From the Top

From the Top: Classical Music Podcast NPR's From the Top showcases the music, stories, and unique humor of America's best young classical musicians.

January 22, 2024

January 22, 2024 • A teen quartet plays Mozart, a 15-year-old flutist shares why her instrument is a dependable friend, and a violinist plays a Kreisler arrangement and draws connections between science and art.

Mozart, Kreisler, and Schubert: Part I

January 15, 2024

January 15, 2024 • A 17-year-old pianist plays the work of a lesser-known Russian romantic pianist/composer and describes his interest in robotics. A violinist with a passion for musical suites performs a contemporary work. An exciting trio comprised of bass, flute, and bassoon play Piazzola.

Cassadó, Grant Still, & a Unique Trio: Part II

January 8, 2024

January 8, 2024 • A 17-year-old violinist shares how he deals with performance anxiety and plays William Grant Still. A teen guitarist speaks of his family connection with Colombia and the vibrant piece that was written for him to perform. A 12-year-old cellist gives an exuberant performance of Cassadó's Requiebros and shares how she sneaks in some time for bluegrass.

Cassadó, Grant Still, & a Unique Trio: Part I

December 11, 2023

December 11, 2023 • We're meeting some phenomenal musicians from the Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick, Massachusetts. The school is celebrating 50 years as an arts high school and sharing their talented teens with Guest Host Orli Shaham. Enjoy performances of Ravel, Rachmaninoff, Schubert, and more.

50 Years of Walnut Hill

November 27, 2023

November 27, 2023 • We're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Over the years, From the Top has featured the sensational winning youth ensembles of this renowned competition, and we're going to revisit some of these incredible performances. We'll also reveal the most recent grand prize winners who have yet to be featured on From the Top.

Sensational Youth Chamber Music with Fischoff

November 6, 2023

November 6, 2023 • A young violinist explores the connection between powerlifting and music. A teen bassoonist plays a stirring piece, a trombonist shows off the range of his instrument and shares his passion for nutrition. And a young composer presents their exciting work for an eclectic grouping of instruments!

Dvořák, Winds, & a Young Composer

October 16, 2023

October 16, 2023 • We're back at the 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival. You'll hear more incredible performances, including some with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and meet semi-finalists and winners of the competition.

Meet the Winners: Behind the Scenes at the Cliburn, Part II

October 9, 2023

October 9, 2023 • We're backstage at the 2023 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition and Festival. Hear brilliant performances from the competitors and learn more about this outstanding group of young pianists gathered from around the world.

Behind the Scenes at the Cliburn, Part I

September 25, 2023

September 25, 2023 • A teen guitarist from Colorado plays a beautiful work by Bach, a cellist plays an emotional Elegy by John Williams, and a pianist performs a piece that draws from the worlds of classical and jazz. We'll also hear from a teenage bassoonist who shares what it's like living with neurodivergence and meet a young clarinetist who left his home in Peru to pursue music in the U.S.

Bach, Bassoon & John Williams

September 4, 2023

September 4, 2023 • We hear Clara Schumann performed on clarinet, a ferocious performance of Rachmaninoff, and a moving new cello work inspired by the pandemic. We also meet an 18-year-old who loves the euphonium so much that he's determined to make it a household name and a young woman who is making an impression on the double bass world.

Euphonium Fanatic, Rachmaninoff, & More

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