From the Top welcomes guest host Lawrence Gilliard Jr. for the March 17th broadcast. A trained actor for the stage and screen, as well as a classically-trained clarinetist, Lawrence Gilliard Jr. is most recognized for playing the infamous series regular role of ‘D’Angelo Barksdale’ on HBO’s critically acclaimed series The Wire as well as the series regular role of ‘Bob Stookey’ on AMC’s hit drama The Walking Dead. As a clarinetist, Lawrence performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at its 2018 gala.
3/3 This documentary-style episode takes listeners backstage at the prestigious Stulberg International String Competition in Kalamazoo, MI where we mean violinist Maya Anjali Buchanan, cellist La Li, and violinist Charlotte Marckx
3/10 From the Media Arts Center at Roxbury Community College, this episode was taped for kids from Conservatory Lab Charter School in Boston, and features the Chicago-based teenage trombone quartet The Bone Rangers, as well as a young violinist who skipped his own high school graduation to appear on From the Top.
3/17 Guest Host Lawrence Gilliard Jr. joins the 125th anniversary celebration of the Walnut Hill School for the Arts with performances by current students and alumni of the prestigious Boston-area arts high school. We’ll hear the Walnut Hill String Ensemble, soprano Lauren Michelle, pianist Taylor Wang, trumpeter Huanyi Yang and the Walnut Hill Alumni Piano Trio.
3/24 From the Texas Music Educators Association Conference in San Antonio, Texas, we hear a fantastic line-up of all-Texas performers alongside special guests Black Violin! We’ll meet a young bassoonist who’s willing and able to play any instrument his band director needs to be covered, an award-winning saxophone quartet performs an exquisite piece by Guillermo Lago, and all the young performers join guests Black Violin on stage for their fun reimagining of “Simple Gifts” by Joseph Brackett.
3/31 TBD
