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From the Top: Classical Music Podcast NPR's From the Top showcases the music, stories, and unique humor of America's best young classical musicians.
From the Top

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From the Top

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NPR's From the Top showcases the music, stories, and unique humor of America's best young classical musicians.

Most Recent Episodes

Music and Nature

Today's program offers incredible performances and a window into the lives of young musicians who are intertwining their artistry with their passion for nature, science, and the environment. We meet a teen who has turned scientific data and graphs into music, a composer who is inspired by conservation land in his home state of Maine, and a violinist who worked with elementary school children to turn ideas and artwork into a real garden. Musicians, educators, eco-artists and sisters Josie and Sophie Davis join as co-hosts.

Music and Nature

Listen · 48:05
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Earth Day Special: Trees and Swans

We're paying homage to our beautiful planet and the works of art it inspires! A teen harpist from rural California performs Gary Schocker's Memory of Trees, a contemplation on the effects of climate change. Finally, a 17-year-old cellist plays The Swan and speaks of her work in environmental advocacy.

Earth Day Special: Trees and Swans

Listen · 22:15
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Earth Day Special: Clouds and Beetles

We're celebrating Earth Day with performances that celebrate our natural world. Up first, a young oboist performs a piece inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings of jimson weed and speaks about volunteering in a community garden. We also meet a teen pianist who performs Tan Dun's colorful homage to the Chinese countryside and a composer who connects with nature through the study of insects and shares a work inspired by the Salt Creek Tiger Beetle.

Earth Day Special: Clouds and Beetles

Listen · 38:17
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Young Composer's Journey

A 17-year-old double-bassist plays an excerpt from a lyrical sonata. We meet a teen composer who writes music based on her life experiences, including her journey with cancer. We hear her work performed by the Seattle Symphony that was inspired by a backpacking trip.

Young Composer's Journey

Listen · 26:52
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Pacific Northwest Talent with Guest Artist Nathan Chan

We reconnect with Seattle Symphony's Assistant Principal Cellist and From the Top alum Nathan Chan who joins Peter and our teen cellist for a Shostakovich polka. We also meet an accomplished young violinist who demonstrates some difficult bowing and a teen guitarist from Portland plays a rare duo with Peter.

Pacific Northwest Talent with Guest Artist Nathan Chan

Listen · 49:44
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Dvořák, Sax, and Cooking

A 10-year-old cellist who has only been studying cello for three years performs Dvořák and a 15-year-old saxophonist performs the work of composer Steven Banks, who was also on From the Top as a teen. Finally, a foodie and pianist reflects on the similarities between cooking and music.

Dvořák, Sax, and Cooking

Listen · 32:05
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Chopin, Piano Duo, and Greg Anderson

A teen pianist performs a beautiful Chopin Scherzo and then improvs in his other love, jazz, with Peter. A 17-year-old composer shares his violin fantasy. Finally, we meet a piano duo from Oregon who are surprised by a major influence in their musical lives, From the Top alum Greg Anderson, who is one half of the lauded Anderson and Roe duo.

Chopin, Piano Duo, and Greg Anderson

Listen · 38:02
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Celebrating Musicians with Disabilities

18-year-old violinist and From the Top alum Julia LaGrand co-hosts this special episode dedicated to celebrating the stories and performances of disabled and neurodivergent musicians. Julia, who is blind, also interviews special guest Itzhak Perlman. We meet a 16-year-old double bassist who began studying music when spina bifida made it difficult to keep up with youth sports leagues, a 14-year-old pianist who uses Braille scores to learn his repertoire, a 26-year-old cellist who believes his musical skills are sharpened by his autism, and a 16-year-old pianist with Escobar Syndrome who shares her journey to millions on social media. They perform works by Grieg, Liszt, and more.

Celebrating Musicians with Disabilities

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Magnitude, French Love Song, & Shostakovich

We meet a 16-year-old composer from Chicago who is mentored by composer Jessie Montgomery and is also passionate about architecture. We hear a soprano perform a love song by Debussy. Finally, we meet a teen cellist who performs Shostakovich's dynamic Cello Sonata in D Minor.

Magnitude, French Love Song, & Shostakovich

Listen · 35:10
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Major and Minor

We explore repertoire from major and minor keys, highlighting how young artists express the character and nuance that each represent. We hear a teen cellist perform a bright and sunny work with ties to both the Baroque and Romantic eras, a young violinist brings a dark and stormy Beethoven Sonata, and a 17-year-old pianist performs a major fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier.

Major and Minor

Listen · 37:44
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