From the Top
Sunday, 3 to 4 pm
NPR's From the Top showcases the music, stories, and unique humor of America's best young classical musicians, in which they demonstrate their prodigious ability and reveal details of their non-musical lives, from sibling secrets to favorite foods.
Meet Host Peter Dugan! He grew up in Upper Darby, went to St Joe's Prep here in Philly and then studied at Juilliard in NYC where he lives now.
Throughout November, hear some young musicians from the Philadelphia area performing on From the Top.
On Sunday, November 1, Villanova-based Alyssa Gabrilovich plays two Rachmaninoff etudes in a show recorded in September at New York City’s Kaufman Center.
On Sunday, November 9, Broomall-based violist Peirce Ellis makes his From the Top debut playing Bloch’s rarely heard Suite for Viola in a show recorded in part at Philadelphia’s Turtle Studios.
On Sunday, November 22, listen to a rebroadcast of a show recorded in 2018 at Longwood Gardens, with violinist Faustina Housner of Cherry Hill, NJ, violinist Akili Farrow of Philadelphia and two young musicians from Kennett Square, pianist Angeline Ma and clarinettist Andrew Chang.
On Sunday, November 29, hear a show created earlier this year at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, in which double bassist Braden Ellis, brother of violist Peirce, performs Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs, recorded at his own home in Broomall.
On Sunday, December 6th hear two more performances recorded at Philadelphia’s Turtle Studios: Exton-based violinist Anagha Kapsi plays Chaconne by Tomaso Antonio Vitali and Central High School senior, flutist Blue Shelton performs music by Pierre Sancan.
More about From the Top
Podcasts
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Monday, March 1, 2021 5:30pmA teenage flutist's playful performance of Carmen Fantasie kicks off this week's program. We also meet a precocious group of young musicians playing the music of Bach, Chopin, and Cahuzac.
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Monday, February 15, 2021 5:30pmA brilliant young trumpeter performs the music of Haydn. He's joined by a 15-year-old cellist performing a classic showpiece, a talented teenage piano duo from Hawaii, and two young musicians with deeply expressive solo performances.
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Monday, January 25, 2021 5:30pmIt's our "Where are They Now" show where we find out what alumni of From the Top have been doing lately and hear their fantastic music. We revisit two alums who are part of the award winning Calidore String Quartet, speak to a harpist who's founded her own non-profit and enjoy a thrilling new work for cello.
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Monday, January 4, 2021 5:30pmTwo sisters from Hawaii kick off the program with the virtuosic music of Sarasate, we enjoy an expressive performance of Villa-Lobos by a young cellist, a stunning harp-piano duo, and the world premiere of a teenage composer's work for string quartet.
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Monday, December 14, 2020 5:30pmThe victorious finale from Stravinsky's Firebird Suite is performed by a teenage pianist. He's joined by a talented 14-year-old performing Beethoven, and a young violinist whose musical roots span two continents.