Season 2: Episode 3 - Meeting Our Heroes
Fourteen-year old Travis Johnson from Milwaukie, Oregon chose the wood for his own custom-made guitar on which he performs Boppin’ by Bryan Johannson, a piece commissioned for him, on this episode of From the Top at Carnegie Hall. Seventeen-year old marimba player Jingchen Sun moved to New York City after her father sold the family’s home in China to pay for her marimba. Inspired by a chance meeting with the great marimba player and composer Keiko Abe, Jingchen gives an energetic performance of Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic’s Ultimatum I before a live audience. Twelve-year old MacKenzie Melemend from Paxton, Massachusetts is a bowling champion and a master magician in addition to being a skilled pianist. His pursuit of the piano has enabled him to meet President Bush, Rosie O’Donnell, and Marvin Hamlisch, and to perform as part of a Mozart program on The Discovery Channel. MacKenzie closes the episode with a performance of Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 1.
Performer Bios
Jingchen Sun
Jingchen Sun (marimba), 17, is a recipient of From the Top's $10,000 Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award.
Mackenzie Melemed
Mackenzie Melemed (piano), 13, is a seventh grade student at the Paxton Center School in Paxton, Massachusetts.
Travis Johnson
Travis Johnson (guitar), 15, is from Milwaukie, Oregon and attends Gladstone High School in Gladstone, Oregon.
Educational Resources
Episode 3: Guitar Is Everywhere!
A quick activity (10-15 minutes) in which students watch a guitar performance and discuss the versatility of this amazing instrument.
Episode 3: Marimba Beat
In this activity students will develop ideas and plans for constructing their own marimbas using readily available materials. As a variation, students could construct other percussion instruments such as xylophones or drums.
