Performance Today®

Members of the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra perform John Stevens’ ‘Seasons II. Summer’ in Grand Teton National Park.

Members of the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra perform John Stevens’ ‘Seasons III. Autumn’ in Grand Teton National Park.

Early one day, Antonin Dvorak was walking alongside a river. In the golden light of morning, he became transfixed by the song of a red bird with black wings; he hurried home to include its song in his new quartet. On Wednesday's Performance Today, we'll hear that very piece: Dvorak's American Quartet.

On Tuesday's Performance Today, 19-year-old violinist Simone Porter joins us to perform a piece which she describes as a journey through the five stages of grief: Ernest Bloch's Nigun.

Carl Nielsen was enjoying a beer when he saw a funny picture about four types of human character. Eventually, that silly painting became the inspiration behind his Symphony No. 2. On Monday's Performance Today, we'll hear Nielsen's pub-inspired symphony from a recent concert in Estonia.

On this weekend's Performance Today, we'll continue our centennial celebration in honor of the U.S. National Park System. We'll be joined by Bill Ryan, director of the GVSU New Music Ensemble, who will tell us why his group has dedicated the past two years to music inspired by our National Parks. Plus, we'll hear music from the natural world.

On Friday's Performance Today, we'll continue our centennial celebration in honor of the U.S. National Park System. We'll be joined by Bill Ryan, director of the GVSU New Music Ensemble, who will tell us why his group has dedicated the past two years to music inspired by our National Parks. Plus, we'll hear music from the natural world.

The GVSU New Music Ensemble played works they commissioned to play in U.S. National Parks across the country.

Composer Keith Kenniff has a knack for writing music that inspires.