Category: z-News

This Sunday, July 17 at 2pm Rockport Music is presenting a “Young Artists Piano Virtuoso Showcase” celebrating the 200th anniversary of Franz Liszt’s birth at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA. Three of the four performers are From the Top alums: George Li (Show 144 in Boston, MA), Charlie Albright (Show 066 in […]

It’s been a successful year for From the Top alumni – every time we open our email, there’s another piece of great news! This time the update came from young guitarist Thomas Pfefer who was featured on Show 224 in Bethlehem, PA. Thomas was recently awarded 1st Prize in the Junior Division of the Guitar Foundation […]

Chilean-born pianist and composer Patricio (From the Top at Carnegie Hall, Season 2, Episode 5) has just completed his first opera! Titled “La Sargento de La Concepción,” this work is comprised of three acts and was inspired by true events in Chile’s national history. Congratulations, Patricio! This past weekend Patricio wrote: Today on July 9th […]

On July 2 we kicked off the 2011-12 season with a wonderful show in Chicago! Presented by the National Education Association, From the Top with Christopher O’Riley was featured as part of “Friendship Night” at their annual convention. While the show wasn’t open to the public, we had a fabulous audience of educators and teachers. […]

This past weekend, From the Top traveled to Chicago’s Arie Crown Theater to kick off our 12th season, taping a very special radio show as part of the National Education Association’s annual convention. We had 11 fantastic performers on the show, including a septet, and they blew the audience away with their electric performances and […]

17-year-old violinist and Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Nora Scheller wanted to support the efforts and achievements of her community’s Suzuki School branch. She chose to host a benefit recital at Gustavus Adolphus College in her hometown of St. Peter, MN, and managed to raised just over $1,000 for the school! With the help of […]

This past weekend, From the Top traveled to the gorgeous Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah, NY to tape a radio show!  Our four soloists from New York City and Minnesota-based string quartet gave a fantastic concert. The next morning, our performers joined us for the Arts Leadership Orientation to learn more […]

Big news – From the Top alums George Li (Show 144) and Conrad Tao (Show 107 and Show 232) have just been named recipients of the 2012 Gilmore Young Artist Award! As Gilmore Young Artists, both George and Conrad will each receive $15,000 to further their musical career and education, as well as a $10,000 […]

From the Top’s broadcast for Show 234 was taped in the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Virginia Arts Festival in Virgina Beach, Virginia on Wednesday May 4, 2011. We asked our performers to tell us about the music they performed on the show: Naomi Benecasa, 17, cello II. Scherzo from […]

Pianist/composer Neara Rusell recently released her third studio album, a self-produced pop/rock adventure titled “Noise and Silence.” Neara appeared on From the Top Show 132 in Boston, Massachusetts at the age of 17, where she performed one of her own compositions with mezzo-soprano Carolyn Sproule – “Lemonade Pie” from “Food for the Gods…and me.” After […]

Today we are pleased to announce dates for our 2011-12 national tour! Each year we crisscross the country, recording our popular NPR radio program hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O’Riley. Next season will include concert events at our home base at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, and in cities from Washington, DC to Portland, OR. […]

On March 10th, 9-year-old pianist and Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Ray Ushikubo was invited by his school district to perform for his hometown’s Chamber of Commerce at their monthly gathering. The goal of the presentation was to introduce students who “represent more than just test scores.” The meeting took place at the Riverside Mission […]

Last week pianist Lindsay Garritson sent us an update on her musical career. Currently a Master’s student at the Yale School of Music studying with renowned pianist Boris Berman, Lindsay is proud to have just won the school-wide concerto competition! As a result, she will perform the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Yale […]

The day after taping Show #233 in Carmel, IN, our Education Team traveled with two performers, harpist Katie Kapelsohn and cellist Matt Liversedge, to Carmel Elementary School. They met with nearly 50 students grades K through 5 who take class with music teacher Cynthia Baney. Matt Liversedge, from Wilmore, KY, is the recipient of From […]

Even if you’ve been following From the Top for a short time, you probably can tell how proud we are of our alumni. It’s always fun to hear from one of our young-performers-turned-professional, so we were excited to receive an update from clarinetist Samantha Angelo last week. Samantha appeared on Show 022 in Lake Buena […]

Earlier this year, we were deeply moved by a young man who submitted his music outreach project to our Arts Leadership Map. At thirteen years old, guitarist Ben Werdergar has already made a difference in the world through his music. After hearing a story about Iraqi children needing wheelchairs, Ben wanted to use his music […]

From the Top’s broadcast for Show 233 was taped in The Palladium at The Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. We asked our performers to tell us about the music they performed on the show: Matthew Liversedge, 16, cello II. Am Springbrunnen (At the Fountain) from 4 Pieces for Cello and […]

This past weekend, From the Top taped a radio show at the beautiful Shalin Liu Performance Center of Rockport Music. We had four amazing young soloists from all across the country, as well as a fabulous string quartet from our hometown of Boston. The day of the show, our performers gathered on the Shalin Liu […]

We are gearing up for the final show of our 2010-11 season – a sure-to-be exciting taping in Katonah, New York on June 26 at 4:30pm! About an hour north of New York City, Katonah is a beautiful, village-like community. We’ll be taping at the Venetian Theater at the Caramoor Center for Music and the […]

For the past three years From the Top has partnered with Orchestra Iowa (formerly Cedar Rapids Symphony Orchestra) to celebrate the excitement and joy of kids making classical music through Iowa Makes Music, a multi-faceted residency funded by the United States Department of Education. Since the fall of 2008, the Iowa Makes Music (IMM) project […]