Anna Lee, 14, who will perform at "From the Top," at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, in Swasey Chapel at Denison University. For the past decade, "From the Top" has been the preeminent showcase for many of America's best young musicians. Through entertaining radio and television broadcasts, tours of live events, education programs and community outreach, "From the Top" celebrates pre-collegiate musicians on a national stage.

The 30th anniversary season of the Vail Series at Denison University continues with a live, in-concert performance of “From the Top,” the highly acclaimed National Public Radio (NPR) program, at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, in Swasey Chapel (200 Chapel Drive). The event will be a live taping for later broadcast on NPR. A limited number of tickets will be offered for sale to the general public at $15. Performance details and ticket availability information will be posted at vailseries.org, or can be obtained by calling 740-587-6557.

This performance is a special homecoming, in that this is the fourth live taping of “From the Top” from Denison’s Swasey Chapel. In addition, the show’s co-founder and co-CEO is Jennifer Hurley Wales, who grew up in Granville and graduated from Denison in 1983. She is the daughter of Lorraine and George Wales of Granville.

The event, which is a 10th birthday celebration of “From the Top,” will feature not only Christopher O’Riley, renowned pianist and the show’s venerable host, but also return performances of some of the program's most memorable guests, including Anna Lee, (violin), from Little Neck, N.Y., who now is 14 years old. She made her first appearance on “From the Top” at age 8. A ninth-grade student at the Dalton School in New York, Lee studies violin at the Juilliard School Pre-College Division.

John Brancy, (baritone), from Mullica Hill, N.J., first appeared on “From the Top” in May 2007 and is now in his third year of undergraduate study at The Juilliard School.

Colton Peltier, (piano), from Hastings, Minn., is 15 years old. He started playing piano in a Suzuki program at age 3, and performed with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra at age 9. Colton now studies piano at Central Minnesota Music School along with frequent lessons with Veda Kaplinsky at the Juilliard School in New York.

Lauren Chipman, (viola), from Glendale, Calif., appeared on “From the Top” in April 2001. She’s currently touring and recording a violist with the new wave/pop group The Rentals. As a chamber musician, she is a founding member of the Armstrong String Quartet. Her orchestral work includes performances with the New West Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Coleman Itzkoff, (cello), from Cincinnati, is 17 years old. He first studied cello with the Cincinnati Public Schools’ Suzuki program and first appeared on “From the Top” in 2007 when he was 14. He has performed with the Starling Chamber Orchestra, the Seven Hills Sinfonietta, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and the Dayton Philharmonic.

The show's education and community outreach programs bring classical music and “From the Top” performers into classrooms, youth organizations and arts programs across the country. These programs inspire budding musicians of all ages, share the joy of making music, and thrill young audiences with the power of great performances by exceptional teen musicians.

As part of the show's visit to campus, “From the Top” will conduct a special workshop with Denison students through the college's Burton D. Morgan Liberal Arts and Entrepreneurship Education Program.

A significant number of today’s emerging artists were discovered on “From the Top.” The show routinely checks in with their young “alumni” with “Where are they now?” specials. As a result of the bonds formed with “From the Top” many of these extraordinary performers, including those who will perform at Denison on Nov. 7, have maintained an ongoing relationship with the program.

“From the Top” launched an Emmy Award-winning PBS television series in 2007. The show connects with a broad audience and is praised by teachers and parents as accessible, educational and entertaining, with “real kids” and “real value.”

“From the Top" has taped more than 200 radio broadcasts in America’s premier concert halls, reaching more than 200,000 live audience members in 33 states. The radio and television programs reach milions each week.

Endowed by a generous gift from the late Mary and Foster McGaw in honor of Jeanne Vail, class of 1946, the Vail Series brings to Denison the world’s premier performers, as well as new musical talents, enriching the artistic experience of the entire Denison community.