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.

Maanas performs on Show 414.

Maanas Varma (viola), 17, hails from Flower Mound, Texas and is a senior at Flower Mound High School.

Vincent performs on Show 414.

Vincent’s appearance on From the Top is sponsored by Nancy and Richard Lubin.

Vincent Garcia-Hettinger (cello), 16, hails from San Antonio, Texas, and attends Brandeis High School. He is a student of Ken Freudigman, Principal Cellist of the San Antonio Symphony. As the winner of the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio Concerto Competition, Vincent made his solo debut with the San Antonio Symphony in May 2019, performing the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto. He has also been a featured soloist with the San Antonio Sinfonietta, performing the Boccherini Cello Concerto in B flat major. In the fall of 2020, Vincent was selected as the winner of the Ann Arbor Symphony Young Artist Competition, and has twice been named a Junior Division Semi-Finalist for the Sphinx Competition. Vincent was awarded a scholarship to attend the 2019 Sphinx Performance Academy at Juilliard, and in addition, was awarded a 2019 Sphinx MPower Artist Grant. He was also one of only 12 recipients of the 2020 Texas Commission on the Arts Young Masters Award. An avid chamber musician as well as a soloist, Vincent has performed with his piano trio and in string quartet for recitals, masterclasses, and pre-concert lectures. He enjoys volunteering with organizations such as Hearts Need Art, a non-profit group that works to provide art and music to adult cancer patients. Vincent plans to pursue a career in music and hopes to be a mentor for young musicians. Outside of music, Vincent is an avid runner and just completed his second half marathon.

Christian performs on Show 414.

Christian Luevano (double bass), 18, hails from Corinth, Texas, and is a senior at John H. Guyer High School. Christian started studying bass at the age of 5 in Ann Arbor with Derek Weller. In 2009, Christian moved to Texas where he studied with Gudrun Raschen until 2018. Christian currently is a student of Jeff Bradetich. In 2019, Christian attended the Perlman Music Program, in 2020, Christian was scheduled to attend the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, in 2021, Christian was a member of the National Youth Orchestra (USA), and he will performing as a member of the National Youth Orchestra on their 2022 tour to Europe. Christian was a finalist in the International Society of Bassists Age 15-18 Division, won third prize in both the Lynn Harrell Concerto competition and the Eismann Competition, 2nd prize in the Fort Worth Symphony Young Artist Competition, 1st prize in the Rising Talents of America competition, was named a National YoungArts winner as an Honorable Mention, and won 2nd prize in the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition. Christian has also been ranked as the #1 high school bass player in Texas two times, #2 once as a freshman, and has made the highest youth orchestra in Texas all four years of his high school career. Since 2019, Christian is the principal bassist in the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra (GDYO), but he has been a part of the GDYO program since 2013. Christian has also been hired as a member of the lab orchestra for Miguel Harth-Bedoya’s Conducting Institute. Next year, Christian will be attending the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he will be studying under Hal Robinson and Edgar Meyer. When not practicing or performing, Christian enjoys to workout, play sports, hang out with friends, play guitar, and play video games.

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

Peter Dugan’s position for the ’22-’23 season is sponsored by Susan and Gerald Slavet.

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

Prizing versatility as the key to the future of classical music, pianist Peter Dugan is equally at home in classical, jazz, and pop idioms.

He is heard nationwide as the  host of NPR’s beloved program From the Top.  He has appeared as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across North America and abroad. 

In 2020, Mr Dugan performed with Joshua Bell on a PBS Broadcast “At Home with Music” and appeared on  the album of the same name on Sony Classical. He was also featured on PBS Great Performances with mezzo-soprano Kara Dugan for the series “Now Hear This”.

A sought-after multi-genre artist, Mr. Dugan has performed in duos and trios with artists ranging from Itzhak Perlman and Renee Fleming to Jesse Colin Young and Glenn Close. Mr Dugan’s debut performances with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony were described by the Los Angeles Times as “stunning” and by the SF Chronicle as “fearlessly athletic.” The Wall Street Journal described Mr. Dugan’s collaboration with violinist Charles Yang as a “classical-meets-rockstar duo.” Mr. Dugan has been presented in chamber music recitals by Carnegie Hall, Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach, Music at Menlo, Moab Music Festival, and recently in recital with Joshua Bell at the Minnesota Beethoven Festival.  He was the 2019 featured recitalist for the California Association of Professional Music Teachers, and has soloed with the San Francisco Symphony, Houston Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, New World Symphony, and Mid-Texas Symphony.

His album with baritone John Brancy –  A Silent Night: A WWI Memorial in Song – pays homage to composers who lived through, fought in, and died in the Great War. Brancy and Dugan toured this program across North America in commemoration of the centennial of WWI, including performances at The Kennedy Center, Alice Tully Hall, Stanford University, the United States Naval Academy, and the Smithsonian Institute.  Together Brancy and Dugan won first prize at the 2018 Montreal International Music Competition and second prize at the 2017 Wigmore Hall International Song Competition. He can also be heard as the piano soloist on a recording of Ives’ Fourth Symphony from Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony, a recording which the New York Times named one of the top classical albums of 2019. 

Mr. Dugan advocates the importance of music in the community and at all levels of society.  As a founding creator of Operation Superpower, a superhero opera for children, he has traveled to dozens of schools in the greater New York area, performing for students and encouraging them to use their talents – their superpowers – for good.

Mr. Dugan holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from The Juilliard School, where he studied under Matti Raekallio. He was a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Young Scholar, College Scholar, and Graduate Scholar awards.

He resides in New York City with his wife, mezzo-soprano Kara Dugan, and serves on the piano faculty at the Juilliard School Evening Division. Mr. Dugan is a Yamaha Artist.