Juneteenth Special | Show 401

Featured Video

From the Top Alum and three-time Grammy® Award-winning artist Kevin Olusola joins fellow alums Clifton Williams and Hannah White for a stirring performance of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” arranged by Matt Jones.

About

From the Top is commemorating Juneteenth this year with a special episode celebrating young Black classical musicians! Featuring special guest host Kevin Olusola, we meet outstanding young black musicians performing works by black composers, including music by William Grant Still, Sam Cooke, Florence Price, and a new work by a young composer. These excellent young players discuss what Juneteenth means to them and the black experience in classical music.

Guests

• Host: Peter Dugan
  Peter Dugan's position is sponsored by Susan and Gerald Slavet.
• Guest Host/Artist: Kevin Olusola
  Kevin Olusola is a multifaceted artist and member of the Three-Time Grammy Award winning pop group Pentatonix.

Performers & Repertoire

• The Davidson Chorale, directed by Phillip Streetman, with 18-year-old soloist Zanaiah Billups and 19-year-old Sierra Hall

  There is a Balm in Gilead (Traditional), arranged by Moses Hogan
• Najee Greenlee, 18, clarinet, from Flint, Michigan

  Clarinet Quintet in F Sharp Minor, Op. 10, Mvmt 2: Larghetto affetuoso by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875 - 1912) with Aidan Krieger, 17, violin from Southfield, MI; Valerie Xu-Friedman, 17, violin from Williamsville, NY; Emma Boyd , 17, viola from Madison, AL; and Gabriel Hennebury, 17, cello from Ann Arbor, MI, all students at Interlochen Arts Academy
• Ebun Oguntola, 15, composer, from Fayetteville, NY

  Excerpts from "The Dimensions" by Ebun Oguntola, performed by: Peter Dugan, piano; Charles Yang, violin; Doori Na, violin
• Host pianist Peter Dugan

  “A Child is Born” by Thad Jones
• Emma Spence, 12, cello, from Los Altos, CA

  Adoration by Florence Price (1887 - 1953) with pianist Jeremy Lenk
• Kevin Olusola, cello, with Hannah White, violin and Clifton Williams, keyboard

  A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke (1931 - 1964), arranged by Matt Jones

Release Dates

• Monday, June 14, 2021
• Monday, June 13, 2022
• Monday, June 12, 2023

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

Ebun Oguntola’s appearance on From the Top is supported the ASCAP Foundation Irving Caesar Fund.

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