Macmillan/McGraw-Hill Partners With 'From The Top;' Spotlights Young Musicians in Its Music Curriculum

Macmillan/McGraw-Hill will sponsor a live performance of "From the Top," a national radio program featuring young musicians during the 2004 Conference of the National Association for Music Education (MENC) in Minneapolis, Minn., on Thursday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by internationally acclaimed pianist Christopher O'Riley and based at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, "From the Top" travels across the country throughout the year for performances, such as this one, which showcase classical musicians who are 9 to 18 years old. Participants are often featured in music curricula used by elementary schools nationwide.

A taping of the April 15 performance will be broadcast nationally later this spring on nearly 250 public radio stations. The concert is one of many sessions planned to celebrate the importance of music education among thousands of conference attendees. Many international and Grammy-award-winning performers, including Michael McDonald, Garrison Keillor and James Galway, also are scheduled to appear.

"From the Top's" mission is to encourage and celebrate the development of youth through music. The not-for-profit multi-media organization provides information, entertainment, interaction and education for pre-college aged musicians, their parents and teachers.

Macmillan/McGraw-Hill spotlights musicians from the radio program in its supplemental materials for elementary schools. Biographies about featured "From the Top" musicians accompany the lessons, which are available on compact discs.

"Macmillan is committed to providing unique opportunities for music education," said Sari Factor, president of Macmillan/McGraw-Hill. "Our sponsorship of 'From the Top' allows students to showcase their skills both inside and outside of the classroom."

"We appreciate our Macmillan/McGraw-Hill partnership," said Gerald Slavet, "From the Top's" co-founder and CEO. "Together, we are making heroes out of ordinary young people who do extraordinary things."

"From the Top" recruits young musicians through national talent searches each year. Among those recruits is 18-year-old Greg Haro, a native of Apple Valley, Minn., and senior at Eastview High School.

Haro will play the trumpet for the "From the Top" performance during the MENC. Having more than eight years of experience as a trumpeter, he currently performs with the Minnesota Youth Symphony and the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies. He receives music instruction from Manny Laureano of the Minnesota Orchestra and David Baldwin, Ph.D., a music professor at the University of Minnesota where Haro is a post-secondary student.

"I am very excited to be playing in my hometown for a national audience," Haro said. "From the Top is a unique program where I get to share my love of music."

About "From the Top"

The "From the Top" radio show is produced in association with WGBH Radio Boston and New England Conservatory of Music. It is distributed by Public Radio International and hosted by internationally renowned pianist Christopher O'Riley. "From the Top" is made possible through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and The PRI Program Fund. It also is supported through the generous contributions of individuals and foundations as well as public radio stations. For more information, call (617) 437-0707 or visit fromthetop.org.

About Macmillan/McGraw-Hill

Macmillan/McGraw-Hill is a leading pre-K through Grade 6 publisher of print and technology-based materials that help teach every child in today's classrooms. It is unit of McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), a global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands, such as Standard & Poor's and BusinessWeek. Founded in 1888, the corporation has more than 322 offices in 33 countries. Sales in 2003 were $4.8 billion. Additional information is available at mcgraw-hill.com.

   April Hattori                       David Balsom
   McGraw-Hill Education               From the Top
   (212) 904-2078                      617 437-0707 Ext. 107
   april_hattori@mcgraw-hill.com       dbalsom@fromthetop.org

   Karen Twinem
   Paul Werth Associates
   (614) 224-8114 Ext. 266
   ktwinem@paulwerth.com

SOURCE: McGraw-Hill Education

CONTACT: April Hattori
McGraw-Hill Education
(212) 904-2078
april_hattori@mcgraw-hill.com
David Balsom
From the Top
617 437-0707 Ext. 107
dbalsom@fromthetop.org
Karen Twinem
Paul Werth Associates
(614) 224-8114 Ext. 266
ktwinem@paulwerth.com

Web site: http://www.mheducation.com/
http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/
http://www.fromthetop.org/