Blog/News

From the Top’s broadcast for Show 224 was taped in Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA on Friday December 03, 2010. We asked our performers to tell us about the music they performed on the show: Rachel Rodgers, 15, flute Carnival of Venice By Giulio Briccialdi First of all, this piece is […]

This new addition to our Arts Leadership map focuses on creative arts advocacy through music history. While teaching a course in American Popular Music, Concordia University professor and classical guitarist Kim Perlak was moved by how inspired her students were by those who made a positive impact in society through music, history, and service. She […]

We are pleased to announce the full release of From the Top’s new mobile app! Powered by Instant Encore, the mobile tool gives fans up-to-the minute access to From the Top’s podcasts, videos, radio show clips, news updates, concert listings and more. The application is available through the iTunes store and Android Market. It requires […]

Last week we shared a fantastic article on preparing for college auditions, written by From the Top alum Ren Martin-Doike. In the article, Ren mentioned a technique from violinist William Harvey, From the Top alum and founder of Cultures in Harmony. When William reappeared on From the Top in 2009 as part of our 10th […]

This recent addition to our Arts Leadership map is inspirational! When Gregg Breinberg  started working at P.S. 22 in 1999, the lack of a music program meant teaching second grade. The next year, Gregg asked the administration to let him start a chorus and become a full-time music teacher. Despite arts budget cuts, the school […]

January means college auditions, so this post features a great article written by From the Top alum and Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Ren Martin-Doike. Ren shares tips and hints for preparing for those college auditions, as well as interesting links and ideas for practicing. We hope you enjoy, and good luck if you’re auditioning […]

This is a recently addition to our Arts Leadership map that you don’t want to miss! In early 2008 Ben Werdegar saw a story about Iraqi children needing wheelchairs and knew he had to find a way to help. Two years and $18,500 later, 13-year-old Ben is truly making a difference through his music. “I’m […]

The semi-finalists for the 14th annual Sphinx Competition have been announced, and among them are several From the Top alums! The Sphinx Organization is a non profit that works to “overcome the cultural stereotype of classical music, and to encourage the participation of Blacks and Latinos in the field.” Each year their competition gives diverse […]

This week’s From the Top broadcast (Show 223) was taped at the First Baptist Church in Abilene, TX on Tuesday November 16, 2010. We asked our performers to tell us about the music they performed on the show: Karen Christianson, 15, organ Everyone Dance By: Calvin Hampton “Everyone Dance” by the American composer Calvin Hampton is […]

Symphony in C, a New Jersey symphony training orchestra, just announced its appointment of From the Top alum Megan Emigh as Principal Flautist beginning this season! Megan has appeared twice on From the Top, first on Show 070 in New York, New York and again on Show 085 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Megan recently graduated […]

A little variety is always nice, so today we are posting an article by guest blogger Joy Paley, who writes for My Dog Ate My Blog. While education is a large part of From the Top’s core values, this post touches on a subject that we don’t often talk about – music as it relates to […]

We just received some updates from pianist/composer Neara Russell, who appeared on Show 132 in Boston, Massachusetts. Neara graduated from Berklee College of Music this year with a dual degree in Composition & Piano/Voice Performance. She has been a featured soloist in the Berklee Performance Center, Steinert Hall, Institute of Contemporary Art, Agganis Arena, and […]

From the Top and Carnegie Hall are pleased to announce the results of the Big Break – our first online competition for America’s young classical musicians! Selected by popular vote, our Grand Prize Winner is 17-year-old percussionist Marcelina Suchocka from Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Suchocka is a student at Chicago’s Whitney M. Young Magnet High School […]

We are really excited to announce that multiple From the Top alums have made it to the final round of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra! Voting ends tomorrow so please click over and vote for our alums (links below). The YouTube Symphony Orchestra is a global endeavor devoted to sharing the love of music and celebrating […]

This week’s From the Top broadcast (Show 222) was taped at LSU in Baton Rouge, LA on Tuesday November 02, 2010. We asked our performers to tell us about the music they performed on the show: Jean Kim, 15, cello Capriccio By Lukas Foss The Capriccio, for me, is like the background music of a […]

From the Top alum and Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Clifton Williams will give a performance in Boston next week! You may remember this young pianist from Show 195 in Boston in March 2009, where he performed Suggestion Diabolique by Sergei Prokofiev. Next Monday Clifton will join the Berklee College of Music’s Reverance Gospel Ensemble and […]

Last week, From the Top taped a show at Lehigh University in the beautiful town of Bethlehem, PA. Our four soloists joined us the following morning at the Arts Leadership orientation, where we explored the way music can make a difference and shared inspiring examples of arts leadership. We were truly fortunate to have one […]

We’re back in Boston after taping a show this past weekend at the Zoellner Performing Arts Center on the campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. It was a wonderful show in all respects, starting with the opening act: flutist Rachel Rodgers, 15, who played Giulio Briccialdi’s Carnival of Venice. In addition to playing classical, […]

From the Top alum and violinist Alice Ivy-Pemberton (Show #174 in Boston, Massachusetts) recently raised a couple thousand dollars for schools in Haiti! Alice gave a solo benefit recital at the Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst, Massachusetts on Sunday, November 21. The concert raised almost $2,000 for St. Matthew’s School in Bayonnais, Haiti – enough […]

From the Top Alum Bryanne Presley, oboist from Nevada, Iowa, participated in two performances with renowned opera singer Simon Estes as part of his Roots and Wings tour. The Roots and Wings tour has a goal to provide outreach to all ninety-nine counties in Iowa and raise funds for the Simon Estes Iowa Educational Foundation, […]