From the Top

By Lorain Watters

June 1, the El Paso Plaza Theatre hosted NPR’s “From the Top” for the second time since 2008, as young musicians filled the theater with pieces from Wieniawski, von Weber and Lutoslawski.

Musicians from age 11 to 19 wowed audiences from start to finish with intricate pieces, along with a few jokes from host Christopher O’Reiley. Among the talented performers was Wesley Yu, a recent graduate from Coronado High School, who got on the show after submitting his tapes, he was chosen as one of the five performers.

“I heard about this show when I was a little kid so I just thought ‘why not’ and I did it,” Yu said.

With an hour long performance from piano, clarinet, organ, harp and Yu on violin, El Pasoans were witness to an evening filled with classical pieces played by young artists.