Season 2: Episode 1 - Rhythm and Strings
A hypnotic performance on the marimba by sixteen-year old Joshua Jones of Chicago, Illinois kicks off Season Two of From the Top at Carnegie Hall. Whether he’s accompanying the Gospel choir in his church or playing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Percussion Scholarship Group, Josh finds rhythm all around him, sometimes even while doing his household chores. Also featured is twelve-year old violinist Anna Lee from Queens, NY whose classmates affectionately call her “one small girl with one big attitude.” Accompanied by host Christopher O’Riley, Anna gives a performance of Pablo de Saraste’s Ziguenerweisen (Gypsy Airs), Op. 20, No. 1, and also appears as one-third of the Maggiore Trio—the third and final performers featured on this episode. Rounding out the trio are eleven-year old pianist Alice Burla, who was featured in Season One of From the Top at Carnegie Hall, and thirteen-year old cellist Taeguk Mun. The Maggiore Trio brings the season premiere to its climax with a performance of the third movement Presto (Gypsy Rondo) from Haydn’s Piano Trio in G Minor.
Performer Bios
The Maggiore Trio
The members of the Maggiore Trio are all students at the Juilliard School Pre-College Division.
Anna JiEun Lee
Anna JiEun Lee (violin), 12, is a recipient of From the Top's $10,000 Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award.
Joshua Jones
Joshua Jones (marimba), 16, is a sophomore at Whitney M. Young High School in Chicago, Illinois and a member of the Percussion Scholarship Group of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Educational Resources
Episode 1: Found Sound
Students work in small groups to compose and record a "found percussion" piece using materials at hand in the classroom, their bodies, and rhythms they identify in their environment.
Episode 1: Gypsy Airs
A listening activity that focuses on how traditional, folk, and classical music influence one another, as exemplified by Sarasate's "Gypsy Airs" (Zieguernewisen).
