From the Top

NPR

4.7 (200)
MUSIC
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

From the Top showcases the music, stories, and unique insights of America's finest young classical musicians.

4D AGO

Gershwin, Fiddle, & the United States Air Force Band’s Heritage Winds

It’s From the Top’s 25th birthday! We meet a 13-year-old violinist who is equally accomplished in classical repertoire and fiddling. A 16-year-old pianist from New York performs a brilliant Beethoven Sonata and talks about her incredible experience in publishing. Finally, we 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 ensemble Heritage Winds and they perform a rousing work by Paquito D'Rivera. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

47 min
OCT 27

More Renowned Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award Alumni

We are celebrating the 20th year of our Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award and reconnecting with some musical stars who received the Award as teens. We’ll meet the executive director of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and catch up with a world-renowned opera singer and an Avery Fisher Career Grant winning-pianist. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

41 min
OCT 20

20 Years of Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Awards and Accomplished Alums

We're celebrating our 20-year partnership with the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and hearing how the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award has empowered young musicians with financial need. We’ll meet two past recipients: a violinist/arts leader who has dedicated her career to creating opportunities for young artists of diverse backgrounds and a lauded concert flutist who is also passionate about education and access. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

36 min
OCT 13

Classical Guitar, Sax Quartet, & More

We meet an award-winning saxophone quartet from Texas. A teen flutist who is also a talented figure skater performs Faure. An impressive 16-year-old performs a piece by a guitarist/composer who inspires him, and a violinist from Hong Kong studying in Los Angeles tells us about how a letter from a stranger impacted his life. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

59 min
OCT 6

Sentimental Sax and Sparkling Marimba

An 18-year-old saxophonist plays a sentimental melody by Amy Beach, and we meet a passionate percussionist who has been dedicated to her craft since she was a toddler. We close the show with a flashback finale featuring an accomplished pianist back when she was 10! Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

28 min
SEP 29

Brahms Viola to Carnegie Hall

A teen violist treats us to a sweeping Brahms sonata. We meet a tuba player who shares how it feels to perform on the stage at Carnegie Hall and an 18-year-old clarinetist recalls how his parents influenced his musical pursuits. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

33 min
SEP 22

Inventive Young Guitarist and Piazzolla for Four Cellos

A guitarist-composer invents her own sound, a young pianist performs Liszt with power and finesse and an all-star cello quartet rocks Piazzolla. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

33 min
SEP 15

Trumpeter’s Musical Legacy and a Tremendous Tenor

We meet a trumpeter from a small town in Mexico with music in his blood. A tenor sings Mozart with beautiful color. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

26 min

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4.7

out of 5

200 Ratings

Magnificent

06/26/2022

DC Wash

The music is incredible. The interview with the musicians reveal the heart and intellect behind that music. Impressive for sure.
The host!

01/09/2022

JuilliardVoice

The new host Peter Dugan makes this show even better! So happy he’s at the helm leading the new generation with an open heart and keen ear.
An institution

06/29/2021

Pete Trg

Great show, esp the Christopher O’Reilly episodes before 2018
I wish I could here the episodes of From the Top with Christopher O’Riley

11/24/2021

canie bug

I would like to hear the older episodes of From the Top. I like the new ones but the old ones would hear me good to hear to from the past I wish I would put the rest of the seasons on there I wish Y’all would put the older episodes own here the new ones are great wish I could here the older eppsodes episodes