Poster Fred Child
Fred Child
Performance Today

Performance Today®

The English Horn

The English Horn

It's not from England, and it's not a horn, but we call it the English horn. It was invented in Germany and is a close cousin of the oboe. We've got a gorgeous solo for the deceptively named English horn on this episode of Performance Today.

Bonecos de Olinda

Bonecos de Olinda

The city of Olinda, Brazil, is famous for massive papier-mâché puppets during the annual Carnival parades. Those “bonecos,” as they're called, can be 20 feet tall. Composer Clarice Assad wrote a piece inspired by Carnival and those big puppets. Join us today to hear “Bonecos de Olinda” by Clarice Assad.

Dorothy Howell

Dorothy Howell

A century before Taylor Swift, the press hounded a young woman in London named Dorothy Howell. She'd written a big orchestral piece for the biggest concert of the year and became an overnight celebrity. We’ll hear Dorothy Howell’s ‘Koong Shee Ballet’ on this episode of Performance Today.

Andrew Norman: Suspend

Andrew Norman: Suspend

In 2014, Andrew Norman composed a piece based on an exploration of two of Johannes Brahms's melodic motifs. The Los Angeles Philharmonic commissioned the work as part of a project that invited young composers to write companion pieces for some of Brahms's best-known pieces. Join us today to hear Suspend by Andrew Norman.

Witold Lutoslawski's Symphonic Variations

Witold Lutoslawski's Symphonic Variations

Polish composer Witold Lutosławski wrote a piece in 1939 when he was a student, full of hope. The score was one of the few he could save when escaping war-torn Warsaw a few years later. Join us today to hear the Symphonic Variations by Witold Lutosławski.

PT Weekend: The Sphinx Virtuosi

PT Weekend: The Sphinx Virtuosi

For more than 20 years now, the Sphinx Organization has been at the forefront of work to increase the representation of Black and Latinx artists in classical music. On today's show, we'll hear the Sphinx Virtuosi perform 'Tracking Visions' by Valerie Coleman. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week’s Piano Puzzler!

Ukrainian composer Hanna Havrylets

Ukrainian composer Hanna Havrylets

Ukrainian composer Hanna Havrylets wrote choral and chamber music until her death in 2022. Her family says her music reflects her personality: bright, loving, and full of light...and her music lives on. We'll hear music by Hanna Havrylets on this episode of PT.

Ruth Reinhardt

Ruth Reinhardt

Ruth Reinhardt is a powerhouse among up-and-coming conductors. This season, she's making her first appearance with fifteen different orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Nashville Symphony, and the Warsaw Philharmonic, to name a few. On today's show, Ruth Reinhardt leads the National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic in a performance of Samuel Coleridge Taylor's Ballade for Orchestra.

Sphinx

Sphinx

For more than 20 years now, the Sphinx Organization has been at the forefront of work to increase the representation of Black and Latinx artists in classical music. On today's show, we'll hear the Sphinx Virtuosi perform 'Tracking Visions' by Valerie Coleman.

Trio Ad Libitum

Trio Ad Libitum

All of us at PT are proud because two of our former PT Young Artists are part of a new powerhouse trio. On today's show, we'll hear a concert from Chicago with the new Trio Ad Libitum: Tim Petrin, Jordan Bak, and the equally talented Elizabeth Fayette.

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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Your Host

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.

Fred Child

Your Host

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.

Your Host

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.

Meghann Oglesby

Your Host

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

Your Host

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.

Your Host

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.

Craig Thorson

Your Host

Jeanne Barron is the technical producer of Performance Today.

Jeanne Barron
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