Two Local Teenage Musicians to Appear on “From the Top”

16-year-old pianist Kimberly Hou from Arlington, Virginia and 17-year-old violinist Brian Hong from Fairfax Station, Virginia will appear on an upcoming episode of From the Top, the hit NPR radio program featuring America’s best young classical musicians and hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O’Riley. Broadcast from College Park, Maryland, the show will air on Classical WETA 90.9 FM on June 5 at 6:00 p.m. This episode was taped before a live audience at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of Maryland on April 16.

Kimberly studies the piano with Marjorie Lee at Lee Studios in Vienna, Virginia. She has played with chamber ensembles for the past five years including a duo, trio, quartet, and quintet. She was one of eight pianists to attend the Babayan International Academy at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and she was the only pianist chosen to participate in both the 2009 and 2010 National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute in Washington, D.C. When she’s not playing music, Kimberly enjoys volunteering as a medical research assistant, watching funny TV shows with her mom, and hanging out with her friends.

Brian has been playing the violin for 12 years and currently studies with June Huang. He is the concertmaster of the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and participated in the 2010 Summit Music Festival, the 2010 Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, and the 2009 Music Academy of the West. Aside from violin, Brian enjoys studying science, reading, surfing the Internet, and being with friends.

On the show Kimberly performs the fourth movement from Sonata by Samuel Barber and Brian performs Sonata No. 4 by Marco Uccellini, accompanied by host Christopher O’Riley on the harpsichord. Also on the broadcast: 16-year-old guitarist John Marcel Williams from Wintersville, Ohio, performing the first and second movements of “Aquarelle” by Sérgio Assad; 18-year-old bassoonist Sandra Bailey from Atlanta, Georgia performing the first movement of Sonatine by Alexandre Tansman, accompanied by Christopher O’Riley on the piano; and the Juilliard Pre-College Division Piano Trio, comprised of 17-year-old violinist Dawn Wang from North Haledon, New Jersey, 17-year-old cellist Xinchi Wang from New York City, and 16-year-old pianist Conrad Tao from New York City. The trio’s performance of “Eventide” by Conrad Tao is sponsored by the ASCAP Foundation.

For the past decade, From the Top has been the preeminent showcase for America’s best young musicians. Through award-winning NPR and PBS programs, online media, a national tour of live events, and education programs, From the Top shares the stories and performances of pre-collegiate musicians with millions each week.

From the Top is made possible by support from US Trust and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. It is also supported through the generous contributions of individuals and institutions as well as public radio stations.

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

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