NPR’s From the Top with Host Christopher O’Riley: Montclair, New Jersey / 299

About

From Montclair, New Jersey, this week’s show features the world-renowned Shanghai String Quartet making a special guest appearance. Two lucky teenage performers get the privilege of joining the quartet in a thrilling performance of the music of Johannes Brahms. We’ll also listen to the music a young cellist has chosen to populate his playlists on Spotify—playlists cleverly designed to persuade his high school friends to become fans of classical music (Spotify users – here’s the link to his playlist)

Performers & Repertoire

• Audrey Emata, 13, flute

  Carmen Fantasie by François Borne
• Janice Carissa, 16, and Ryan Ferguson, 18, piano duo

  "The Humiliation of Drupadi" by Ananda Sukarlan
• Jasper Snow, 18, viola

  The second movement, Allegro appassionato, from Two Pieces for Viola and Piano by Frank Bridge
• Chase Park, 16, cello

  Impromptu in G-flat Major, D. 899, No. 3 by Franz Schubert
• The Shanghai Quartet:
  Weigang Li, violin; Yi-Wen Jiang, violin; Honggang Li, viola; Nick Tzavaras, cello
  With Jasper Snow, 18, viola, and Chase Park, 16, cello

  The fourth movement, Poco allegro, from the String Sextet in G Major, Op. 36 by Johannes Brahms
• Janice Carissa, 16, and Ryan Ferguson, 18, piano duo

  Toccata in Funk, arranged by Bradley Eustace

Beyond the Concert Hall

Teaming up with the Preparatory Center for the Arts at the Cali School of Music, our performers connected with young (sometimes tiny!), local musicians twice during our stay in Montclair. First, a large group of families and youngsters went behind the scenes at the dress rehearsal for the show, and also met with performers afterward. Then, a thoughtful group of older students joined our performers of an Arts Leadership “Open Forum,” where all worked together to shape an interpretation of a chamber music piece by Betsy Hinkle. They also grappled with an arts leadership scenario: what could you do if funding was cut from your own ensemble program at school? ​Special thanks to Carrie Urbanic and Marla Meissner for their help making these events possible.

Related Stories

• On the radio/podcast: Week of 1/26/15

  NEW SHOW: Show 299, recorded in December 2014. Enjoy an inspiring evening of exceptional music by some of our nation’s finest young classical musicians at …
  

Release Dates

• Monday, June 22, 2015
• Monday, January 26, 2015
• Monday, August 29, 2016

Release date is when this show is released to NPR stations, here on our website, and to our podcast. Shows are released on a weekly basis; please check your local NPR station listing for the actual airtime in your market. If you'd like, you can visit NPR's "Find Stations" page to look for your station.

Support Provided By

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

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