Young musicians from Kansas City perform for a national audience on NPR's 'From the Top'

You can hear NPR's "From the Top" on 91.9 Classical KC Saturdays 10-11am and Sundays 7-8pm. From the Top on 91.9 Classical KC is presented by the UMKC Conservatory.

Additional support for this broadcast comes from the Youth Symphony of Kansas City Board of Directors.

Courtesy of NPR's "From the Top"

Host

Peter Dugan

Performances

Moment Musicaux, Op. 16, No. 4 in E minor
by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Brayden Miao, piano

Sixteen year old Brayden Miao is a pianist and violinist from Springfield, Missouri and attends Central High School. He studies under the tutelage of Dr. Hye-Jung Hong and Dr. Wei-Han Su at Missouri State University and has found success in several national and international competitions. Beyond the piano, Brayden is a skilled violinist and competitive swimmer.

Villanelle for French Horn and Piano
by Paul Dukas
Kayla Nelson, horn
Peter Dugan, piano

Kayla Nelson is an eighteen year old horn player who attends Liberty North High School in Liberty, Missouri, studies with David Sullivan of the Kansas City Symphony, and is a member of the Youth Symphony of Kansas City. She was the 2024 winner of the Northland Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Competition and has attended summer music festivals at the Interlochen Arts Academy and Luzerne Music Center. Beyond music, Kayla enjoys being outside, going to the gym and hanging out with friends.

Courtesy of NPR's "From the Top"

The Great Train Race
by Ian Clarke
Alex Saddler, flute

Sixteen year old flute player Alex Saddler is a junior at Blue Springs South High School in Blue Springs, Missouri. Alex has studied for three years with Beverly Carlson and has attended masterclasses with Kansas City Symphony principal flute, Michael Gordon. Alex has performed with the Blue Springs South High School Wind Symphony, Youth Symphony of Kansas City, Missouri All-State Band and the Missouri Ambassadors of Music. He has also performed at the Mid-America Music Association Festival, winning Top Virtuoso in 2024.

Courtesy of NPR's "From the Top"

Elegy No. 1 in D major for Contrabass and Piano
by Giovanni Bottesini
Jacob O'Toole, double-bass
Peter Dugan, piano

Seventeen year old double-bassist Jacob O'Toole is a senior at Park Hill High School in Kansas City, MO. Jake is principal double-bass of the Youth Symphony of Kansas City, and the Missouri district and all state orchestras. He also won first place in the 2023 Northland Symphony Orchestra Young artist competition. He studies with Joseph Nunez, a member of the Kansas City Symphony, and was accepted as a member of the 2024 Eastern Music Festival.

Courtesy of NPR's "From the Top"

Scherzo Tarantelle Op. 16
by Henryk Wieniawski
Maria Ioudenitch, violin
Christopher O'Riley, piano
(from 2013)

A "From the Top" alumnus, violinist Maria Ioudenitch was born in Russia and immigrated to Kanas City with her family at the age of two. She received first prizes in the Ysaÿe International Music Competition, the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition and the Joseph Joachim International Competition. She has performed with major orchestras all around the world and has recorded for the Warner Classics record label.

Bonus Content

Get to know Hannah Wolkowitz, an 18 year old composer and saxophonist from St. Louis. Also, listen to one of her compositions performed by the Kronos Quartet.

Listen • 9:48