A NOTE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As we close our 25th anniversary season, I am so thankful for the supporters, partners, and young musicians that have made From the Top into what it is today. It’s been an honor to carry on the legacy that was built by our co-founders Jennifer Hurley-Wales and Gerald Slavet.
This has been a year of celebration, reflection, and bold new adventures and I’m so proud to be part of it.
Gratefully yours,
Gretchen Nielsen
Executive Director
“This year marks a defining moment for From the Top – a celebration of 25 years of empowering young musicians and a bold step into a future shaped by their artistry and leadership.”
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GRETCHEN NIELSEN
From the Top empowers and celebrates young musicians and envisions a more empathetic and connected society through their contributions. We believe that connecting music to ideas and societal issues is a powerful tool to help us better understand our world.
From the Top is:
Bringing young musicians together to explore career development, content creation, and community engagement
Celebrating young musicians through From the Top’s NPR broadcast/podcast and social media platforms
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Exploring the intersection of music and societal issues through programming and discourse
Fellowship Connects Young Musicians with Arts Leaders
The Learning and Media Lab Fellowship is a six-week online program for all From the Top musicians, exploring what it means to be an artist in today’s world, including:
• making an impact through music,
• developing a community with peer and professional mentors, and
• discovering the wide career possibilities available to musicians today.
This season 107 Fellows completed the program and had the opportunity to speak with guest artists about their careers.
SPOTLIGHT
Musicians and the Environment
This special seminar series brought together 60 young artists to learn about the intersection of music and environmental awareness.
They worked with mentors like Sophie Shackleton, Yo-Yo Ma’s longtime creative producer, and climate scientist, Mingfang Ting. The results were individual projects, including a teen composer who worked with elementary school kids to create instruments out of trash.
“From the Top has transformed from a simple idea into a powerful movement, evolving into a robust training ground for artistic leadership, community engagement, and innovation.”
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GRETCHEN NIELSEN
Youth & Professionals Collaborate in Making Media
From the Top’s weekly broadcast is heard on more than 200 stations from Maine to Alaska. Each year, we record 18 new episodes with more than 100 young musicians in studios across the United States.
We celebrated From the Top’s milestone year with a coveted NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert appearance. The performance was watched by 1.1 million people and counting.
NPR Music raved, “Together, we created a document for the world to witness the powerful message of great music made by the next generation of very fine musicians.”
From the Top’s podcast was honored by the 29th annual Webby Awards and Producer Megan Swan received a Gracie Award from the Alliance for Women in Media.
We marked the fifth anniversary of Daily Joy. Since March 2020, we have sent 1300 Daily Joy emails featuring short performance videos created by nearly 1,000 of our young musicians and alumni, with more than 5 million views and counting across our multiple platforms!
“It blows my mind that some of From the Top’s youngest kids from back in the day are probably now parents themselves, and no doubt passing on the love of great music to the next generation. Congratulations on 25 years.”
Nathan Cone, Texas Public Radio
This past year we launched Talks From the Top, a video series about artist life and navigating a career in music. The multi-episode series features esteemed guest artists speaking with FTT Fellows about their backgrounds, and collegiate and professional journeys.
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2.5 Million
Social Media Reach
5 Million
Press Coverage Reach
12 Million
Broadcast Reach
Music and the Brain: An Extraordinary Residency
In March 2025, From the Top partnered with the University of Southern California’s Brain & Creativity Institute to host Music and the Brain, an extraordinary residency to explore the intersection of music, neuroscience, and well-being.
The residency at USC brought together 11 From the Top Fellows who recorded for the NPR broadcast, performed in a multimedia concert, participated in a brain scan project, and presented research projects to 100 of their peers during a Youth Symposium.
“I’ve always thought of music and STEM as totally separate. Now I see they’re beautifully connected,” said From the Top Fellow Evan Ding, 17, from West Roxbury, Massachusetts. Hear more from Evan.
SPOTLIGHT
Pianist and Scientist Jascha Silberstein
Jascha was one of 11 From the Top Fellows to participate in the Music and the Brain residency.
“The past four years of high school have revolved around my two passions: music and neuroscience,” he says. “FTT’s Music and the Brain program has felt like a culmination of these two interests.”
“The thing that moves me most about the science of music and the brain is not the answers, it’s the mystery.
FROM THE TOP HOST PETER DUGAN
Investing in Musicians with Financial Need
From the Top’s longstanding partnership with the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation has been a game-changer for over 429 remarkable young artists striving to attain excellence in music despite financial barriers. More than $4.2 Million has been granted to young musicians over the past 19 years. Meet the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Class of 2025.
In its second year, the Tim Banker Talent Development Award supports musicians with financial need who have enormous potential but face the immediate need for additional music training to bolster their rising talent. Meet the Tim Banker Talent Development Award recipients.
SPOTLIGHT
Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Zoie Glosson
Receiving the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award has allowed Zoie to purchase a professional level euphonium as well as take consultation lessons with leading euphonium professors in preparation for her college applications.
“Music has always been my safe space,” she says.
Financials
From the Top’s revenue last year was $2,055,188. Expenses were $2,106,405. We received generous individual, foundation and government support and are very grateful.
Revenue: $2,055,188
EXPENSES: $2,106,405
OUR Partners
The Edward T. Cone Foundation • Florek & Morgan • iZotope • Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism • Onion Foundation • Robert Treat Paine Association • Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation • The Sea Breeze Foundation • Senior Helpers • The Volgenau Foundation • WilmerHale
Leadership
Board of Directors
Elizabeth Sikorovsky, Chair
John L. Pattillo, Treasurer
Gabriel Campos Zamora
Angelica Cortez
Monica Davisson
Corinne Ferguson
Marcia Head
Elaine LeBuhn
Soo Youn Lee
Louise Lee
Kevin Olusola
Kadar Qian
Peter Ross
Benjamin Rothschild
Kathleen van Bergen
In Memoriam
Francis O. Hunnewell, Founding Chair
Directors Emeriti
Jennifer Hurley-Wales
Gerald Slavet
Jeffrey F. Rayport
Administration
Gretchen Nielsen, Executive Director
Artistic
Peter Dugan, Host
Peter Dugan’s position is sponsored by
Susan and Gerald Slavet
Tessa Lark, Co-Host/Creative
Alex Laing, Co-Host/Creative
Orli Shaham, Co-Host/Creative
Charles Yang, Co-Host/Creative
We also thank our Board of Advisors: Susan Beckerman • Phillip T. Griffin • Laura Kelsey • Jordan Kretchmer • Nancy Lubin • Anne Midgette • Linda D. Millard • Michael Thurber • Anthony Tjan • Gabrielle Wolohojian