From the Top at Carnegie Hall Video Podcast | PBS: Recent Episodes
WGBH Lifestyles Unit
From the Top at Carnegie Hall, hosted by celebrated pianist Christopher O'Riley, showcases the top-notch skills, offbeat humor and compelling stories of America's best young classical musicians. This video podcast offers interviews, at-home videos, Carnegie performances, out-takes and raw, unedited rehearsals.
Travis Johnson is a 14-year-old classical guitarist from Milwaukie, Oregon. Travis chose the wood for his own custom-made guitar on which he performs Boppin’ by Bryan Johanson, a piece commissioned for him.
MacKenzie Melemed is a 12-year-old pianist from Paxton, Massachusetts. MacKenzie is a bowling champion and a master magician in addition to being a skilled pianist. His pursuit of the piano has enabled him to meet President Bush, Rosie O’Donnell, and Marvin Hamlishch. On the stage of Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, MacKenzie plays Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 1 by Sergei Prokofiev.
Jingchen Sun is a 17-year-old marimba player from Elmhurst, New York. Inspired by a chance meeting with the great marimba player and composer Keiko Abe, Jingchen gives an energetic performance of Ultimatum I by Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic in front of a live audience at Carnegie Hall.
Jingchen Sun is a 17-year-old marimba player from Elmhurst, New York. Jingchen moved to New York City after her father sold the family’s home in China to pay for her marimba. She now studies at Julliard.
Matthew Lipman is a 16-year-old violist from outside Chicago, Illinois. On the stage of Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, Matthew plays La Campanella by Niccolo Paganini, accompanied by host Christopher O’Riley.
Matthew Lipman is a 16-year-old violist from outside Chicago, Illinois. We visit him at home, where he likes to practice in the bathroom. Matthew is an affable and dedicated violist with a family to match – his mother drives him two hours to his lessons and, although his father was recently laid off, the family still finds a way for Matthew to pursue his music.
Daniel Song is a 12-year-old pianist from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. On the stage of Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, Daniel plays Transcendental Etude No. 7 in E-flat major (Eroica) by Franz Liszt. Before From the Top at Carnegie Hall, Daniel’s grandfather had never seen him perform, but after the show, the two are reunited backstage.
Caeli Smith is a 15-year-old violinist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before her performance on stage at Carnegie Hall in New York, she rehearses Bordel 1900 from “L’Histoire du Tango” by Astor Piazzolla, with Piazzolla’s pianist Pablo Ziegler and From the Top at Carnegie Hall host Christopher O’Riley.
Caeli Smith is a 15-year-old violinist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Accompanied by host Christopher O’Riley, Caeli gives us a stirring performance of Bordel 1900 from “L’Histoire du Tango” by Astor Piazzolla.
The Maggiore Trio plays Finale: Presto (Gypsy Rondo), Piano Trio in G major, by Franz Joseph Haydn on the stage of Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall. The Maggiore Trio is made up of 12-year-old Anna JiEun Lee on the violin, 11-year-old Alice Burla on the piano, and 13-year-old cellist Taeguk Mun.
Joshua Jones is a 16-year-old marimba player from Chicago, Illinois. On the stage of Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York, Joshua gives a hypnotic performance on the marimba of Rhythm Song by Paul Smadbeck.
Joshua Jones is a 16-year-old marimba player from Chicago. We visit him at home, where he describes his love for percussion and the marimba. Whether he’s accompanying the Gospel choir in his church or playing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Percussion Scholarship Group, Joshua finds rhythm all around him, sometimes even while doing his household chores.
Anna JiEun Lee is a 12-year-old violinist from Bayside, New York. We visit her at her home in Queens to see her family, her brother and sister, and hear what inspires her to play the violin.
Anna JiEun Lee gives a violin performance of Pablo de Sarasate's Zigeunerweisen (Gypsy Airs), Op.20, No. 1
Performance and interview with the New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Benjamin Zander
Interviews with 17-year-old saxophonist Kevin Olusula and 11-year-old pianist George Li