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

In studio with Blake Pouliot Part 1

In studio with Blake Pouliot Part 2

In studio with Blake Pouliot Part 3

Join host Fred Child for in-studio interviews with violinist Blake Pouliot, as well as exclusive musical performances.


Violinist Blake Pouliot with Hsin-I Huang on piano

Blake Pouliot performs Estrellita

Freds Favorites

Nate Ryan

Young Artist in Residence: Blake Pouliot

In studio with Vera Quartet Part 1

In studio with Vera Quartet Part 2

In studio with Vera Quartet Part 3

Join host Fred Child for in-studio interviews with the Vera Quartet, as well as exclusive musical performances.


Vera Quartet: Young Artists in Residence

Young Artists in Residence

Young Artists in Residence: Vera Quartet

In Studio with Tim Petrin Part 1

In Studio with Tim Petrin Part 2

In Studio with Tim Petrin Part 3

Join host Fred Child for in-studio interviews with cellist/painter Timotheos Petrin, as well as exclusive musical performances.


Cellist Timotheos Petrin plays Faure on Performance Today

Tim Petrin/Astral Artists

Young Artist in Residence: Timotheos Petrin

In studio with Ray Ushikubo Part 1

In studio with Ray Ushikubo Part 2

In studio with Ray Ushikubo Part 3

Listen to in-studio interviews with pianist and violinist Ray Ushikubo and host Fred Child as well as exclusive musical performances.


AU Photography

Young Artist in Residence: Ray Ushikubo

In studio with Alex Beyer Part 1

In studio with Alex Beyer Part 2

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by pianist Alex Beyer.


Linda Kane Brinckerhoff

Young Artist in Residence: Alex Beyer

Phoenix Avalon Interview Part 1

Phoenix Avalon Interview Part 2

Phoenix Avalon Interview Part 3

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by violinist Phoenix Avalon and pianist Hsin-I Huang.


Will Keeler

Young Artist in Residence: Phoenix Avalon

Emma Resmini Interview Part 1

Emma Resmini Interview Part 2

Emma Resmini Interview Part 3

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by flutist Emma Resmini and pianist Hugh Sung.


Nate Ryan / APM

Young Artist in Residence: Emma Resmini

Jenny Chen Interview Part I

Jenny Chen Interview Part 2

Jenny Chen Interview Part 3

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by pianist Jenny Chen.


Young Artist in Residence: Jenny Chen

Jack Swanson Interview Part 1

Jack Swanson Interview Part 2

Jack Swanson Interview Part 3

Listen to in-studio interviews with host Fred Child and exclusive musical performances by tenor Jack Swanson and pianist Roderick Phipps-Kettlewell.


APM photo/Nate Ryan

Young Artist in Residence: Jack Swanson

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 - July  4, 2025

When conductor Marin Alsop was a kid, she begged her parents to decorate her bedroom. She says, "I talked them into buying me two posters: one of the Beatles and one of Leonard Bernstein." Join us today to hear some of Marin Alsop's memories of Bernstein and more as we celebrate Independence Day with all-American music.



Performance Today®

Photo: Adriane White

Marin Alsop on an American icon

Performance Today - July  3, 2025

Earlier this year, we announced that Jessie Montgomery is our 2025 PT Classical Woman of the Year. Montgomery is a celebrated composer, violinist, and educator known for compositions that blend classical, folk, jazz, and contemporary influences. Among her numerous accomplishments, she founded the Young Composers Initiative, where she mentors high school composers, assisting them in preparing their music for performance by members of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Tune in today to learn more about Jessie Montgomery and why her work is so influential.



A medium shot of a woman with curly dark hair, wearing a green button-down shirt and dark jeans.

Photograph: Jiyang Chen

Jessie Montgomery

Performance Today - July  2, 2025

Jazz guitarist Charlie Christian was at his peak in the late 1930s and early 40s. To this day, guitarists are inspired by his recordings, and composer Igor Stravinsky said Charlie Christian helped inspire one of his pieces. We'll hear that piece, Stravinsky's Ebony Concerto, on today's show.



black and white photograph of a guitarist in a recording studio. 

The Record Changer magazine (Wikimedia)

Stravinsky's Ebony Concerto

Performance Today - July  1, 2025

Last year, a total solar eclipse was visible in parts of our country. The shared experience of an eclipse—an extraordinary moment of wonder and awe—inspired composer and pianist Clarice Assad to create a new piece for piano and orchestra. Join us today for a musical exploration of light and darkness: "Total Eclipse" by Clarice Assad.



woman with graying hair and white background

Clarice Assad: Total Eclipse

Performance Today - June 30, 2025

In 2016, Craig Hella Johnson wrote an oratorio about Matthew Shepard, a young gay man from Wyoming who was murdered in a hate crime in 1998. The oratorio urges all of us to find our shared humanity—the threads that connect us—to see if love can be found even in the darkest moments. Tune in today for "Considering Matthew Shepard" by Craig Hella Johnson.



Matthew Shepard Foundation

Considering Matthew Shepard

Performance Today - June 28, 2025

In 1944, during the height of World War II, Sergei Prokofiev composed a piece intended “…to sing the praises of the free and happy man.” It’s an optimistic work created during a time of darkness. On today's show, we'll hear the opening movement of Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 5 performed by the National Orchestral Institute (NOI) Philharmonic and conductor Joseph Young at a concert in College Park, Maryland.



Bain Collection, Library of Congress

PT Weekend: Optimism in dark times

Performance Today - June 27, 2025

It was arguably the biggest classical music event of 2025: a gala concert in Paris celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Opera Garnier venue. We'll take you there to hear the Vienna Philharmonic and pianist Yuja Wang perform the opening movement of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1.



Ian Douglas

Yuja Wang and the Vienna Philharmonic in Paris

Performance Today - June 26, 2025

The Syrian Civil War has devastated more than lives, homes, and communities. With all that has been lost, Syrian-American composer Malek Jandali feels an imperative to preserve and share traditional Syrian music. On today's show, we'll hear a piece full of traditional Syrian styles and themes: the Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra by Malek Jandali.



A black and white photo of a man playing piano.

Courtesy of the artist

Malek Jandali

Performance Today - June 25, 2025

Prokofiev's optimism in a dark time

Performance Today - June 24, 2025

Nikolai Kapustin’s compositions are filled with joyful syncopations. Some listeners have referred to him as a jazz pianist; however, Kapustin stressed that he was a classically trained composer who simply loved jazz. Today’s show will feature Kapustin’s music at the intersection of classical and jazz.



black and white photo of man with glasses