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From the Top

NPR

Music and stories from America’s best young classical musicians.

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  • 21 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 35 min
  • English

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Episodes 21

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  • September 7 · 27 min

    Youngest of the Young Highlights Program

    We’ve gone back in our archive to rediscover astonishing performances by some of the youngest performers (12 and under) to appear on From the Top! You’ll even hear a young violinist who now performs in the London Philharmonic. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • August 31 · 1 hr 3 min

    Four Hands Piano & Atlanta Music Project

    Clarinetist Alex Laing joins Peter Dugan at the Atlanta Music Project for a program featuring musicians from Georgia! We hear the fantastic Atlanta Music Project Senior Youth Choir performing a Spiritual. A flutist shares her love for Eastern European Folk music, a percussionist performs Sibelius on marimba, and Peter collaborates on a gorgeous four handed Ravel with an alum. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • August 24 · 31 min

    The Swan & More from Michigan: Part II

    We meet a violist with a love for Formula One racing who gives an evocative performance of Schumann. We hear a conversation between a teen clarinetist and his mentor, the principal clarinetist of the Minnesota Orchestra, who share much in common including leaving their homes in Costa Rica to study at Interlochen Arts Academy. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • August 17 · 36 min

    The Swan & More from Michigan: Part I

    A talented 12-year-old cellist performs The Swan by Saint-Saëns, a flutist with a passion for marine biology plays a dreamy Fantasie by Hüe, and the winner of Interlochen Arts Academy’s Concerto Competition performs a difficult but rewarding work by Ysaÿe. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • August 10 · 35 min

    Mozart, Kreisler, and Schubert: Part II

    We meet a percussionist from the famous LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts who gives a tour of the marimba to Peter Dugan, a 13-year-old cellist who loves both ballet and music, and a pianist who relates with the emotions of Schubert. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • August 3 · 36 min

    Mozart, Kreisler, and Schubert: Part I

    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. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • July 27 · 30 min

    Let’s Get Together: Texas Youth Orchestra & More

    Peter collaborates with a 16-year-old violinist on an elegant rag. We hear Poulenc's trio for oboe, bassoon, and piano and meet one of Texas’ premier high school orchestras who perform Shostakovich. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • July 20 · 29 min

    Let’s Get Together: Rachmaninoff to Barber

    How does ensemble size and instrumentation shape the listening experience? We hear from a 14-year-old violinist who feels passionately about music-making, meet a teen pianist who takes on Rachmaninoff, and hear Peter play Barber with a young cellist who speaks about the importance of a local music program in his life. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • July 13 · 48 min

    Chopin, Guitar Quartet & More from Minnesota: Part II

    We hear from a teenage guitar quartet playing a lively Brazilian piece, an oboist playing a new work by composer Reena Esmail, and a violinist who imagines herself in Brahms’ world when she performs. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • July 6 · 38 min

    Chopin, Guitar Quartet & More from Minnesota: Part I

    We meet a 14-year-old pianist playing a Chopin Scherzo, a classical cellist who also plays rock covers, and a young trumpeter who gives insight into the physicality of playing his instrument. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • June 29 · 25 min

    Viola Power and a Young Pianist

    An 11-year-old pianist knocks our socks off with Chopin Etudes and we hear from an all-viola quartet on a mission to spread the beauty of the viola to the world. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • June 22 · 40 min

    Countertenor’s Lullaby and an Irish Violist

    A teen pianist plays Scriabin, an Irish American violist explores classical and Celtic fiddling, and a countertenor sings a gorgeous lullaby. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • June 15 · 30 min

    Kreisler and Childhood on a Farm

    What happens when a young violin virtuoso feeds classical music into artificial intelligence? She uncovers some of AI's secrets and shares her scorching rendition of a Kreisler composition. Plus a 16-year-old French Hornist evokes his childhood on a farm filled with music and animals! See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • June 8 · 31 min

    Discovering Sibelius and More

    A young cellist discovers a Sibelius work that was buried and unknown for over a century. We also hear from a young harpist playing Salzedo and an introverted trumpeter who lets her instrument do the talking. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • June 1 · 36 min

    West Side Story, Ragtime and a Teen Composer

    We hear a variety of American music from Bernstein’s West Side Story to ragtime piano and a young composer’s jazz-inspired saxophone performance. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • May 25 · 40 min

    Bach, Popper, and Saint-Saens

    A trio of middle schoolers deliver impressive solo performances of Bach, Popper, and Saint-Saens with host Peter Dugan. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • May 18 · 34 min

    Beethoven and Singing Trombone

    A teen pianist shares her passion for Beethoven, and the son of professional vocalists falls in love with making the trombone sing. Plus we’re treated to a flashback finale featuring a Brahms horn trio. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • May 11 · 41 min

    Film Scores to Brahms Viola

    A teen violinist takes her love of film scores to new heights, a young flutist shares how he got his start watching online videos, and a passionate violist performs Brahms. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • May 4 · 28 min

    Celebrating Musicians with Disabilities 2026: Part II

    Co-hosted by violinist and disability activist Julia LaGrand and host Peter Dugan, this week’s episode spotlights the perspectives and artistry of young musicians with disabilities and is part of a broader initiative by From the Top to increase inclusivity and transparency for disabled artists. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

  • April 27 · 37 min

    Celebrating Musicians with Disabilities 2026: Part I

    Co-hosted by violinist and disability activist Julia LaGrand and host Peter Dugan, this week’s episode spotlights the perspectives and artistry of young musicians with disabilities and is part of a broader initiative by From the Top to increase inclusivity and transparency for disabled artists. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes