FROMTHE TOP AND CARNEGIE HALL ANNOUNCE FINALISTS IN BIG BREAK,
AN ONLINE CONTEST LOOKING FOR THE BEST YOUNG MUSICIANS IN AMERICA
Public Now Invited To Vote For Their Favorite Performances
Through December 14
Winners To Perform On Special Episode of NPR’s From The Top RadioBroadcast
And At Carnegie Hall Family Concert In New York City In Spring 2011
(November 29, 2010, NEW YORK, NY)—From the Top and CarnegieHall today announced that 15 finalists have been selected in the Big Break,a new online contest that offers young musicians the chance to compete for aspot on a special episode of NPR’s From the Top national radiobroadcast, hosted by Christopher O’Riley, as well as an opportunity to gracethe stage at Carnegie Hall, performing in a Carnegie Hall Family Concert inZankel Hall in spring 2011.
Finalists were drawn from a pool of hundreds of video submissions uploadedbetween October 18 and November 18 at YouTube.com/BigBreak. Allclassical musicians, the contestants ranged in age from 8-18 and participatedon a variety of solo instruments including piano, bassoon, harp, voice, violin,cello, bass, marimba, and recorder. They hailed from all over the country.
Public voting on the top 15 finalists begins today at YouTube.com/BigBreakand ends on December 14. The Big Break’s grand-prize winner, selected bythe public, will appear on an upcoming national radio broadcast of From theTop on NPR with host Christopher O’Riley. The grand-prize winner plusseveral runners-up will also perform at a Carnegie Hall Family Concert on April9 in Zankel Hall, produced in partnership with From the Top and hostedby Mr. O’Riley. Big Break winners will be announced on or after December15.
The Big Break finalists are:
Gideon Broshy (piano), age 16, New York, NY
Emily Brown (double bass), age 16, Myersville, MD
Samuel Casseday (double bass), age 17, Jacksonville, FL
Jennifer Cha (violin), age 14, Naperville, IL
Brannon Cho (cello), age 15, Short Hills, NJ
Michael Davidman (piano), age 13, New York, NY
Peter Eom (cello), age 15, Gilbert, AZ
Helen Gerhold (harp), age 14, Lansdale, PA
Nikita Haduong (violin), age 15, Henderson, NV
Jiyeon Kim (guitar), age 17, Cleveland, OH
Kate Liu (piano), age 16, Winnetka, IL
Ryan Norville (flute), age 17, Fort Myers, FL
Arianna Smith (viola), age 17, St. Charles, IL
Marcelina Suchocka (marimba), age 17, Chicago, IL
Kevin Sun (piano), age 17, Carmichael, CA
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 has beenthe preeminent showcase for America’s best young classical musicians. Throughaward-winning NPR and PBS programs, online media, a national tour of liveevents, community and leadership programs for young musicians, From the Topshares the stories and performances of pre-collegiate musicians with millionseach week. Each program provides a compelling and entertaining window into theworld 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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