It'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.

A Schumann Quartet, music by Coleridge-Taylor and musical entrepreneurs

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

Arts

Literature

Performing Arts

Design

Food

Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

Music

Grammy Award-winning bass player Victor Wooten joins us this week as we celebrate great music out of Nashville! We hear an electric performance on violin, imitating sounds from Jimi Hendrix's guitar, by a teen musician who already holds a real job in an orchestra. We meet a talented pianist who performs Beethoven. And a teen bluegrass mandolin player with a career on the rise performs solo and collaborates on a toe-tapping tune with Victor Wooten and Peter Dugan.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Beethoven to Bluegrass and Special Guest Victor Wooten

A 15-year-old violinist introduces us to his charming coastal community of Damariscotta, Maine and a talented young banjo player brings us into her musical home in the foothills of Leicester, North Carolina. Co-host/violinist Tessa Lark draws on her own childhood in Kentucky as she reflects with Peter Dugan on the stories and performances of these talented young musicians from rural communities. Don't miss the videos of each hometown visit at fromthetop.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Musicians from Rural America: Violin and Banjo

We meet a teen violinist down by the bayou in Monroe, Louisiana, travel to the rolling farmland of Redlands, California to the home of a driven young guitarist, and hear from a young composer who enjoys the support of his community in Fargo, North Dakota. Co-host/violinist Tessa Lark speaks about her own upbringing in Eastern Kentucky as she reflects with Peter Dugan on the experiences of these talented young artists from small towns. Don't miss the videos of each hometown visit at fromthetop.org.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Musicians from Rural America: Louisiana to California

We're paying homage to our beautiful planet and the works of art it inspires! A teen harpist from rural California performs Gary Schocker's Memory of Trees, a contemplation on the effects of climate change. Finally, a 17-year-old cellist plays The Swan and speaks of her work in environmental advocacy.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Earth Day Special: Trees and Swans

We're celebrating Earth Day with performances that celebrate our natural world. Up first, a young oboist performs a piece inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings of jimson weed and speaks about volunteering in a community garden. We also meet a teen pianist who performs Tan Dun's colorful homage to the Chinese countryside and a composer who connects with nature through the study of insects and shares a work inspired by the Salt Creek Tiger Beetle.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

A Schumann Quartet, music by Coleridge-Taylor and musical entrepreneurs

Download our free app to listen on your phone