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

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

Freds Favorites

Nate Ryan / APM

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

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by marimbist Jisu Jung.


APM photo/Nate Ryan

Young Artist in Residence: Jisu Jung

David Maslanka: Recitation Book Movement 5: Fanfare/Variations on Durch Adams Fall

Johann Sebastian Bach: Italian Concerto BWV 971

Corey Dundee: Shifting Gears

David Biedenbender: you've been talking in your sleep

Kenari Quartet Interview Part 3

Kenari Quartet Interview Part 1

Kenari Quartet Interview Part 2

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by the Kenari Quartet.


Courtesy of the artists

Young Artists in Residence: The Kenari Quartet

Lukas Foss: Three Early Pieces: Composer's Holiday

Robert Beaser: Variations for Flute and Piano: Movement 1

Aaron Copland: Duo for Flute and Piano

Aaron Purdue Interview Part 3

Aaron Purdue Interview Part 2

Aaron Purdue Interview Part 1

Lowell Liebermann: Sonata for Flute and Piano, Op. 23

Samuel Barber: Canzone for Flute and Piano

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by flutist Aaron Perdue and pianist Christopher McKiggan.


Young Artist in Residence: Aaron Perdue

Beethoven: Allegro and Presto from Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major, Op. 31, No. 3

Schumann: Allegro brillante from Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 14

Steven Lin Interview Part 3

Steven Lin Interview Part 2

Steven Lin Interview Part 1

David Hertzberg: notturno incantato

Listen to in-studio interview with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by pianist Steven Lin.


Young Artist in Residence: Steven Lin

Maurice Ravel: Tzigane

Cesar Franck: Allegretto moderato and Allegro from Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major

Boson Mo Interview Part 1

Boson Mo Interview Part 2

Boson Mo Interview Part 3

Lili Boulanger: Nocturne from Two Pieces for Violin and Piano

Olivier Messiaen: Praise to the Immortality of Jesus Christ from Quartet for the End of Time

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by violinist Boson Mo and pianist Andrew Staupe.


Young Artist in Residence: Boson Mo

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 - June 16, 2025

Two decades after he wrote his Negro Folk Symphony, composer William Dawson traveled to West Africa. Based on what he heard there, he revised his music to convey “...the missing elements that were lost when Africans came into bondage outside their homeland." On today's show, hear Dawson's Negro Folk Symphony played by The Orchestra Now with conductor Leon Botstein.



Performance Today®

Tuskegee University Archives

William Dawson

Performance Today - June 14, 2025

We're excited to introduce our next 2025 Young Artist in Residence: double-bassist Nina Bernat. In today's show, Nina joins Fred Child for music and conversation at our studio in Saint Paul. Plus, Bruce Adolphe has this week’s Piano Puzzler.



woman with a stand-up bass with green background

PT Weekend: Nina Bernat

Performance Today - June 13, 2025

In 2023, Clarice Assad composed a piece to honor the universe that is her own family. The first two movements depict her daughters, Antonia and Stella; the final movement celebrates her partner, whom Assad says "radiates the warmth and strength of the sun." We'll hear Clarice Assad's "Constellation" on today's show.



Clarice Assad: Constellation

Performance Today - June 12, 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 - June 11, 2025

Julia Perry was a remarkable 20th-century American composer. However, after her passing in 1979, her music was tied up in her estate, preventing anyone from granting permission for its use... until now. Tune in today to learn about the exciting new arrangement to share Julia Perry's music with the world.



Photo: Rider University Libraries’ Julia A. Perry Collection

Unlocking Julia Perry's legacy

Performance Today - June 10, 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 and Gershwin

Please join us in celebrating Fred Child’s remarkable tenure as host of ‘Performance Today’ by sharing a farewell message with him.


Fred Child onstage at Harris Concert Hall

Fred Child interviews Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hause

Share a farewell message with Fred Child  

PT - Young Artist in Residence – Nina Bernat - Parts 1 & 2

We’re proud to introduce double-bassist Nina Bernat, the next member of our 2025 cohort of PT Young Artists in Residence. Nina recently joined Fred Child in our St. Paul studio. You can listen to Nina’s music and the entire interview here.


Woman with a double-bass and blue background

PT Originals: Nina Bernat at Berlin MPLS

Young Artist in Residence: Nina Bernat

Performance Today - June  9, 2025

We're excited to introduce our next 2025 Young Artist in Residence: double-bassist Nina Bernat. In today's show, Nina joins Fred Child for music and conversation at our studio in Saint Paul.



Nina Bernat

Performance Today - June  7, 2025

COVID travel restrictions kept Gao Hong from visiting her family in China, so she reminisced about her childhood to comfort herself and channeled that nostalgia into a new piece for pipa and bassoon. Join us today to hear Gao Hong play her concerto, "Reminiscences of My Hometown," from a recent concert in St. Paul, Minnesota.

