Performance Today
Encyclopedia
Performance Today is a Peabody Award
-winning classical music radio show, currently hosted by Fred Child
. It is the most listened-to daily classical music radio program in the United States, with 1.2 million listeners on 237 stations. Performance Today builds its two-hour daily broadcast (some stations broadcast only one hour) on recent live concert
performances from around the world.
In addition to live concert performance excerpts, Performance Today also includes classical music information, news, and interviews. The show also airs in-studio recitals, and the weekly "Piano Puzzler," featuring composer Bruce Adolphe
. Performance Today also periodically presents a segment called What Makes It Great? with composer and conductor Robert Kapilow
.
. Martin Goldsmith then hosted for nearly ten years; he left in October 1999. During Goldsmith's tenure as host the show grew from 40 stations to 230, with weekly listeners reaching 1.5 million.The show won the Peabody Award
in 1998.
Fred Child
has been the program's host since October 2000. In 2007, the show was awarded the Karl Haas Prize for Music Education by Fine Arts Radio International.
NPR produced and distributed the program from Washington, D.C., for 20 years. In January 2007 American Public Media
took over as the program's producer and distributor and moved the production to Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
-winning classical music radio show, currently hosted by Fred Child
Fred Child
Fred Child is an American radio host. He is the host of the classical music radio program Performance Today on American Public Media. He is also the announcer and commentator for the PBS program Live from Lincoln Center.-Life:...
. It is the most listened-to daily classical music radio program in the United States, with 1.2 million listeners on 237 stations. Performance Today builds its two-hour daily broadcast (some stations broadcast only one hour) on recent live concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
performances from around the world.
In addition to live concert performance excerpts, Performance Today also includes classical music information, news, and interviews. The show also airs in-studio recitals, and the weekly "Piano Puzzler," featuring composer Bruce Adolphe
Bruce Adolphe
Bruce Adolphe is a U.S. composer and music scholar, the author of several books on music, and pianist. His current positions include Resident Lecturer and Director of Family Concerts of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and founder and creative director of The Learning Maestros,...
. Performance Today also periodically presents a segment called What Makes It Great? with composer and conductor Robert Kapilow
Robert Kapilow
Robert Kapilow is an American composer, conductor, and music commentator. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Yale University, a graduate of the Eastman School of Music, and a student of Nadia Boulanger...
.
History
Performance Today was created by National Public Radio (NPR), and went on the air in 1987. For most of its first two years, under hosts Kathryn Loomans and Liane Hansen, it combined classical music with numerous and wide-ranging arts features. In 1989, the focus shifted exclusively to classical musicClassical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
. Martin Goldsmith then hosted for nearly ten years; he left in October 1999. During Goldsmith's tenure as host the show grew from 40 stations to 230, with weekly listeners reaching 1.5 million.The show won the Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
in 1998.
Fred Child
Fred Child
Fred Child is an American radio host. He is the host of the classical music radio program Performance Today on American Public Media. He is also the announcer and commentator for the PBS program Live from Lincoln Center.-Life:...
has been the program's host since October 2000. In 2007, the show was awarded the Karl Haas Prize for Music Education by Fine Arts Radio International.
NPR produced and distributed the program from Washington, D.C., for 20 years. In January 2007 American Public Media
American Public Media
American Public Media is the second largest producer of public radio programs in the United States of America after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and operates radio stations in Minnesota, California, and Florida. Its station brands are Minnesota Public Radio,...
took over as the program's producer and distributor and moved the production to Saint Paul, Minnesota.