From the Top

Sundays at 6:00pm on Classical WETA 90.9FM

Hear the next generation of classical champions as talented teens from across the nation play the classics in concert. Often credited for its innovative and fun approach to classical music, From the Top has helped to build a bridge between classical music and youth.

Upcoming Broadcasts

Philadelphia, PA

Sunday, December 6, 2020 - 6:00pm

This week’s episode with Host Peter Dugan features a lyrical performance of Mark Summer’s Julie-O and a teenage piano trio performing Beethoven’s ‘Ghost’ movement.
Performers and Repertoire:

Phillips Trio featuring teenagers studying at Phillips Academy Andover: Luke Henderson, violin, Evan Tsai, cello and Ariel Wang, piano performing Piano Trio in D, Op. 70 No. 1 'Ghost' - I. by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Saman de Silva, 16, vox, from Los Altos Hills, CA performing Let Us Garland Bring, Op. 18, Mvmt V by Gerald Finzi (1901 - 1956) and Sogno by Paolo Tosti (1846 – 1916)
Maximus Gurath, 18, cello, from Sioux Falls, SD performing Julie-O by Mark Summer ( b.1958 )
Anagha Kapsi, 15, violin, from Exton, PA performing Chaconne by Tomaso Antonio Vitali (1663-1745)
Blue Shelton, 17, flute, from Philadelphia, PA performing Sonatine for Flute and Piano, Mvmt 1 by Pierre Sancan (1916 - 2008 )

Highlights Episode

Sunday, December 13, 2020 - 6:00pm

This highlight episode features beautiful music and interviews selected out of From the Top’s archive, including a rambunctious performance of a piece called “The Tom and Jerry Show” performed by a 14-year-old pianist from Tennessee. A young bassoonist shares the moving story of her family’s journey moving from city to city for job opportunities during the recession and how she fell in love with the bassoon during that hard time. The National Youth Orchestra of America performs the music of Leonard Bernstein.
Performers & Repertoire

14 year-old pianist Mayuki Miyashita from Maryville, TN performing The Tom and Jerry Show by Hiromi Uehara
18 year-old bassoonist Sandra Bailey from Atlanta, GA performing I. Allegro con moto from Sonatine by Alexandre Tansman
18 year-old guitarist Jason Lewis from Glencoe, IL performing III. La Toccata de Pasquini from Sonata by Leo Brouwer
16 year-old cellist John-Henry Crawford from Shreveport, LA performing III. Allegro commodo from Sonata No. 2 by Bohuslav Martinu
18 year-old violinist Gregorio Lopes from Bloomington, IN performing Melodie by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
National Youth Orchestra of the USA performing “Prologue” and “Mambo” from Symphonic Dances from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein
National Youth Orchestra of the USA performing Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture by George Gershwin, arranged by Robert Russell Bennett

Boston, MA

Sunday, December 20, 2020 - 6:00pm

Program to be announced.

Where Are They Now?

Sunday, December 27, 2020 - 6:00pm

This program is From the Top’s annual “Where Are They Now” show featuring interviews with From the Top alumni and the fantastic music they’re making in their early professional careers. We meet a pianist who just released an album to raise money for the people of Flint, Michigan suffering from the contaminated water crisis, a winner of last year’s Queen Elizabeth Competition, and a baritone who just won his first Grammy.

Performers & Repertoire:

The Catalyst Quartet with pianist Stewart Goodyear (Paul Laraia, viola; Karla Donehew Perez, violin; Jesse Montgomery, violin; Karlos Rodriguez, cello) performing Piano Quintet in G minor I. Allegro con moto by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
John Brancy, baritone performing "How Fair This Spot" and "Spring Waters" by Sergei Rachmaninoff, with Peter Dugan, piano
Stella Chen, violin performing Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35, Mvt 3 “Allegro Vivacissimo” by Pyotr Tchaikovsky with the Belgian National Orchestra, Hugh Wolff, conductor.
Jeremy Ajani Jordan, composer/piano performing “For Flint” by Jeremy Ajani Jordan
Yi Wei, marimba performing Sonata No.1 in G Minor, Presto by Johann Sebastian Bach for Marimba
Yi Wei, marimba and Béla Fleck, banjo performing Two Part Invention No 13 in A Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach

La Jolla, CA

Sunday, January 3, 2021 - 6:00pm

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.

Performers and Repertoire:

San Diego Youth Symphony Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Jeff Edmons, performing IX. Scherzo: Presto assai e molto leggiero from The Comedians, Op. 26 by Dmitry Kabalevsky (1904- 1987)
San Diego Youth Symphony Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Jeff Edmons, performing II. Romance. Larghetto from Piano Concerto No.1, Op.11 by Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) with pianist, George Li
Violinist Audrey Park, 16, from Valencia, CA; Cellist Kevin Song, 16, from San Diego, CA, and co-host/pianist Michelle Cann performing: Primavera Porteña from "The 4 Seasons of Buenos Aires" by Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Violinist Vijay Gupta and cellist Kevin Song, 16, performing: II. Très vif from the Sonata for Violin and Cello by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Tuba player Logan Wadley, 18, from Vermillion, SD performing: I. Allegro pesante from the Sonata for Tuba and Piano by Paul Hindemith (1895-1963), with Michelle Cann, piano
Flutist Phoebe Rawn, 18, from Seattle, WA performing: Andante Pastoral et Scherzettino by Paul Taffanel (1844-1908), with Michelle Cann, piano
San Diego Youth Symphony Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Jeff Edmons, performing

Recent Broadcasts

Blanket Fort I

Sunday, November 29, 2020 - 6:00pm

From the Top’s first Blanket Fort episode enters the homes of young musicians during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Performers and Repertoire:

Cellist Cameron Chiu, 18, from Palatine, Illinois performing Bach: Prelude from Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009
Violinist Alexandra Woroniecka, 17, from Stony Brook, New York performing Sea-Shell by Carl Engel, arr. Efrem Zimbalist
Double Basist Braden Ellis, 18, from Broomall, Pennsylvania, recipient of From the Top’s Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award, performing Massenet: Meditation from Thaïs
Pianist Clara Wrolstad, 14, from Minneapolis, Minnesota performing Schumann: Variations On The Name “Abegg”, op. 1
Purple Hippopotami Quartet, from the Merit School of Music in Chicago, featuring Emma Krause, 18, flute from Downers Grove, Illinois; Katherine Chen, 15, from Chicago, Illinois; Nina Touboul, 17, from Chicago, Illinois; Natalia (Natasha) Kozintseva, 17, from Chicago, Illinois performing Raga Sept “Single” by Derek Charke (b. 1974)

Kennett Square, PA

Sunday, November 22, 2020 - 6:00pm

From picturesque Longwood Gardens outside Philadelphia, this week’s episode features an exciting array of young talent – including a young violinist who got her start in the El Sistema-inspired music program, Play-On Philly, a violin and guitar duo performs a dramatic tango, and a young cellist who once performed at a Chicago Bulls game.

Performers and Repertoire:

Jack Boettcher, 17, cello, performing Pampeana No. 2, Op. 21 for Cello and Piano by Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983)
Angeline Ma, 15, piano, performing Waltz in F major, Op. 34 no. 3 and Waltz in A flat major, Op. 42 by Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Faustina Housner, 17, violin and Ria Modak, 18, guitar, performing Histoire du Tango: Cafe 1930 by Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Akili Farrow, 18, violin, performing Sonatensatz in C Minor by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Andrew Chang, 17, clarinet, performing IV. Andante molto - allegro energico from “Time Pieces” for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 43 by Robert Muczynski (1929-2010)
Angeline Ma, 15, piano, performing I. Prelude from Eight Concert Études, Op 40 by Nikolai Kapustin (b.1937)

Philadelphia, PA

Sunday, November 15, 2020 - 6:00pm

Host Peter Dugan and co-host Charles Yang collaborate with some incredible young people from Greater Philadelphia and beyond in this week’s all new episode.

Performers and Repertoire:

Preston Hong, 11, guitar, from Los Altos, CA performing Sunburst by Andrew York (b. 1958)
Carson Ling-Efird, 15, cello, from Seattle, WA performing Capriccio for violoncello and piano by Lukas Foss (1922 - 2009)
Ursula Hardianto, 17, piano, from San Diego, CA performing Caprice Espagnol Op. 37 by Moritz Moszkowski (1854 - 1925)
Kayleigh Kim, 16, violin, from Oak Hill, VA performing 5 Pieces for Two Violins and Piano (excerpts) by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975) with guest host, violinist, Charles Yang
Pierce Ellis, 17, viola, from Broomall, PA performing Suite for Viola and Piano (1919), Mvmt 4 by Ernest Bloch (1880 - 1959)