Young Whidbey Island violinist will appear on NPR’s ‘From the Top’

Gloria Ferry-Brennan, a 15-year-old violinist from Langley, will appear on National Public Radio’s “From the Top” series at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 24. The program will air locally on Classical King FM 98.1.

“From the Top” is a nonprofit organization best known for its NPR and PBS programs featuring America’s best young classical musicians and awarded Ferry-Brennan a $10,000 Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award. The episode on which she appears was taped Feb. 29 before a live audience in Brunswick, Maine at Bowdoin College’s Studzinski Recital Hall.

“From the Top” identifies and awards scholarships to 25 deserving young musicians each year and the foundation has awarded more than

$1.4 million since 2005. Chosen from a wide pool of applicants, Jack Kent Cooke Young Artists must demonstrate high levels of artistic and academic achievement. The $10,000 award can be applied towards instrument purchases, and summer music camp travel expenses, tuition and fees.

Ferry-Brennan studies the violin with Simon James. She is a member of the Seattle Youth Symphony, the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra, the Academy Chamber Orchestra and other chamber groups. Gloria has participated in the Aspen Institute summer program and the Brian Lewis Young Artist Program. She has also taken master classes with Robert McDuffie and Jan Sloman.

On the show Ferry-Brennan performs “I. Allegro con fuoco” from a sonata by Francis Poulenc, accompanied by host Christopher O’Riley on the piano.

Visit www.fromthetop.org for more information.

 

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