NPR Programs: From the Top

Teens Tackle the Classics in San Francisco

Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:49:00 -0400
This week, from San Francisco's Herbst Theatre, a 12-year-old pianist confronts a tricky Hungarian Rhapsody, a teen string quartet plays music by Ravel, and a virtuoso clarinetist from Costa Rica confesses his nostalgia for soccer and salsa dancing.

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William Bolcom Joins Teens To Play His Music

Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2008 01:05:00 -0500
This week, gifted young musicians perform compositions by an America original — William Bolcom, who joins them in a concert of his music. A 17-year-old violinist plays the "Graceful Ghost" rag, a 14-year-old soprano enlivens a cabaret song, and a teen string quartet performs music Bolcom wrote at age 12.

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Classical Kids Shine in New England

Date: Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:28:00 -0400
From the Top returns to its home at Boston's New England Conservatory, where an 18-year-old Texan puts a new spin on a piece of musical Americana, a teen quartet plays Mendelssohn, and a formerly "reluctant" cellist discovers Debussy. This program originally aired February 13, 2008.

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Teen Talent On The Rise In Texas

Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:35:00 -0500
From the Allen Theater at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, home grown and international kids from age nine to 17 dig into the classics, producing impressive performances of works by Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Barrios and more.

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Talented Teens Shine at Ravinia

Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:37:00 -0500
This week's From the Top comes from the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois, where an 11-year-old violinist from Seattle plays introspective music by Ernest Bloch, a 17-year-old Chinese-born percussionist delivers a sparkling marimba solo, and a passionate 18-year-old pianist from Berkeley, California, plays Schumann. This program originally aired November 14, 2007.

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