Plus, Bruce Adolphe joins us for this week’s Piano Puzzler.

1:59:00
Augustin Hadelich and the St Louis Symphony

Augustin Hadelich and the St Louis Symphony

Once troubled by pre-concert jitters so intense that he needed a push to get on stage, violinist Augustin Hadelich has discovered a new sense of calm. Breathing exercises have transformed his performance experience, making the stage feel like home. On today's program, Agustin Hadelich and the St. Louis Symphony play music by Samuel Barber.

1:59:00
Julio Medaglia

Julio Medaglia

Composer Julio Medaglia was born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1938. He studied conducting in Germany for ten years before returning to Brazil to conduct and compose. For 30 years, he hosted a daily radio show in São Paulo that sounded similar to PT, combining concert highlights and contemporary music. On today's show, we'll hear the Imani Winds play Julio Medaglia's 'Belle Epoque en Sud-America,’ including a really fun movement named "Crazy Baby Clarinette!"

1:59:00
Young Artist in Residence: Victor Ni

Young Artist in Residence: Victor Ni

Clarinetist Victor Ni is the next of our 2025 cohort of PT Young Artists in Residence. Victor recently joined Fred Child in our St. Paul studio. You can hear Victor’s music and the entire interview here.

42:34
Victor Ni

Victor Ni

We're pleased to introduce you to clarinetist Victor Ni, our next 2025 PT Young Artists in Residence. On today's program, Victor joins Fred Child for music and conversation in our Saint Paul studio.

1:59:00
Bringing fractals to life

Bringing fractals to life

Composer Jessie Montgomery found inspiration in nature's infinitely repeating patterns: fractals. Her fascination with these natural wonders led her to write a captivating new piece that brings fractals to life through sound. On today's show, we'll hear "Rounds" by Jessie Montgomery, a musical exploration of nature's boundless beauty.

1:59:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES

About Performance Today®

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

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.

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.

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