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Latest

Performance Today®

with host Fred Child

Julien Labro

The accordion can do a lot more than polka. It can croon a sweet serenade, add a bit of whimsy. On this episode of Performance Today, we'll hear accordionist Julien Labro express the more personal side of the accordion in a performance with guitarist Jason Vieaux in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Episode details...

Hour One

Hour Two

Rick Sowash's musical conversations

A few years ago, American composer Rick Sowash set a poem by Elizabeth Coatsworth to music, creating a song. And then he turned that song into a musical conversation between flute and cello. On today's show, hear the Sylvan Trio perform the end result: Seasonal Breezes, by Rick Sowash. Episode details...

Hour One

Hour Two

Piano Puzzler Giveaway: 88-key Digital Piano

In honor of Performance Today's new Piano Puzzler newsletter, we're giving away an 88-key digital piano and a book of sheet music for 32 Piano Puzzlers.

Play the Piano Puzzler®

Come match wits with Bruce Adolphe - now you can play the Piano Puzzler anytime, anywhere! Every week, we're putting a sneak peek of the upcoming Puzzler online; have a listen, and then send us your best guess.

2min 44sec

Beethoven's 250th Birthday Along the Rhine

*Now Waitlisting* The year 2020 marks Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday and you are cordially invited to celebrate in the composer’s homeland with Performance Today ™ host Fred Child. Designed for lovers of nature, culture and, of course, classical music, this customized adventure of food, music, art and sheer fun will thrill you.

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!

16min 30sec

Love it! Great new albums

The new album from violinist Nicola Benedetti and the Philadelphia Orchestra offers a thrilling new concerto by composer and jazz legend Wynton Marsalis. We loved every minute, especially the moments that had us saying, "Wow! I didn't know a violin could do that!"

The soccer super fan who was also a famous composer

Writing music can be a tough job, especially when your opinions run counter to the government, you are under constant surveillance and threat of punishment. Composer Dmitri Shostakovich found one thing, across the span of decades, that took him away from that stress and brought him enjoyment: soccer. Musicologist Dmitri Braginsky has written a new book about Shostakovich's obsession with "the beautiful game."

17min 50sec

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!

12min 49sec

Joshua Bell: Dance of the Violin

Listen to violinist Joshua Bell, his mother Shirley and his son Josef read the children's book "Dance of the Violin." The book is inspired by a music competition that Bell participated in as a kid which started as a disaster, but ended as the best day ever.

6min 20sec

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!

22min 30sec