FROMTHE TOP AND CARNEGIE HALL ANNOUNCE WINNER IN BIG BREAK,
AN ONLINE CONTEST LOOKING FOR THE BEST YOUNG MUSICIANS IN AMERICA
17-year-old Percussionist Marcelina Suchocka from Chicago
Selected by Public as Big Break Grand Prize Winner
Ms. Suchocka and Three Additional Big Break Finalists Invited
To Perform on Special Episode of NPR’s From The Top Radio Broadcast
And at Carnegie Hall Family Concert in New York City in April 2011
(December 16, 2010, NEW YORK,NY)—From the Top and Carnegie Hall today announced that 17-year-oldpercussionist Marcelina Suchocka from Chicago, Illinois has been selectedby the public as the Grand Prize Winner of Big Break, a new onlinecontest for young American musicians. Launched earlier this fall, BigBreak offered young musicians the chance to compete for a spot on a specialepisode of NPR’s From the Top national radio broadcast, hosted byChristopher O’Riley, as well as the opportunity to grace the stage at CarnegieHall, performing in a Carnegie Hall Family Concert in Zankel Hall in April2011.
Ms. Suchocka is a student at Chicago’s Whitney M. Young Magnet High School andis also a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Percussion ScholarshipProgram. She was selected from a pool of hundreds of classical musicians whosubmitted videos to the Big Break contest between October 18 andNovember 18. All classical musicians, the contestants ranged in age from8-18 and participated on a variety of solo instruments including piano,bassoon, harp, voice, violin, cello, bass, marimba, and recorder. On November29, Ms. Suchocka and 14 other finalists were selected by From the Top andCarnegie Hall to be part of a public vote between November 29 and December14. Her winning performance of an excerpt from Anders Koppel’s Concertofor Marimba and Orchestra can be viewed at YouTube.com/BigBreak.
As Big Break’s grand-prize winner, Ms. Suchocka will appear on anational radio broadcast this spring of NPR’s From the Top, hosted byChristopher O’Riley. The episode will be taped on Sunday, April 10 before astudio audience at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, the multiplatform,acoustically superb performance venue of Classical 105.9 FM WQXR, New YorkCity’s sole dedicated classical music station. The previous day, on Saturday,April 9, she will perform at a Carnegie Hall Family Concert in Zankel Hall,produced in partnership with From the Top and hosted by Mr. O’Riley. AsCarnegie Hall and From The Top were very pleased by the high performance levelof all Big Break finalists, three runners-up have also been selected toappear on the From The Top national broadcast and Carnegie Hall FamilyConcert. The three runners-up are (in alphabetical order): 16-year-oldpianist Gideon Broshy (New York, NY); 16-year-old cellist Brannon Cho(Short Hills, NJ); and 14-year-old harpist Helen Gerhold (Lansdale,PA). The special episode of From The Top’s weekly series,featuring Big Break’s Grand Prize Winner and runners-up, will air onparticipating NPR stations later in the spring.
Each year, From the Top receives about a thousand of applications from youngclassical musicians across the country wishing to appear on its radio andtelevision broadcasts. This contest marks the first time that From the Top hasopened that audition process to the public, inviting them to help identifytheir favorite performers. Carnegie Hall, with its deep commitment to programsthat nurture young talent and encourage musicians to aspire to excellence, ishappy to continue its partnership with From the Top, offering Big Breakmusicians the opportunity to perform on its popular Family Concert series.
About From the Top
For the past decade, From the Top hosted by Christopher O’Riley hasbeen the preeminent showcase for America’s best young classical musicians.Through award-winning NPR and PBS programs, online media, a national tour oflive events, community and leadership programs for young musicians, From theTop shares the stories and performances of pre-collegiate musicians withmillions each week. Each program provides a compelling and entertaining window intothe world of a diverse group of young people who pursue life with passion,determination, and joy. For more information, please visit: fromthetop.org.
About Carnegie Hall
Founded in 1891, Carnegie Hall presents performances by the world’s finestartists on its three great stages—the renowned Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage,the intimate Weill Recital Hall, and the innovative Zankel Hall—ranging fromorchestral concerts, chamber music, and solo recitals to jazz, world, andpopular music. Extensive music education and community programs developed byCarnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute serve people in New York City, across theUS, and around the globe, playing a central role in Carnegie Hall's commitmentto making great music accessible to as many people as possible. For moreinformation about Carnegie Hall, please visit carnegiehall.org.
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