From the Top’s Spring Tour Highlights

Published on

May 3, 2011

This spring has been a whirlwind for everyone at From the Top! In the past two months alone we’ve taped radio shows in Georgia, Iowa, California, New York, Maryland, Indiana, and this week we are in Virginia. Here’s a quick snapshot of the fun we’ve had:

Sir James Galway

We were honored to have special guest and internationally renowned flutist Sir James Galway on our Athens, Georgia show! Check out On the Road with Joanne Robinson for a funny back stage story. You can listen to this show and see a video of Sir James collaborating with young performers on our website.

17-year-old accordionist Danielle Renzi

In March we traveled to Cedar Falls, Iowa to tape Show #229, which included  17-year-old accordionist Danielle Renzi from Rhode Island. Danielle treated us to La Musette by Angelo Di Pippo on the Roland digital accordion. Listen to the show and see a video Danielle in action.

Violinist & alum Charles Yang, guitarist & alum Roberto Granados, special guest & ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, & double bassist Emily Brown

In early April, the From the Top team went to Monterey, California to tape an episode as part of the e.g. Conference. This show included guest artist Jake Shimabukuro, who brought an incredible energy to the stage by blasting away conventional thought about the limits of ukulele. The episode is airing this week, and is available on our website. Below is a video clip of Jake and Charles jamming on stage before our show started taping. Watch this entire show on our YouTube channel.

(L to R) Grand Prize Winner Marcelina Suchocka, 17, marimba; Runners-up: Gideon Broshy, 17, Piano, Brannon Cho, 16, Cello, and Helen Gerhold, 15, Harp

A mere two days after the e.g. Conference show, we were in New York City for not one, but two special concerts! On Saturday, April 9 Christopher O’Riley hosted one of Carnegie Hall’s Artist Showcase Family Concerts, featuring the winners of From the Top and Carnegie Hall’s Big Break YouTube contest. The very next day the same young musicians performed on Show #231, which was taped at the Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WQXR. This show airs the week of May 16, and will be available on our website.

18-year-old bassoonist and Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Sandra Bailey

Less than a week later, From the Top taped in College Park, Maryland. This show featured a talented and diverse group of teenage musicians. Read more and see a video with On the Road with Joanne Robinson. This episode airs at the end of May.

After a short travel break we headed to Carmel, Indiana for a show on April 26 at the beautiful, brand new Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts. Pictures will be posted soon, and here’s what some of our Twitter fans said about the show:

http://twitter.com/marg18/status/63050343075938304

A huge thanks to all our fans who came out to see us this spring! Stay tuned for 2011-12 tour dates.