Fred Child

Fred Child
Born	(1963-03-30)March 30, 1963 Huntsville,Alabama
Origin	Portland,Oregon
Occupation(s)	Radio host,musician
Instrument(s)	Piano, guitar,marimba,bagpipes

Fred Child(born March 30, 1963) is an American radio host. Since 2000, he has been the host of theclassical musicradio programPerformance TodayonAmerican Public Media.He is also the announcer and commentator for thePBSprogramLive from Lincoln Center.

Early life and education

Child was born inHuntsville,Alabama. He moved toPortland,Oregon, while still a young child, and began studying classical piano. He attendedOregon State University,where he was first exposed to radio work while hosting ajazzprogram on the student-run campus radio station.

Career

After graduation from university, Child was host, announcer, producer, and programmer forOregon Public Broadcastingfor ten years, including five years (1990–94) on his two-hour weekend program ofWorld MusiccalledMusic Confluence.Child then moved to New York City and worked atWNYC,where he became music director, director of cultural programming, and also host of the programAround New York.He worked at WNYC until 2000, when he was chosen to replaceMartin Goldsmithas host ofPerformance Today,when Goldsmith stepped down to pursue writing.

In addition toPerformance Today,Child is the host ofNPR'sCreators @ Carnegie;a contributor to NPR'sAll Things Considered;and a host for live broadcasts of important concert events from New York City, Los Angeles, and London. He also appears on-stage doing pre-concert talks for theBaltimore Symphony Orchestra,New York'sLincoln Center,theAspen Music Festival,and the Washington Performing Arts Society.

Child is also a keen musician, playing the piano, guitar,marimba,andbagpipes.His group, Balafón Marimba Ensemble, once opened for theGrateful DeadatOakland Coliseum.

Personal life

In 2016, Child married Chinese-American composerWang Jie.

Discography

• Balafón Marimba Ensemble,Shanachie Records67002 (1990) (as guest artist)

References

• Phillips, Lisa."At Home on the Air: Fred Child." InPublic Radio: Behind the Voices.Vanguard Press, 2006. pp. 295–300.

External links

• Biography at thePerformance Todaywebsite
• ProfileatWXQR