Vermont Musicians Featured on "From the Top" Dec. 2 at 5pm on VPR Classical and at 6pm on VPR

Woodstock's Thea Talento and Charlotte's Katie Jordan Featured in Performances Taped Live at Randolph's Chandler Music Hall

Two young Vermont musicians will perform this week on "From the Top," the weekly National Public Radio (NPR) showcase of America's best young classical musicians. Featured are Thea Talento, an 18-year-old violinist from Woodstock, and17-year-old horn player Katie Jordan from Charlotte along with other talented teen musicians from around the country. The program was taped on September 29 at Chandler Music Hall in Randolph.

Vermont Public Radio will broadcast the episode twice on Sunday, December 2: first at 5pm on VPR Classical and again at 6pm on VPR.

On the program, Jordan, a senior at Vergennes Union High School, performs the first movement of Richard Strauss' Horn Concerto No.1 in E-flat major, Op.11 and speaks with host Christopher O'Riley about growing up in Vermont. Talento, a senior at Sharon Academy, performs "Tempo di Minuetto" by Fritz Kreisler and laments the lack of shopping in her home state.

Thea and Katie are joined in the broadcast by Christopher Pell, a 16-year-old clarinetist from Bronx, NY, Alvin Zhu, a 16-year-old pianist from Pittsburgh, PA and recipient of "From the Top's" Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist, and the Cerberus piano trio from Chicago, IL featuring Kevin Hu, 14, violin, Ophelia Hu, 17, piano, and Mira Luxion, 17, cello.

"Every week on the radio, 'From the Top' gives us another reason to cheer for the promise of classical music through our young musicians," says Mark Vogelzang, President of Vermont Public Radio. "VPR is delighted to partner with the Chandler Music Hall to showcase the dedication and passion of these terrific Vermont students."

Recorded in live concert settings in concert halls around the U.S., From the Top captures the top-notch musicianship, offbeat humor and insights of America's best classical musicians aged nine to 18. High-profile performers such as Yo-Yo Ma, Dawn Upshaw, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Bobby McFerrin have appeared to talk about their musical influences and the development of their careers, and to perform with the young artists. The program has been described by the Chicago Tribune as ""One of the most original programs in the history of public radio," while the Los Angeles Times declared, "'From the Top' is making classical music wild and fun and crazy!"

VPR, featuring news and information and public radio entertainment, can be heard at 107.9 FM in northern Vermont, 89.5 FM in the Connecticut River Valley, 88.7 FM in the Rutland region, 88.5 FM in St. Johnsbury, 94.3 FM in Bennington, 92.5 in Manchester, 94.5 in Brattleboro, 95.3 in Middlebury, 94.1 in Montpelier, 101.1FM in Rupert and online at vpr.net.

VPR Classical can be heard at 90.9 in the Champlain Valley, 88.1 in the Connecticut River Valley, 95.1 in the Sunderland/Manchester area, 93.5 in Bennington, 103.9 in Hanover, 106.9 in Manchester, 99.5 in Middlebury, 99.5 in Newbury, 106.9FM in Woodstock and online at vpr.net.

VPR and VPR Classical are available anytime as high quality mp3 streams at vpr.net. VPR Classical is also available via HD Digital Radio receivers in northern Vermont at 107.9-HD2, in the Connecticut River Valley at 89.5-HD2, in St. Johnsbury at 88.5-HD2, in the Rutland region at 88.7-HD2 and on 94.3-HD2 in Bennington.

"From the Top" is produced in association with WGBH Radio Boston and New England Conservatory of Music, its home and education partner.