Celebrating Musicians with Disabilities / Show 428

Meet Julia LaGrand, Co-Host and Content Advisor

Learn more about From the Top’s Musicians with Disabilities Special Initiative here. 

Read about this special episode in The Boston Globe.

About

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.

Guests

• Host: Peter Dugan
  Peter Dugan's position is sponsored by Susan and Gerald Slavet.
• Co-Host & Content Advisor: Julia LaGrand
  Julia is an 18-year-old violinist and Disability Advocate.
• Special Guest: Itzhak Perlman
  Mr Perlman is widely considered one of the greatest violinists in the world.

Performers & Repertoire

• Co-Host and Content Advisor Julia LaGrand, 18, violin, Grand Rapids, MI

  Excerpts from Capriccio by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999)
• Tristen Chen, 14, piano, from San Jose, CA
  

  Trois Etudes de Concert No. 2 La Leggierezza by Franz Liszt (1811-1886)
• Joshua Thrush, 16, Double Bass, from Vienna, VA

  Introduction e Gavotte by Giovanni Bottesini (1821-1889)
• Special Guest Itzhak Perlman
• Grace Novacheck, 16, piano, from Westlake, TX
  

  Notturno, Op. 54, No. 4 by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)
• Adam Mandela Walden, 26, cello, from Los Angeles, CA

  Intermezzo from Goyescas by Enrique Granados, (1867-1916)

Release Dates

• Monday, March 27, 2023
• Monday, March 4, 2024
• Monday, March 17, 2025

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

Volgenau Foundation

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