Today’s Daily Joy is dedicated in memory of our former colleague and friend Tom Vignieri. Tom was beloved and made an immeasurable impact on the From the Top community and the countless young musicians whose lives he touched.

Tom served as From the Top’s Music Director for 12 years, mentoring and collaborating with more than 1,200 alumni during his tenure. He led the music production for more than 250 episodes of our radio show as well as for our Emmy Award-winning PBS series, From the Top at Carnegie Hall.

He built lasting relationships with young musicians, parents, music educators, and colleagues. He elevated everyone’s work through his musical expertise and his unwavering commitment to encouraging and supporting young artists.

Tom was also a brilliant composer whose work earned deep respect throughout the classical music community. Today’s featured performance celebrates both his remarkable talent and his extraordinary ability to bring people together through music.

In November 2013, a treble choir and string orchestra, including five From the Top staff members and ten alumni, gathered at Symphony Hall in Boston under the baton of conductor Grant Llewellyn to record There Will Come Soft Rains, Tom’s setting of a poem by Sara Teasdale.

We hope you will take a moment to enjoy this beautiful performance, one that so many of our FTT family members remember with fondness.

Our deepest condolences to Tom’s family and to his many friends and loved ones. To the FTT community who knew Tom, we would love to hear from you. 

This work was commissioned by the Columbus Children’s Choir and by Deborah Price and Chamber Music Connection, an Ohio music program with which Tom developed a close relationship through his work with From the Top. 

From the Top Performers featured in There Will Come Soft Rains by Tom Vignieri: 

Staff 
Michael Dahlberg, cello (FTT alum) 
Shea Mavros, soprano 
Erin Nolan, viola 
Wendy Perrotta, soprano 
Claire Shepro, alto (FTT alum) 

Alumni 
Claire Bourg, violin 
Jonah Ellsworth, cello 
Brian Hong, violin 
Anna Lee, violin 
Laura Liu, violin 
Taeguk Mun, cello 
Clayton Penrose-Whitmore, violin 
Haruno Sato, violin 
Amelia Sie, violin 
Kiyoe Wellington, double bass