Poster Lauren Anker
Lauren Anker, horn player
Courtesy of the artist
Performance Today®

Young Artist in Residence: Lauren Anker

Young Artist in Residence: Lauren Anker

Lots of 13-year-old girls are obsessed over fashion, frenemies and crushes. When Lauren Anker was 13, she was falling in love with the French horn.

PT's latest Young Artist in Residence is horn player Lauren Anker. She grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia and was introduced to classical music at an early age by her mother, a cellist and strings teacher. Over the past ten years, Anker has won numerous awards and scholarships and has studied with some of the best horn players of our time. She has also performed at Chicago's Symphony Center, Carnegie Hall, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, and the Cleveland Art Museum.

Anker credits summer music festivals for particularly nurturing her love for classical music. Her past festival experience includes the National Orchestral Institute, the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, and four summers at the Aspen Music Festival and School.

Currently, Anker is pursuing a master's degree in Horn Performance under William VerMeulen at Rice University's Shepherd School of Music in Houston, Texas. In Houston, Anker also teaches private lessons and masterclasses to high school students and gives lectures and performances at community centers and retirement homes throughout the city. Since 2018, she's also been developing a private studio with VirtuAcademy, an online teaching platform.

In 2019, Anker obtained degrees in Horn Performance and History from Oberlin College and Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio. She is a member of the Kodan Quintet and serves as a substitute horn with the Houston Symphony and Akron Symphony Orchestra.

When she isn't in class or practicing her playing, Anker is either hiking, biking or perfecting her mother's chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Lauren Anker was accompanied in the studio by pianist Mei Rui.

To see Lauren Anker's Performance Today in the Classroom Lesson featuring video performances click here:

https://www.classicalmpr.org/story/2021/03/25/performance-today-in-the-classroom-lauren-anker

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

David Lai

David Lai

We're pleased to present pianist David Lai, one of our 2025 PT Young Artists in Residence. On today's show, David joins Fred Child for music and conversation at our Saint Paul studio.

1:59:00
PT Young Artist David Lai plays the Piano Puzzler

PT Young Artist David Lai plays the Piano Puzzler

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.

1:59:00
Inon Barnatan and Summerfest La Jolla

Inon Barnatan and Summerfest La Jolla

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.

1:59:00
Composer Viet Cuong

Composer Viet Cuong

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.

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Meet Victor Ni

PT Weekend: Meet Victor Ni

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.

1:59:00
Augustin Hadelich and the St Louis Symphony

Augustin Hadelich and the St Louis Symphony

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.

1:59:00
Julio Medaglia

Julio Medaglia

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!"

1:59:00
Young Artist in Residence: Victor Ni

Young Artist in Residence: Victor Ni

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.

42:34
Victor Ni

Victor Ni

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.

1:59:00
Bringing fractals to life

Bringing fractals to life

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.

1:59:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES
YourClassical Radio
0:00
0:00