EarRelevant Staff | 20 JUN 2025
BOSTON, Massachusetts— What began two and a half decades ago in a conservatory’s recital hall has grown into a national incubator for artistic leadership. This year, From the Top—a syndicated public radio program showcasing classical music from young artists—marked its 25th anniversary, unveiling a slate of new initiatives and a fresh vision for its impact beyond performance.
Launched in 2000 by Boston arts leaders Jennifer Hurley-Wales and Gerald Slavet, From the Top started as a performance-focused broadcast at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall. It was built on the conviction that pre-collegiate musicians, aged 8 to 18, could inspire, connect and transform audiences. Over the years, the show expanded from a simple radio experiment to a robust multimedia platform broadcast on more than 200 public radio stations, reaching 350,000 weekly listeners across the United States—and millions more online.
At the heart of From the Top’s evolution is its Fellowship: each year roughly 100 young musicians are selected for a multi-faceted development experience. Since 2005, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has awarded more than $4 million in grants to 429 young musicians through From the Top, with many individual awards reaching up to $10,000 to cover instruments, summer tuition, private lessons, and audition costs. Fellowship recipients are encouraged not only to perform but to design community-oriented creative projects—covering topics from climate awareness and rural music access to disability advocacy.
The long-term impact of the program is evident in its alumni, who count among principal players in U.S. orchestras and innovative soloists pushing the boundaries of classical music. Notable graduates include clarinetist Gabriel Campos Zamora, pianist-composer Conrad Tao, beatboxer-cellist Kevin Olusola (best known as the beatboxer of the a cappella group Pentatonix), cellist Zlatomir Fung, and soprano Nadine Sierra.
To mark its silver anniversary, From the Top launched fresh programming and strategic partnerships. NPR Music’s Tiny Desk celebrated Fellows in January, observing that “these teenaged artists will renew your faith in the future of music.” Special spring broadcasts—including episodes featuring Black alumni voices, musical siblings (co-hosted by Orli and Gil Shaham), and eco-artists—aired April through June.
A centerpiece of the anniversary celebration is the “Music and the Brain” initiative, launched in partnership with University of Southern California’s Brain & Creativity Institute. In mid-March, Fellows participated in a public concert and youth symposium at USC’s Cammilleri Hall, collaborating with researchers on neuroimaging studies to investigate how intensive music training influences adolescent brain development, self-perception, and social connection. USC’s Assal Habibi, associate professor (research) of psychology and neurology, described the project as a rare opportunity to link scientific inquiry with real-world musical practice.
From the Top’s programming increasingly emphasizes diversity and inclusion. Recent initiatives spotlighted young eco-artists, musicians with disabilities and those from rural and small-town backgrounds. The mission-driven programming philosophy features Fellowship alumni leading episodes around climate, accessibility and social change. One recent special focused on disabled and neurodivergent young musicians, including performances with Itzhak Perlman and virtual forums co-hosted by the Kennedy Center.
On the FTT website, executive director Gretchen Nielsen reflected on the program’s progress over the years: “From the Top has transformed from a simple idea into a powerful movement … a robust training ground for artistic leadership, community engagement, and innovation.”
For 25 years, From the Top has woven performance, mentorship and preparation into a national narrative—broadcast weekly, celebrated online, and lived daily by young artists reaching audiences far beyond the concert hall. As the program moves into its next phase, it continues fostering young musicians as both performers and changemakers. With nearly 3,000 alumni and an expanding digital platform, the organization’s future will be shaped by a generation that sees classical music not just as art, but as advocacy and connection. ■
EXTERNAL LINKS:
- From the Top: fromthetop.org
Read more by EarRelevant Staff.
.png){kind=logo}