A 17-year-old violinist shares how he deals with performance anxiety and plays William Grant Still. A teen guitarist speaks of his family connection with Colombia and the vibrant piece that was written for him to perform. A 12-year-old cellist gives an exuberant performance of Cassadó's Requiebros and shares how she sneaks in some time for bluegrass.

Show 440 – Cassadó, Grant Still, & a Unique Trio

A teen quartet plays Mozart, a 15-year-old flutist shares why her instrument is a dependable friend, and a violinist plays a Kreisler arrangement and draws connections between science and art. We meet a percussionist from the famous LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts who gives a tour of the marimba to Peter Dugan, a 13-year-old cellist who loves both ballet and music, and a pianist who relates with the emotions of Schubert.

Show 441 – Mozart, Kreisler, and Schubert

GRAMMY-nominated violinist and From the Top Co-Host / Creative Tessa Lark joins Peter Dugan and a cohort of extraordinary teenage musicians in this episode. A 15-year-old violinist gets a coaching from Tessa and we hear performances of Bach, Chopin, Dvorák and more.

16-year-old oboe player Spencer Rubin with pianist Peter Dugan and violinist Tessa Lark

Featuring some of the most exciting performances out of From the Top’s archives, host Peter Dugan brings us From the Top’s 2021 Highlights Program. We have a powerful performance of the opening movement of Chopin’s Sonata No. 2 Opus 35 by a young pianist from L.A. We meet a teenage guitarist who fled Iran for religious reasons and credits music for getting him through the toughest times at a refugee camp. And we also enjoy a 16-year-old violinist’s showy and charismatic performance of the Carmen Fantasy by Franz Waxman.

Highlight Show 33 - Full Episode

Boston, MA / 38

New York Philharmonic President and CEO Deborah Borda joins Peter Dugan as co-host and shares insights into her iconic career at the helm of the country’s leading orchestras. She speaks with an inspiring 16-year-old violist who is an emerging leader in her own right. We also meet an articulate young composer who wants her music to bring people joy and healing, a teen clarinetist who has traveled the world with his musical parents, and a pianist with a passion for acting. They give incredible performances of Prokofiev, Enescu, Kovács, and more.

Show 430 - Full Show

Christy Kim, 17, Violin, from Mason, OH

Pataranon Benny Boontagarnon, 17, Piano, from Hilliard, OH

Sonya Moomaw, 12, Cello, from Cincinnati, OH

Beckett Ceron, 14, Guitar, from Cincinnati, OH

Anthony Dorsey, 17, Violin, from Cincinnati, OH

Aurelia Faidley-Solars, 13, Cello, from New York, NY

Daniel Perez Ponce, 17, Marimba, from Brooklyn, NY

Kento Hong, 17, Violin, from Scarsdale, NY

Sooah Jeon, 15, Flute, from Cresskill, NJ

Sylvan Quartet

We meet young musicians from Minnesota, including a 14-year-old pianist playing a Chopin Scherzo, a classical cellist who also plays rock covers, and a trumpeter who gives insight into the physicality of playing his instrument. We also hear from a guitar quartet playing a lively Brazilian piece, a teen oboist playing a new work by composer Reena Esmail, and a violinist who imagines herself in Brahms’ world when she performs.

Show 442 - Full Show

A talented 12-year-old cellist performs The Swan by Saint-Saëns, a flutist with a passion for marine biology plays a dreamy Fantasie by Hüe, and the winner of Interlochen Arts Academy’s Concerto Competition performs a difficult but rewarding work by Ysaÿe. We meet a violist with a love for Formula One racing who gives an evocative performance of Schumann. Finally, we hear a conversation between a teen clarinetist and his mentor, the principal clarinetist of the Minnesota Orchestra, who share much in common including leaving their homes in Costa Rica to study at Interlochen Arts Academy.

Show 443 - The Swan & More from Michigan - Full Show

How does ensemble size and instrumentation shape the listening experience? We hear from a 14-year-old violinist who feels passionately about music-making, meet a teen pianist who takes on Rachmaninoff, and hear Peter play Barber with a young cellist who speaks about the importance of a local music program in his life. Peter collaborates with a 16-year-old violinist on an elegant rag. We hear Poulenc's trio for oboe, bassoon, and piano and meet one of Texas’ premier high school orchestras who perform Shostakovich.

Joshua Lee, 14, Violin, from Phoenix, AZ

How does ensemble size and instrumentation shape the listening experience? There’s something for everyone this week as we explore performances from soloists to ensembles, large and small. 

This episode was recorded with musicians from Tucson, Arizona, Los Angeles, California, and Austin, Texas.

Musical performances:
Violinist Joshua Lee, 14, from Phoenix, Arizona
Excerpts from Paganiniana by Nathan Milstein (1904-1992)

Pianist Hannah Lui, 18, from Tucson, Arizona
Moment Musicaux Op. 16, No. 4 in E minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943)

Cellist Abraham Kim, 17, from Laveen, Arizona
Sonata for Cello and Piano in C minor, Op. 6 - II. Adagio by Samuel Barber (1910-1981)

Violinist Jacqueline Rodenbeck, 16, from Tucson, Arizona
Graceful Ghost Rag by William Bolcom (b. 1938)

Hannah Cho, 16, oboe from Tustin, California and Ariana Kim, 16, bassoon, from Irvine, California
Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano, FP 43 - III. Rondo by Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) with Peter Dugan

Westwood Symphony Orchestra from Austin, Texas, Joshua Thompson, Orchestra Director
Symphony No. 10, Op. 93 - II. Allegro by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

Show 445 - Full Episode

Rolling farmland, local butcher shops, woodlands, bayous, and red brick general stores provide the backdrops for this week’s bucolic episode. We meet five musicians from rural areas around the nation to learn about their lives and musical studies. Violinist and bluegrass fiddler Tessa Lark co-hosts this episode with Peter Dugan, drawing on the musical traditions of her native Kentucky.

Show 447 – Musicians from Rural America

Bayla Davis, 15, Banjo, from Leicester, NC

Laurel Harned, 18, Guitar, from Redlands, CA

We’re in Philadelphia where we meet a local teen composer who aspires to create more opportunities for fellow Black composers and learn how co-host Joseph Conyers, Philadelphia Orchestra’s principal bassist, is making an impact through his service to the community. We also hear a young violinist perform a phenomenal work by contemporary composer Jessie Montgomery.

Show 451 -  Rhapsody in Philadelphia - Full Show

This week, we are treated to iconic performances from the late Romantic period including Amy Beach’s swoon-worthy Romance, Cassado’s dance suite for solo cello, and Fauré's devastatingly beautiful Élégie on alto saxophone.  We also meet a clarinetist who speaks about spending time in nature in his home state of Washington and a 15-year-old double bassist with a wide range of interests, including making people feel comfortable with classical music.

Show 452 - Late Romantics - Full Show

This week, we celebrate five musicians and their unique journeys. From a decorated Eagle Scout who turned to YouTube to get his start on trumpet to a mezzo soprano who is passionate about representing Hispanic culture in the works she sings and a clarinetist who found a home-away-from-home surrounded by music and art at the Interlochen Arts Academy.  We hear the violin showpiece “Figaro” from the Barber of Seville and the tender second movement of Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 2.

Alette Williams, 15, Violin, from Keller, Texas

This week, we're giving thanks for the power of music. Guest Host Orli Shaham joins our musicians for a feast of beautiful performances and meaningful conversations about gratitude and the importance of music in our lives. You’ll hear performances of Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy, Tchaikovsky, and more!

Show 455 – Giving Thanks with Orli Shaham - Full Show

Victoria S. Bi, 16, Piano, from Plano, Texas

We are celebrating From the Top’s 25th birthday! You’ll hear festive performances of Gershwin, Beethoven, Chopin, and more. We’ll get to know a 13-year-old violinist who is equally accomplished in classical repertoire and fiddling, meet a 16-year-old pianist who has already contributed to writing a published book, and witness a life-changing surprise. We also reconnect with From the Top alum Yuna Langehennig and learn about her journey to becoming an Airman First Class in the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band. She brings along her wind ensemble Heritage Winds and they perform a rousing work by Paquito D'Rivera. Join us in celebrating  25 years of supporting gifted young musicians!

Show 456 - Silver Jubilee

150 Years of Ravel / Show 465


We’re celebrating Ravel’s 150th birthday with outstanding young musicians from the Boston area. We hear a septet of teens perform Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro and a teen pianist treats us to one of Ravel’s most iconic piano works. We also meet a talented young saxophonist who finds inspiration in Duke Ellington. A teen cellist plays an electrifying arrangement of Monti’s Czardas and speaks about organizing his own concert series to benefit a special Boston-area music program. We meet a trio of close friends who have shared many formative musical experiences over the past six years.

Show 465 "150 Years of Ravel" Full Show

Orli Shaham guest hosts From the Top’s episode celebrating musical families. We’ll meet a bunch of siblings, including Orli’s own sons and brother, violinist Gil Shaham, who joins as co-host. This program reminds us that music doesn’t happen in isolation—it’s shaped by relationships, histories, and communities.

Justin Kang, 15, Piano, and Daniel Kang, 18, Piano, from Laveen, AZ

This week on From the Top, a standout 16-year-old accordionist from Eugene, Oregon brings style and sensitivity. We also meet a 17-year-old guitarist and math whiz. A teen cellist performs Villa-Lobos’ Song of the Black Swan. We hear from two award-winning youth chamber music ensembles.

Maria Telesheva, 16, Accordion, from Eugene, OR

We meet a trumpeter from a small town in Mexico with music in his blood. A young pianist performs Liszt with power and finesse. A tenor sings Mozart with beautiful color. A guitarist-composer invents her own sound and an all-star cello quartet rocks Piazzolla.

Show 468 - Tremendous Tenor, All-Star Cellos & More - Full Show

We meet five young musicians who have all received From the Top’s Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award and share a passion and drive for music. Come along as we enjoy a sweeping Brahms viola sonata, a sentimental saxophone melody, a sparkling solo marimba, and much more, including a flashback finale from a 10-year-old pianist.

Show 469 – Brahms Viola, Sentimental Sax & More - Full Show

Corey Gutierrez, 18, Saxophone, from Houston, TX

We’re celebrating a major milestone: our twenty-year partnership with the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and the Foundation’s own twenty-fifth birthday. Thanks to their generosity we’ve awarded 428 remarkable young artists with financial need with $4.2 million in instruments, private lessons, program tuition, college audition trips, and much more. You’ll hear from the executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation as well as some of our illustrious alumni who have gone on to major careers in music after receiving the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award as teens.

Show 472 – 20 Years of Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Awards - Full Show

Guest Host Alex Laing joins for a celebration of Black artists in classical music. We’re catching up with From the Top alumni who are making waves in the field and will meet prominent composer Jessie Montgomery.

Highlight Show 39 - Black Voices in Classical Music - Full Show

Quenton Blache, Cello and Khari Joyner, Cello

Célina Béthoux, Violin and Orli Shaham, Piano (performance) / Interview with Jessie Montgomery, Composer and Violin

Benjamin D'Haiti, Trumpet

Michelle Cann, Piano

Today’s episode is dominated by instruments you’d find in a high school band room and many of our featured teen artists discovered their musical passion through school music programs. We are treated to rich performances on tuba, trombone, marimba, and saxophone. Plus a wonderful violinist who has lived all over the world performs Debussy.

Zaylyn Bain, 17, Marimba, from De Leon, TX

Nicholas Rossi, 17, Saxophone, from Corpus Christi, TX

Devin Spaulding, 17, Trombone, from Tomball, TX

Show 471 – Band Room to Recording Studio - Full Show

Abigail Regua, 19, Violin, from Idyllwild, CA

June Eickholt, 18, Tuba, from Colleyville, TX

From our hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, this show features internationally renowned special guests Time for Three alongside extraordinary young musicians from Boston and beyond! We enjoy a movement of Beethoven’s Piano Trio in E-flat major performed by 3 musicians under the age of 13, a teenage cellist opens up about how performing Schumann has helped her express herself, and Time for Three joins for a hauntingly beautiful sextet before ending the program with their rousing arrangement of “Bittersweet Symphony.” Check out the podcast for a special encore performance of their original tune “Joy.”

Show 346 from Boston, Massachusetts

From the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek, Colorado, this week’s From the Top features the ground-breaking violinist Charles Yang as the guest host. He’ll share the stage with a joyful teenager whose winning personality propelled her to take home the gold medal at the prestigious 2018 Stulberg International String Competition. We’ll also meet a young erhu player, an instrument known to some as the “Chinese violin”, who plays “Taichi Warrior of Erhu” by Chen Jun.

Benjamin Lee, erhu

From La Jolla, California, this week’s From the Top features renowned violinist and social justice advocate Vijay Gupta as guest host. Along with co-host Michelle Cann, they’ll introduce us to the incredible San Diego Youth Symphony Chamber Orchestra, a young cellist who shares how studying the cello has helped him stand up for what he believes in, and a pianist who was a prize winner in Russia’s famous Tchaikovsky Competition.

Show 371 - Welcome

From the Top is America’s largest national platform celebrating the stories, talents, and character of classically-trained young musicians. Through live events, NPR and YouTube broadcasts, scholarships, and leadership programs, we empower these extraordinary young people to engage and inspire music lovers of all ages.

We hope you enjoy hearing the stories and music from NPR's From the Top with host Christopher O'Riley, the most popular weekly classical music program on public radio. 

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