From the Top

From the Top and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation share a passion for helping exceptional young people reach their potential in all areas of their lives. Each year, From the Top’s Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award Program provides 25 outstanding young musicians who demonstrate financial need with a $10,000 scholarship to advance their artistic development and education. In addition, Jack Kent Cooke Young Artists perform on the hit NPR and PBS programs, From the Top, and participate in leadership training to spread the power of classical music. Since 2005, more than 50 talented young people have received the scholarship, using their awards for new instruments, music lessons, summer music program tuition, competition fees, travel costs, computers, recording devices, and more.

Jack Kent Cooke Young Artists range from age 11 to 18, reside in 25 states, and represent five different countries (including China, Costa Rica, South Korea, Poland, and the US).  Serious students of classical piano, violin, flute, guitar, and more, they are also active in community-service projects and academic pursuits.  Yet, common to all is a passion for music and a love for sharing it.

One Young Artist Award recipient remarked, “Because of being selected as a Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist, I have been given the opportunity to play for my district school board and given a district ‘Award of Excellence,’ and I have played at assemblies in front of all 2,000 kids in my school!  From the Top’s Cultural Leadership training opened doors for me to spread viola power—really the power of classical music—by demonstrating my love for what I do best.”

Together, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation and From the Top celebrate the unlimited potential of our country’s young students, by spreading the message that achievement and excellence are possible for all. Learn more about the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award and apply.

From the Top is a nonprofit organization that encourages and celebrates the commitment of young people to music and the arts through a variety of media, including nationally broadcast television and radio shows, education programs, and its website.

From the Top is a weekly radio showcase of America's top young classical musicians, hosted by acclaimed pianist Christopher O’Riley. Distributed by NPR to 250 stations nationwide, and sponsored by PBS, From the Top reaches 750,000 loyal listeners each week. Check your local listings at www.npr.org.

From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall debuted on PBS in 2007 with funding support from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, as well as other sponsors. Performers ages eight through 18 from across the country made the trek to New York’s Carnegie Hall to offer top-notch renditions of classical and familiar tunes with host Christopher O’Riley, enlivened by interviews, quizzes, skits, and hometown visits. Jack Kent Cooke Young Artists Ania Filochowska, Roderick Demmings, Peng-Peng Gong, Tessa Seymour, and Sean Tripp are among the talented kids featured in the series. Check your local listings on www.pbs.org.