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.

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Recent Broadcasts

Highlights Show

Sunday, March 29, 2020 - 6:00pm

This week's show features beautiful music and interviews selected out of From the Top’s 20 year deep 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 who shares the moving story of her family’s journey moving from city to city for and how she fell in love with the bassoon during that hard time … and the National Youth Orchestra of America performs the music of Leonard Bernstein.

Performers and repertoire

14-year-old pianist Mayuki Miyashita from Maryville, TN. performs The Tom and Jerry Show by Hiromi Uehara
18-year-old bassoonist Sandra Bailey from Atlanta, GA. performs Mvt I Allegro con moto from Sonatine by Alexandre Tansman along with pianist, Christopher O’Riley
18-year-old guitarist Jason Lewis from Glencoe, IL. performs Mvt 3 La Toccata de Pasquini from Sonata by Leo Brouwer
16-year-old cellist John-Henry Crawford from Shreveport, LA. performs Mvt. 3, Allegro commodo from Sonata No. 2 by Bohuslav Martinu with Christopher O’Riley, piano
18-year-old violinist Gregorio Lopes from Bloomington, IN. performs Melodie by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, with Christopher O'Riley, piano
The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America under the direction of David Robertson performs “Prologue” and “Mambo” from Symphonic Dances from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein.
The National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America under the direction of David Robertson performs Porgy and Bess: A Symphonic Picture by George Gershwin, arranged by Robert Russell Bennett

Kennett Square, PA

Sunday, March 22, 2020 - 6:00pm

From picturesque Longwood Gardens outside Philadelphia, From the Top, with this week’s Guest Host Peter Dugan, 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.

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)

Storrs, CT

Sunday, March 15, 2020 - 6:00pm

This week’s guest host is Molly Yeh a young chef with her own show on the Food Channel called “Girl Meets Farm.” But before she developed an interest in food, she was an extraordinary classical percussionist who appeared on From the Top over a decade ago when she was just 15-years-old. This week, she returns to introduce us to an impressive lineup of young musicians including a talented teenage bassoonist from rural Oklahoma and a 17-year-old pianist who delivers a fiery performance of Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.

Miray Ito, violin, 15, performing Polonaise No. 1 in D Major, Op. 4 for Violin and Piano by Henryk Wieniawski (1835-1880), with Peter Dugan, piano.
Camden Archambeau, cello, 17, performing I. Prelude from Cello Suite No. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 1010, by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).
Taylor Akin, bassoon, 17, performing IV. Aria from Suite from an Imaginary Opera, for Bassoon and Piano by John Steinmetz (b.1951), with Peter Dugan, piano.
Sofia Gilchenok, viola, 16, performing II. Allegro appassionato from the Sonata for Viola and Piano in E-flat major, Op. 120, No. 2 by Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), with Peter Dugan, piano.
Tony Yun, piano, 17, performing II. Dance Infernale and VII. Finale from The Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) arr. by G. Agosti (1901-1989).