PORTLAND, ORE. — One of the nation’s most listened-to Classical radio services will gain a new President/CEO on January 2, 2026, and it will see a well known figure in contemporary classical music who hosts the syndicated “Performance Today” relocate to the Rose City from New York.
Taking the post at All Classical Radio, based at KQAC-FM in Portland, Ore., is Fred Child. He will succeed Suzanne Nance, who announced her departure earlier this year after 10 years with what had been All Classical Portland. Since July, Greg Arntson has served as ACR’s interim Chief Executive Officer.
Child is well known to Classical radio listeners, thanks to his 25 years at the mic for “Performance Today,” heard on hundreds of public radio stations nationwide.
“Fred has been a leader in connecting music-makers with music-lovers, and advancing access to the arts with a passion and approach that is absolutely infectious,” said All Classical Radio Board Chair Elaine Durst. “He brings an ambitious strategic vision for our arts network, guided by a deep understanding of and appreciation for public media. We are proud to welcome him to All Classical Radio.”
Child is a Portland native, and considers it an honor to join All Classical Radio. “All Classical Radio delivers essential culture as a free global resource, and does so with a team of uniquely talented personalities,” he said. “Their creativity inspires me to envision what we can do together through our shared experience of great music, outstanding performances, and engaging storytelling.”
In addition to hosting Performance Today, Child served as the Emmy-winning announcer for PBS’s Live From Lincoln Center, as well as the host of NPR’s Creators @ Carnegie. Before joining American Public Media, Child was Music Director and Director of Cultural Programming at WNYC Radio in New York, host of a live daily performance and interview program on WNYC. Before that, Child spent 10 years as a host at Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB).
All Classical Radio can be heard on six FM stations in addition to KQAC, giving it coverage of coastal communities and areas of Oregon as far south as Corvallis.
