Blog/News

After every radio taping, the performers come together for the Arts Leadership Orientation to explore how they can use their talent and passion to make a difference in their communities and the world. The performers on the St. Paul show named themselves the “Louisasota Zirths” – a play on the two states represented (10 performers […]

I can’t believe we’re already kicking off our 11th season of radio shows, and what better way than a fantabulous piano extravaganza! We taped the first show of the season earlier this week at the Young Artist World Piano Festival on the beautiful campus of Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was an exciting […]

This week in Links we Like, we encounter a diverse group of events in music. From “the good” found in promoting music education, “the bad” in cheating the music industry, to “the funny” in charades, we see how music is a constant influence in our daily lives. El Sistema Goes Global: El Sistema is truly […]

From the Top alum William Harvey‘s musical organization, Cultures in Harmony, is hosting a student music group from Zimbabwe August 4-25, 2010 in New York City and Washington D.C. Onias Horiwa and William Harvey, July 2006. Photo courtesy of Cultures in Harmony Cultures in Harmony has worked with this group, comprised of leader Onias Horiwa, […]

We have been avidly following the progress of Musical Diplomacy, the brainchild of From the Top’s Margaret Stewart Lindsay Arts Leadership Grant recipients Brian Kaufman and Michael Reichman. After an entire year of planning and organizing, their dream of using music to bring together leading policymakers, teachers, musicians, and concerned citizens was finally realized at the […]

In the beginning of June we updated you on From the Top alum Nicholas King.  This week we received more information about his summer plans to share with you. You may remember that Nicholas mentioned throwing a private concert in July to fundraise so he can continue his studies at the world-renowned Royal Conservatory of […]

We are pleased to announce our 2010-2011 national tour dates for taping our popular NPR radio program hosted by acclaimed concert pianist Christopher O’Riley. The tour will include concert events at From the Top’s home base at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall and cities from Athens, GA to Yountville, CA and will mark From the […]

This week in Links we Like, we observe the role that classical music can play in diplomacy and making a difference. Whether it be defending the importance of music education or supporting a political movement, music serves as a powerful catalyst for uniting people and ideas behind a cause. Also, as a little side note, […]

Sharing the music, passion and experiences of our performers with other young people is a vital part of From the Top’s Arts Leadership Program and we’re always excited to have new opportunities in each city we visit. Two weeks ago, From the Top had a great opportunity to meet and play for kids at the […]

Way back in 1998 before we hit the airwaves, From the Top taped their pilot episode at Jordan Hall. One of the featured performers was violinist William Harvey, then 15 years old, from Indiana. We’ve blogged about his accomplishments since then, and today we have another exciting opportunity of his to share with you. This […]

Hi everyone! Here is another installment of the Links We Like series. This week’s stories all deal with the breaking of conventions and the exploration of alternate concepts in the classical music world. We hope you enjoy them, and happy early Fourth of July! Composer or Imposter – Is Creativity Solely a Human Trait? When […]

Arts Leadership is an important part of From the Top’s experience for young musicians. We encourage all our performers to give back to their communities through their music. Sahun “Sam” Hong who performed on Show #206 in Dallas, Texas, has been doing Arts Leadership outreach continually since his show taped in November, 2009.  He’s setting a […]

Mozart, the “quicker-bio-degrader”? The concept of bacteria serving as decontaminating devices is a bizarre one, yet even more bizarre is the move by a German waste treatment plant to improve the speed and efficacy of these tiny microbes: playing Mozart. The harmonies allegedly produce greater efficiency in the breaking down of sewage and waste; all […]

Two From the Top alums are performing in Singapore this week as part of the Great Eastern International Kids Performing Festival: violinist Simone Porter and cellist Nathan Chan. Simone appeared on From the Top’s Highland Park, Illinois show in 2007 when was eleven years old, at which point she was basically a veteran violinist – she […]

From the Top alum Ren Martin-Doike, who appeared on Show #192 in Indianapolis, Indiana,  just got back from an incredible 3 week concert tour to Argentina with Indiana University’s Violin Virtuosi.  They traveled the country, playing in concert halls such as the beautiful Teatro El Circulo.  Ren says, “meeting with audience members after concerts — […]

We have been following Margaret Stewart Lindsay Arts Leadership Award recipients Michael Reichman and Brian Kaufman for quite some time now on their emerging concert series, Musical Diplomacy. Their most recent event was this May at the Fenway Center, and was titled A Concert and Discussion on Race and Culture in the Age of Obama. […]

Hi everyone! My name is Anne Gregory, and I am new this summer at From the Top. As the intern with the From the Top Marketing and Communications department, I will be posting a number of blog entries on this site that will range from interviews with performers/alums to a column we’ve titled “Links we […]

This week From the Top alum Hilda Huang, who perfromed on Show #180 in Berkeley, CA, appeared on Episode 12 of From the Top at Carnegie Hall, and was the highest ranking musician in the Seventh International Würzburg J. S. Bach Competition, updated us on a couple cool opportunities she’s had. Hilda recently appeared in a full-length […]

From the Top’s Arts Leadership Program is all about young artists using their talent and passion to make a difference in the world.  Every show is new and different, bringing together a diverse group of musicians with a wide range of experiences – that’s what makes it so exciting!  The Arts Leadership Orientation, held the […]

We just got a neat update from composer Daniel Bernard Roumain (aka DBR).  A few weeks ago we featured a blog he wrote on Musical Diplomacy and Good, Long Hugs.  These days he’s been collaborating with the Boston Pops to work with young musicians in Boston area schools.  Check out this video for an overview […]