From the Top Announces 2015–2016 National Tour; Popular NPR Radio Show Hosted by Christopher O’Riley Celebrates Young Musicians; From the Top of the Rocky Mountains to the Sands of the Florida Beaches

From the Top Announces 2015–2016 National Tour

Popular NPR Radio Show Hosted by Christopher O’Riley Celebrates Young Musicians

From the Top of the Rocky Mountains to the Sands of the Florida Beaches

(Boston)…Now in its 15^th year, From the Top with Host Christopher O’Riley, the preeminent showcase for young musicians, announces its 2015–2016 National Tour. The 17-city tour invites audiences to live recordings of the popular NPR radio program, featuring outstanding classical musicians ages 8 to 18.

Season highlights include a live recording event featuring the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by their new Music Director, Ward Stare. One of the country’s leading pre-professional ensembles, The National Repertory Orchestra, will be featured in a concert in Vail, Colorado, presented by Bravo! Vail. From the Top will also be on hand at the 2016 Mondavi Young Artists Competition in Davis, California, to showcase some of the competition’s all-stars. For the fifth time, From the Top will return to the Aspen Music Festival and School and will also make its first visit to Naples, Florida, for a concert presented by Artis-Naples.

In all, From the Top is planning three shows in California, three in Texas, two in Colorado, and one in Montana for a really great ride west of the Mississippi; shows will also be recorded in Georgia, Massachusetts, Maine, Florida, New York, and more.

In addition to recording its live radio show, at each tour stop From the Top helps young musicians take their music beyond the concert hall to diverse audiences in school and community settings. Each performer participates in an Arts Leadership Orientation where they explore their leadership pathways and brainstorm ways to take music beyond the concert hall. The young Arts Leaders then put those new skills to use in a unique outreach event crafted for each community on the tour. In the 2015–2016 season, From the Top will extend the outreach programs in several select communities with the generous assistance from Tippet Rise Fund of the Sidney E. Frank Foundation, the William R. Kenan Jr Charitable Trust, and the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation, as well as many other generous donors.

Recognizing that financial need often does, but never should, hold a young musician back, From the Top and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will also award $200,000 in scholarships to extraordinary young musicians with financial need. Since 2005, The From the Top Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award has awarded over $2 million to pre-collegiate musicians to support their musical development.

Broadcast on over 220 stations nationwide to an audience of more than 700,000 listeners, From the Top celebrates the amazing performances and captivating stories of America’s best pre-college classical musicians. The most popular weekly one-hour classical music program on public radio, the show has been described by the Boston Globe as, “an entertaining, accessible and inspirational mix of outstanding musical performances, informal interviews, skits and games; the show is a celebration of extraordinary musicians who happen to be teenagers leading fairly normal lives.”

From the Top is now accepting applications from eligible young musicians at fromthetop.org/casting.

2015–2016 From the Top National Tour*

Thursday, July 9, 2015: Vail, Colorado

Vilar Center

Presented by Bravo! Vail

Sunday, July 12, 2015: Aspen, Colorado

Harris Hall

Presented by Aspen Music Festival and School.

Saturday, September 19, 2015: Atlanta, Georgia

Schwartz Center for Performing Arts

Presented by Emory University

Sunday, September 27, 2015: Big Sky, Montana

Warren Miller Performing Arts Center

Presented by Arts Council of Big Sky

Sunday, October 4, 2015: Boston, Massachusetts

Jordan Hall

Presented by From the Top

Sunday, October 25, 2015: Orono, Maine

Collins Center for the Arts

Presented by the University of Maine, Orono

Tuesday, November 17, 2015: Naples, Florida

Hayes Hall

Presented by Artis-Naples

Sunday, January 17, 2016: Rochester, New York

Kodak Hall

Presented by Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra

Saturday, February 6, 2016: Boston, Massachusetts

Jordan Hall

Presented by From the Top

Saturday, February 13, 2016: San Jose, California

Morris Dailey Auditorium

Presented by San Jose State University

Tuesday, February 16, 2016: Idyllwild, California

William Lowman Concert Hall

Presented by Idyllwild Arts Academy

Friday, March 4, 2016: Lake Jackson, Texas

Clarion Music Performance Center

Presented by Brazosport College

Friday, March 18, 2016: Davis, California

Mondavi Center

Presented by Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, UC Davis

Additional dates and locations to be determined. Schedule is subject to change. Check www.fromthetop.org for updated information.

From the Top is America’s largest national platform celebrating the stories, talents, and character of classically-trained young musicians. Through live events, NPR and YouTube broadcasts, scholarships, and leadership programs, From the Top empowers these extraordinary young people to engage and inspire music lovers of all ages.

Broadcast on nearly 220 stations nationwide to an audience of nearly 700,000 listeners, From the Top Live with Host Christopher O’Riley has been described by the Boston Globe as, “an entertaining, accessible, and inspirational mix of outstanding musical performances, informal interviews, skits, and games, the show is a celebration of extraordinary musicians who happen to be teenagers leading fairly normal lives.” From the Top’s PBS television series From the Top at Carnegie Hall (2007–2009) won two daytime Emmy awards, and From the Top’s YouTube channel offers videos and behind-the-scenes insights.

From the Top’s live recordings reach more than 20,000 live audience members of all ages across the United States each year. In conjunction with its national tour, From the Top’s Education & Outreach department offers leadership training to young artists and conducts classroom and community programs leveraging the power of its performers as role models for younger students.

From the Top’s radio program is made possible through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and corporate underwriting from U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management. It is also supported through the generous contributions of individuals and institutions as well as public radio stations.  From the Top’s founding partners are New England Conservatory and WGBH.

From the Top is a non-profit organization proudly based in Boston’s vibrant cultural district. Learn more at www.fromthetop.org.