History
1995
Jennifer Hurley-Wales and Gerald Slavet conceive of an old-time radio program featuring young musicians to be taped at the newly-restored New England Conservatory's (NEC) Jordan Hall
1996
Concert Productions Inc. (CPI) creates a demo radio program entitled Child's Play hosted by Gerald Slavet as Executive Producer with musician George Russell, Jr., and Producers Wesley Horner & Jennifer Hurley-Wales
1997
Jennifer Hurley-Wales and Gerald Slavet invite concert pianist Christopher O'Riley to serve as host
Relationships form with Public Radio International (PRI) and WGBH in Boston
First pilot Young Performance taped at New England Conservatory (NEC)'s Jordan Hall in Boston with Christopher O'Riley as host
Second Young Performance pilot plays for a focus group at Public Radio Program Directors (PRPD) National Conference
1998
New program title "From the Top" is introduced at the PRPD National Conference
From the Top, NEC, and the Education Development Center (EDC) join forces to pilot an education program at the Lincoln-Eliot School in Newton, MA
1999
U.S. Department of Education provides $3 million in start-up funding over the next four years
Tom Voegeli is named as Producer. Three more pilot programs are produced, with two recorded at Jordan Hall featuring special guests Richard Stoltzman and Mark O'Connor
Hayley Goldbach is cast as Co-Announcer
Cole Porter's "You're the Top" is first performed as theme by Christopher O'Riley
Show #1 is recorded at Tanglewood Music Center in Lenox, MA
(Read more about 1995-1999 in "The Pilot Years")
2000
Weekly radio broadcast From the Top launches on 100 stations; PRI reports carriage at 132 stations within the first month
Joanne Robinson cast as Announcer, Hayley Goldbach re-cast as Roving Reporter
Program eliminates controversial "Audience Choice" competition after first taping season
First interdisciplinary curriculum is developed and piloted in two Boston public schools
Francis Hunnewell joins staff as CEO to expand funding base
2001
From the Top carried on 200 stations with the fastest growth of any music program in history
Second interdisciplinary curriculum (math, music, and technology) is developed and
piloted in Boston Public Schools
From the Top becomes a member of the National Consortium for Music-in-Education
Partnership is forged with Cherry Lane and From the Top education materials appear in Cherry Lane Magazines reaching 300,000 kids and 15,000 teachers
2002
From the Top carried on 231 radio stations nationwide
Arts Leadership program developed; nine From the Top alumni participate in five Massachusetts school programs
In partnership with Music Educators National Conference (MENC), From the Top produces seven music lesson plans available on MENC and From the Top websites
From the Top partners with Young Audiences to develop an in-school residency program
2003
From the Top carried on 245 radio stations nationwide
From the Top incorporates as independent 501(c) 3 non-profit
New Board of Directors created. Francis O. Hunnewell becomes Chairman; Jennifer Hurley-Wales and Gerald Slavet are named CEOs & Directors; 8 Directors are appointed
From the Top launches Young Composer Project
In partnership with Young Audiences, From the Top creates Make Your Own Radio Show in-school residency for 5-8 graders with pilots in three states
2004
From the Top teams up with McGraw-Hill Publishers to feature From the Top musicians in music textbook series for grades 2-12, expected to reach millions of kids over five years
Arts leadership workshops begin, training every performer who appears on the radio show to return to their community as advocates for the arts and peer role models
Board of Overseers forms to engage a select group of donors as ambassadors
250 attend From the Top's first event fundraiser at Jordan Hall with special guest, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg
2005
From the Top partners with the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to identify and award 25 deserving young musicians a Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award of $10,000 in support of furthering their musical education
200 attend Impromptu, From the Top's first gala fundraising event - a dinner followed by a live concert taping in Boston's Symphony Hall
Caeli Smith named new Roving Reporter
2006
NPR begins national distribution of From the Top
UBS becomes national corporate sponsor for the radio series
Taping of a 13-part TV series From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall is produced by Don Mischer Productions for From the Top and WGBH, in association with Carnegie Hall with exclusive corporate sponsorship by Liberty Mutual
Second annual Gala raises over $300,000, nearly three times more than the previous year
From the Top is awarded a grant from The Wallace Foundation to support Turn It Up!, an education program for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders in Boston Public Schools
2007
Broadcast of From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall debuts on PBS in April
Third annual Gala raises over $350,000 setting a new record
Tajah Coleman-Jones and Emily Mayer named new Roving Reporters
Launch of the From the Top Soirée series, which introduces new audiences to From the Top through intimate performances in homes across the nation
From the Top is taped live in Aspen, CO, presented by the Aspen Music Festival and School. In Aspen, From the Top hosts the first ever Alumni Gathering, bringing together more than 40 performers from previous shows
2008
Emmy Award-winning director Gary Halvorson joins Don Mischer Productions to direct the second season, renamed From the Top at Carnegie Hall
The first TV season entitled From the Top: Live from Carnegie earns three Daytime Emmy nominations
Fourth From the Top Gala is held at WGBH Studios and raises more than $375,000 in charitable support.
Through "Iowa Makes Music" From the Top collaborates with Orchestra Iowa to bring the power, joy, and excitement of classical music to Iowa youth and families through a mulit-year residency funded by the United States Department of Education
From the Top teams up with Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops to present a weekend of live concerts, radio broadcast and CD recording
2009
Three episodes of From the Top at Carnegie Hall are offered on PBS National Primetime following Great Performances
From the Top at Carnegie Hall receives five Daytime Emmy nominations
From the Top and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation award more than $1 Million in scholarships to musicians with financial need
From the Top creates a "Teacher Kit" of multimedia products and learning activities based on the radio and television broadcasts to enliven classroom learning
200th radio broadcast taped at Heifeitz International Music Institute in Wolfeboro, NH
Telarc releases From the Top at the Pops CD featuring From the Top performers with Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops
From the Top at Carnegie Hall receives two Daytime Emmys
2010
In partnership with Hawaii Public Radio, From the Top brings the radio show and education programs to Hawaii Island and reaches more than 2000 community members, made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education
In honor of its 10th Anniversary, From the Top profiles ten outstanding alumni on the radio show and in an online video series
Fifth From the Top Gala is held at Boston’s Symphony Hall and includes a live taping of the radio show with the Boston Pops. The gala raised $385,000
From the Top awards the first Margaret Stewart Lindsay Arts Leadership Awards to support high school and college students implement music-based community projects in the Boston area.