Blog/News

24-year-old violinist Karen Cueva appeared on NPR’s From the Top with Host Christopher O’Riley Show 187, recorded in October 2008, at age 17. In conjunction with her performance on the show, she also received From the Top’s Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. Karen considers herself to be both a violinist and an educator who is passionate about issues of […]

On May 16, fans of From the Top will gather at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the 2016 From the Top gala, raising funds to support our arts education, media, and outreach programs. We pride ourselves on throwing a pretty incredible party, with astonishing live music, wonderful food, and one of the […]

After being on From the Top, Tommy Topper went to college at NEC, won several competitions, and then brought music lessons to shelter dogs in Ontario. And then there’s Tanya Topper… We haven’t heard anything from Tanya Topper. She’s probably doing amazing things, but we’re not sure what they are because we haven’t heard from […]

APRIL FOOLS! No, we are in fact NOT sending musicians into space for an intergalactic concerto competition. We discussed the possibilities, but unfortunately the Intergalactic Alliance has since disbanded due to heated disagreements regarding what kind of cheese was best for moon construction. What we DO have is a list of awesome opportunities that we […]

Noah and Sydney Lee hail from Oakland, New Jersey, and are a brother and sister duo with some serious cello skills. They’ve both been on NPR’s From the Top with Host Christopher O’Riley (Noah on Shows 310 and 241), and Sydney on Show 249), but it’s safe to say you’ve never seen or heard them quite like this: The filmmaker, Dillon […]

There are no manuals for how to become a great cellist. It can’t be learned on YouTube. It requires hard work and immense dedication, and it also requires a teacher, one human, who will pour his/her soul into giving musicians the tools to find their own expressions of their own souls. What a thing that is! It’s the ultimate example […]

Violist Kallie Ciechomski first appeared on From the Top with Host Christopher O’Riley in 2006. She sent us this update: enjoy! My first appearance on NPR’s From the Top with Host Christopher O’Riley was on Show 136 in 2006, as a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. The $10,000 scholarship and the opportunity to perform […]

Sure, there’s lots of practicing, and pacing, and getting ready for a big performance. But there’s also a lot of laughs.

Angelica Hairston knows how to make a harp sing. You may have first heard her work her magic when she performed on NPR’s From the Top with Host Christopher O’Riley Show 228 in Athens, Georgia, at age 17. “It was such a blast to be a part of something that was simultaneously youthful and innovative, and […]

If you’ve been on From the Top and you have something to say – and a pencil – then we’re looking for you! We’ve got a cool opportunity to blog on the Huffington Post, and naturally, we think you, our young musicians, have great stories to tell. So, we have a challenge for you. Send us a […]

CORRECTED VERSION: We accidentally hit publish too soon on this post last week. In this version, we use the proper spelling of “app”, and fixed some links. Thanks for your patience.  Dear From the Top mobile app users, We’re sad to share the news that as of February 29, 2016, we are shutting down our […]

You know the drill, musical parents. You pour your heart and soul in to your child’s musical training, but there are always those little things that make you crazy. Lucky for you, our musical mom has all…well, some…of the answers! Subscribe to our YouTube channel for musical tips like this new one about practicing a […]

Pianist Maxim Lando appeared on Show 283, recorded in Boston in February 2014, at age 11. Since then, he has gone on to do great things with his music, including a special collaboration with Lang Lang, and winning major competitions. Recently, we chatted with him about his inspirations, favorites, and plans for the future.  Q: What […]

Super Bowl 50 is coming! On Sunday, February 7 on CBS, Peyton Manning and Cam Newton will face off on the football field. But before then, we were thinking that the CBS opening theme could use a little From the Top-style interpretation. Who better to play it than two outstanding From the Top piano alumni? […]

A sunny day in Boston. A few classical music stars head out to do some busking. Three young From the Top musicians have a different plan. We hope you enjoy our latest video, a rocking classical cover of Taylor Swift’s Grammy-nominated hit, Shake it Off.

By Janet Fagan, Recruitment & Alumni Relations Assistant…and long-time From the Top fan. I owe my love of From the Top to one woman – Barbara Nakazawa, my daughter’s flute teacher. “You must listen to this show called From the Top with Host Christopher O’Riley,” she told us years ago. “It’s terrific!” We took her advice […]

Pianist Youlan Ji performed on Show 309, recorded in July 2015, at age 15. She was also a recipient of From the Top’s Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. Everyone who receives this award is required to do an arts leadership outreach project where they take their music beyond the concert hall and out into the community. Here, Youlan describes […]

Dear Friends, After 12 years, hundreds of radio shows, and countless other productions including two seasons of Emmy-winning television, our long-time music director Tom Vignieri is officially moving on. Tom, his wife Alison, and their two children have relocated to the English countryside to be closer to family in Devon and to give Tom the […]

By Linda Gerstle, Director of Education & Community Partnerships The Friday afternoon school assembly is a time honored tradition in many schools. A chance to connect with friends and teachers outside of class as the week winds down – it’s a moment that many of us recall so many years later. And so it was at […]

This is the music you are looking for, Star Wars fans. In honor of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, opening in theaters December 18th, we present three delightful young pianists who aren’t afraid to tickle the ivories while dressed in Halloween costumes. A From the Top video. 2015, all rights reserved www.fromthetop.org www.facebook.com/fromthetopfans www.twitter.com/classicalkid …