Braden appeared on From the Top’s “Blanket Fort Show”, which first aired the week of April 27, 2020. He returned with an original composition on Show 391, airing November 9, 2020.

Braden Ellis (double bass), 18, hails from Broomall, Pennsylvania where he takes college-credit courses and homeschools. He is a recipient of From the Top’s Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. He studies at The Juilliard School Pre-College Division with teachers Tim Cobb and Tomoya Aomori. Braden enjoys performing music of all genres. One of his favorite musical experiences has been performing at the Marion Anderson Award Gala. Braden also enjoys astronomy.

Pierce performed on Show 391 from Turtle Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 25, 2020.

Peirce Ellis (viola), 17, hails from Broomall, Pennsylvania and is in his senior year at Marple Academy Homeschool. He attends the Juilliard Pre-College Program where he studies with Toby Appel and Joohyun Kim. Peirce has participated in the Youth Chamber Orchestra in Temple University’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians and the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. He has performed nationally with the Perfect Fourth Quartet through the Sphinx Organization. After training with Project 440, he co-designed a classical music presentation and presented it to Philadelphia elementary school students. Peirce has attended numerous summer music programs, including Meadowmount and Boston University Tanglewood Institute. One of his most memorable musical experiences was playing at the White House for Michelle Obama. Outside of music, Peirce enjoys basketball and working for social justice.

Charles Yang appeared as a Co-Host on Show 364 in Beaver Creek, CO, Show 391 in November 2020, Show 414 in May 2022, Show 424 in January 2023.

He appeared as guest artist on Show 346 in Boston, MA on October 1, 2017 as a member of Time for Three and Show 303, recorded in Interlochen, MI, on March 13, 2015.

He was a featured performer on Show 74, recorded in Austin, TX, on October 19, 2002; Show 160, recorded in Boston on May 23, 2007; Show 230, recorded in Monterey, CA, on April 7, 2011; and Show 286, recorded in Cincinnati, OH, on April 2, 2014.

Charles Yang, recipient of the 2018 Leonard Bernstein Award has been described by the Boston Globe as one who “plays classical violin with the charisma of a rock star.” A graduate from the Juilliard School, Mr. Yang began his violin studies with his mother in Austin, Texas, and has since studied with world-renowned pedagogues Kurt Sassmanshaus, Paul Kantor, Brian Lewis and Glenn Dicterow. He first appeared on From the Top as a 14 year-old and has been featured on radio, PBS’ “From the Top at Carnegie Hall” and numerous other From the Top projects ever since.   He has performed as a soloist with orchestras and in recitals in the United States, Europe, Brazil, Russia, China, and Taiwan, and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. On June 9th of 2005, the Mayor of Austin presented Mr. Yang with his own “Charles Yang Day.” He joined the genre-defying trio, Time for Three in 2016. Visit his website at charlesyangmusic.com.

Peter was named Host of From the Top in January 2020.

Peter Dugan’s position is sponsored by Susan and Gerald Slavet.

Peter first appeared on From the Top Show 158, recorded in April 2007, at age 18.

Peter Dugan prizes versatility as the hallmark of today’s musician and advocates for a classical music culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all. That approach has manifested in a multifaceted and dynamic career as a pianist, composer, collaborator, and radio host.

A musician equally at home in classical, jazz, and pop idioms, he has appeared as soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across North America and around the world. His performance of Ives’ Fourth Symphony with the San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas was described by the Los Angeles Times as “stunning” and by the San Francisco Chronicle as “fearlessly athletic” and was recorded for release; he subsequently performed the work with the Houston Symphony with Andrés Orozco-Estrada. Other orchestral appearances include the Delaware, Kansas City, New Albany, Johnstown and Mankato symphonies; Philadelphia Youth Orchestra and the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra.

Peter is heard on radios nationwide weekly as host of NPR’s From the Top, which aims to celebrate and empower young musicians. His approach stems from his commitment to sharing classical music through his warm-hearted openness to young voices; in addition to hosting the show, he leads inspiring collaborations, conversations, and performances with the young artists.

Peter is an active and passionate collaborator who has toured extensively with violinists Joshua Bell and Charles Yang, and baritone John Brancy—partnerships which have resulted in recording projects, documentaries, and music videos, and a first-prize win at the Montreal International Music Competition.

Recent and upcoming highlights include Yang & Dugan Duo appearances at Kristupo and Rheingau music festivals, with the Malaysia Philharmonic and on tour in China; a European tour with Joshua Bell including performances at London’s Wigmore Hall and Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw; collaborations with clarinetist Mark Dover, violinist Tessa Lark, and baritone John Brancy, among others, at the Moab Music Festival, Carmel Music Society, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Cliburn Festival America 250,  Café Carlyle and Kaufman Music Center.

As a composer, Peter has performed his own works everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Joe’s Pub, and his arrangements have been released by Disney+. Peter co-wrote his first concerto with his brother Leonardo Dugan. The jazz-inflected, improvisation-laced “Brothers Concerto” was commissioned and premiered by the Kalamazoo Symphony and Boston Conservatory at Berklee respectively with Peter as soloist in Spring 2026.

He is head of the Artist in Residence program at pianoSonoma and a founding faculty member of the Resonance and Soundboard Institutes at Honeywell Arts Academy.

Peter Dugan holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School, where he studied under Matti Raekallio. He resides in Montclair, NJ and is a Yamaha Artist.