Do you need to get up and dance? We’ve got you covered with some traditional Celtic music.
For today’s Daily Joy, we’re sharing an outrageously fun performance of “The High Reel Set” with double bassist Mike Thurber and some of our young musicians.
LaSalle, Michigan Acclaimed composer and bassist Michael Thurber’s musical career defies categorization. From composing for The Royal Shakespeare Company and co-founding the smash YouTube channel CDZA, to creating his Thurber Theater variety show, teaching at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute, composing for symphony orchestras across the country, and performing in the house band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as well as in a duo with violinist Tessa Lark, Thurber’s musical journey has been remarkably singular. He is an alumnus of From the Top and serves on From the Top’s Board of Directors.
Michael’s history with From the Top:
Michael performed most recently on NPR’s From the Top Show 303, recorded in Interlochen, MI, on March 13, 2015. His original composition for full orchestra, “The Three Musketeers”, debuted at this recording. The performance featured soloists Kris Bowers (piano), Charles Yang (violin), Mark Dover (clarinet), and Thurber himself on bass. Learn more.
He has also appeared on Show 125, recorded in Winona Lake, IN, on June 18, 2005; and on Show 142, recorded in Granville, OH, on April 7, 2006
New York, New York Excelsis Percussion Ensemble performed on Show 296, recorded in Washington, D.C. on October 24, 2014.
2014 bio:
Excelsis Percussion Ensemble, the first international all-female percussion ensemble in New York City, includes Marcelina Suchocka from Poland, Aya Kaminaguchi from Japan, Mariana Ramirez from Mexico, and Clara Warnaar from Canada/United States. Hailing from four different countries and speaking four different languages, the ensemble members’ love of percussion and performance brought them together to speak the universal language of rhythm with innovative perception. Excelsis performed on NPR’s From the Top in Washington, DC, earlier this year. Marcelina previously performed on as a soloist and Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist on episodes recorded in Dallas, Texas, in 2009; Davenport, Iowa, in 2010; and New York, New York in 2011. Excelsis invites the world into a celebration of percussion with its pageantry of marimbas, drums, cymbals, xylophones, and vibraphones.
Music has the unique ability to bring joy to our lives – especially in the hands of young people. Daily Joy is a reminder of music’s power to uplift, inspire, and unite.
Daily Joy is a project of From the Top. It began in the very early days of the Covid-19 pandemic and continues today to offer a much-needed respite from the anxiety and worry that we encounter in the world.
From the Top is a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating the stories and artistry of young musicians through media and leadership programs. Learn more.
From the Top is grateful to the Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation for their generous support of Daily Joy.
Have questions? Email us at info@fromthetop.org.
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Daily Joy is a program of From the Top, an independent non-profit organization that relies on support from individuals. Your support will help ensure From the Top's work of celebrating the joy, talents, and stories of extraordinary young musicians.