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

Young Artist in Residence: Cristina Cutts Dougherty

We're proud to introduce you to our next 2021 PT Young Artist in Residence: tuba player Cristina Cutts Dougherty. Cristina recently joined us from Houston, TX for conversation and music. Touch or click here for more!


Young Artist in Residence: Cristina Cutts-Dougherty

Performance Today®

Photo: Elaine Torres

Young Artist in Residence: Randall Goosby

We're proud to introduce you to a 2021 PT Young Artist in Residence: violinist Randall Goosby. Randall recently joined us from New York City for conversation and music. Check it out here!


Photo: Kaupo Kikkas

Young Artist in Residence: Lauren Anker

We're proud to introduce you to horn player Lauren Anker, the first of our 2021 Young Artists in Residence. Lauren recently joined us from Houston for conversation and music. You can hear it all here!


Courtesy of the artist

Young Artist in Residence - Geneva Lewis

Violinist Geneva Lewis is Performance Today's current Young Artist in Residence. Geneva recently joined Fred Child for conversation and music at our studio in Saint Paul, Minnesota. You can hear it all here!


PT Originals: Geneva Lewis at Hotel 340

Donald van Hasselt

Young Artist in Residence: Geneva Lewis

Young Artist in Residence - Max Opferkuch

Clarinetist Max Opferkuch is Performance Today's current Young Artist in Residence. Max recently joined Fred Child for conversation and music at our studio in Saint Paul. You can hear it all here!


PT Originals: Max Opferkuch at the Creators Space

Photo by Chris O'Brien

Young Artist in Residence: Max Opferkuch

Young Artist in Residence - Aleksandra Kasman

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

Pianist Aleksandra Kasman is Performance Today's current Young Artist in Residence. Kasman recently joined Fred Child for conversation and music at our studio in Saint Paul. You can hear it all here!


PT Originals: Aleksandra Kasman at the Museum of Russian Art

Dasha Dare

Young Artist in Residence: Aleksandra Kasman

Young Artist in Residence - Jordan Bak

Violist Jordan Bak is Performance Today's current Young Artist in Residence. Jordan recently joined Fred Child for conversation and music at our studio in Saint Paul. You can hear it all here!


PT Originals: Jordan Bak at Veit Automotive Museum

Rubina Lee

Young Artist in Residence: Jordan Bak

Young Artist in Residence - Ifetayo Ali-Landing

Cellist Ifetayo Ali-Landing is Performance Today's current Young Artist in Residence. Ifetayo recently joined Fred Child for conversation and music at our studio in Saint Paul. You can hear it all here!


PT Originals: Ifetayo Ali-Landing at Academia Cesar Chavez Charter School

Earl E Gibson III

young-artist-residence-ifetayo-ali-landing

Young Artist in Residence: Ifetayo Ali-Landing

Young Artist in Residence - Mallory McHenry

Harpist Mallory McHenry is Performance Today's current Young Artist in Residence. Mallory recently joined Fred Child for conversation and music at our studio in Saint Paul. You can hear it all here!


Mallory McHenry - PT Young Artist in Residence

PT Originals: Mallory McHenry at Children's Hospital Minnesota

Photo: Cloud Element Productions

young-artist-in-residence-mallory-mchenry

Young Artist in Residence: Mallory McHenry

Young Artists in Residence

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 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 - April 30, 2025

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.



Three men greeting each other in a recording studio

PT Young Artist David Lai plays the Piano Puzzler

Performance Today - April 29, 2025

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.



Marco Borggreve

Inon Barnatan and Summerfest La Jolla

Performance Today - April 28, 2025

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.



Composer Viet Cuong

Performance Today - April 26, 2025

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.



Evan Clark/APM

PT Weekend: Meet Victor Ni

Performance Today - April 25, 2025

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.



Augustin Hadelich and the St Louis Symphony

Performance Today - April 24, 2025

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!"



Photo: Nadja Kouchi

Julio Medaglia

PT - Young Artist in Residence – Victor Ni - Parts 1 & 2

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.


Portrait of man with a clarinet and a dark background

PT Originals: Victor Ni at Bang Brewing Company

© Zhiwei Ni

Young Artist in Residence: Victor Ni

Performance Today - April 23, 2025

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.



Victor Ni

Performance Today - April 22, 2025

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.



WikiMedia Commons

Bringing fractals to life

Performance Today - April 21, 2025

The Poiesis Quartet was founded in the fall of 2022 at Oberlin Conservatory. Its name comes from an ancient Greek word meaning “to make"—specifically, to create something that has never been made before. One of the quartet's violinists is our former Young Artist in Residence, Sarah Ma. On today's program, we'll take you to a concert in San Antonio to hear what Ma and their quartet have been up to lately.



Four musicians sitting with their instruments