Denison University's 25th anniversary season of The Vail Series will conclude with a live taping of the National Public Radio program "From the Top" with special guest Béla Fleck, the Grammy Award-winning banjo player. The program is scheduled for 8 p.m., Friday (April 7) in Swasey Chapel. A limited number of tickets may be available to the public by calling the Vail hotline at (740) 587-6557.

"From the Top" is a non-profit organization that encourages and celebrates the commitment of young people to music and the arts. It provides a platform for young artists to present themselves, share their passion, and develop into important cultural leaders.

"From the Top" will showcase 13-year-old violinist Caroline Goulding from Cleveland Heights, 18-year-old marimba player Yi Wei from Chicago, 18-year-old double bassist Mike Thurber from LaSalle, Mich., and the Festivus Quartet from Massachusetts. Goulding will play Brahms' "Sonatensatz in C minor" accompanied by Christopher O'Riley, host of the program and acclaimed pianist. The Festivus Quartet will perform Benjamin Britten's "Phantasy Quartet" for oboe and string trio in F minor. Festivus Quartet members are: Yuga Cohler, oboe, age 16, from Lexington, Mass.; Mann-Wen Lo, violin, age 16, and Christine Hung, viola, age 17, both Taiwanese natives studying at Walnut Hill in Natick, Mass.; and Tavi Ungerleider, cello, age 16, from Sudbury, Mass. Fleck will join various combinations of the young musicians for two Bach works and for "County Clare."

link[link1] Several related "From the Top" events are planned for thecommunity on Thursday (April 6). Ann Gregg, director of education for "From the Top," and Eydie Schilling, acting superintendent of Granville schools, are collaborating on a program that will include performances for students at Granville High School, Granville Middle School, and Granville Intermediate School between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Gregg will also offer a teacher workshop at Granville Middle School at 3:30 p.m. From 2:30 to 4 p.m., there will be an open workshop with Fleck and the Denison bluegrass ensembles in Burke Recital Hall on Denison's campus.

A critically acclaimed banjo musician, Fleck will perform alongside the young talents featured in the taping of "From the Top." Fleck has spanned and mastered the musical genres of rock, bluegrass, country, acoustic, jazz, and classical. Béla Fleck and the Flecktones have been nominated 20 times, winning eight Grammys in more different categories than anyone in Grammy history.

Hosted by O'Riley, the "From the Top" radio program runs every week on NPR to showcase America's top young classical musicians. Heard by more than 750,000 people on 250 stations nationwide, "From the Top" airs locally at 7 p.m. on Saturdays on WOSU, Classical 89.7 FM. It ranks among the top five weekly programs on radio along with long-term notables "Car Talk" and "A Prairie Home Companion."High School and Denison graduate Jennifer Hurley-Wales was an organizing force for "From the Top" and now serves as its CEO and executive producer.

For more information about Denison's Vail Series link to the series' Web site at: www.denison.edu/vailseries/

For more information about "From the Top," link to the program's Web site at: www.fromthetop.org

For more information about Béla Fleck, link to his Web site at: www.belafleck.com

CALENDAR INFORMATION: Denison University,The 25th annual Vail Series season concludes with a live taping of "From the Top" with special guest Béla Fleck; 8 p.m., Friday (April 7) in Swasey Chapel. A limited number of tickets may be available to the public. Please call the Vail hotline at (740) 587-6557 for more information.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575