CU Denver hosts NPR program recording featuring local music students

The College of Arts & Media at the University of Colorado Denver presents “From the Top with host Christopher O’Riley,” the hit NPR radio program showcasing America’s best young classical musicians.

CU Denver’s presentation of “From the Top” will be recorded at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the King Center on the Auraria Campus, and will air on NPR during the week of April 6. The performance, which is open to the public, will feature special guest Danny Elfman, famed American film composer who scored “Batman,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and many other blockbusters.  “From the Top” is a weekly hour-long radio program is heard on KVOD 88.1 FM in Denver as well as on more than 250 other stations nationwide.

Local student musicians Scott Chiu from Denver and Abigail Enssle from Boulder were selected by “From the Top” to perform during the live show recording and will be joined by other student musicians from around the country, as well as from the Denver School of the Arts. Students selected to perform on “From the Top” are eligible to receive Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Awards in support of furthering their musical education.

“From the Top” is America’s premier national platform celebrating the stories, talents, and character of classically-trained young musicians.  “From the Top” presents inspiring live performances around the country, offers scholarships, and helps America’s talented, hard-working, and dedicated young musicians inspire music lovers of all ages.

“CU Denver is thrilled to host ‘From the Top’ and young musicians from around Colorado and the United States,” said Laurence Kaptain, dean of the College of Arts & Media. “Our college is focused on preparing students who will work across all music styles and genres, in audio recording, film, video and TV production. We teach skills that intersect and support what these young artists are doing now — and what they will be doing in the future.”

Tickets are available at www.cudenvertix.org or by calling 303-556-2296.