Music and the Brain Part I / Show 463

About

Music is powerful stuff. It can transform a mood in an instant and can help us connect deeply with the world around us. But how exactly does music accomplish all of this? To answer this question, we’ve partnered with the Brain and Creativity Institute at the University of Southern California to explore the science of music. We’ll meet five remarkable teenagers from across the country who are gifted in both music and neuroscience. Over the last six months, they’ve been working with researchers at USC to investigate how music affects the brain. And of course, we’ll also hear some thought-provoking and awe-inspiring performances!

Performers & Repertoire

• Pianist Jascha Silberstein, 17, from Mercer Island, Washington

  Jeux d’eau, M. 30 by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
• Violinist Sophia Zhang, 15, from Tenafly, New Jersey

  Schön Rosmarin and Liebesleid from Three Old Viennese Dances by Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962)
• Euphonium player Zoie Glosson, 15, from Houston, Texas

  Green Hill by Bert Appermont (b. 1973)
• Pianist Evan Ding, 17, from West Roxbury, Massachusetts

  Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31, No. 1, I. Allegro Vivace by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
• Saxophonist Kaushik Valiveti, 18, from Roswell, Georgia

  Aria by Eugène Bozza (1905-1991)

Release Date

• Monday, May 12, 2025

Release date is when this show is released to NPR stations, here on our website, and to our podcast. Shows are released on a weekly basis; please check your local NPR station listing for the actual airtime in your market. If you'd like, you can visit NPR's "Find Stations" page to look for your station.

Support Provided By

From the Top thanks the Volgenau Foundation for its visionary support of this project.

USC’s Brain and Creativity Institute Music Program thanks the GroW @ Annenberg Foundation in recognition of their support.

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